In 2014, following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Anya Owensbrown found herself grappling with a fear that had gripped her two young sons.
鈥淭hey were afraid to go to school, to go outside and play,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey were also afraid for anyone they knew 鈥 their father, grandpa, uncle 鈥 anyone with Black skin to be outdoors.鈥
Searching for a space to help her boys navigate their feelings, forget harmful stereotypes and simply play, Owensbrown found nothing. So, she created her own.
That first gathering became 鈥淨ueens of Kings,鈥 a meetup group for mothers of Black boys. What made it unique, Owensbrown shared, was that it brought together mothers from diverse backgrounds, including women who had become mothers of Black boys through adoption or interracial marriage, who came seeking guidance.
鈥淭hey had questions such as how do I navigate this lifestyle for my son because I know he鈥檚 a good kid, but the world sees him totally different, and this is what鈥檚 happening to our boys,鈥 Owensbrown said.
What began as peer support grew into something larger: a village, a movement and eventually, a nonprofit. Now known as Our Kings, the San Diego-based organization officially became a 501(c)(3) in the wake of George Floyd鈥檚 killing in 2020.
鈥淲e protested together and we had our boys with us,鈥 Owensbrown said, 鈥淏ut I knew the momentum of a protest doesn鈥檛 last. I wanted something more substantial.鈥
Around the same time, Owensbrown learned she was expecting twins 鈥 two more boys 鈥 further fueling her passion. She and her brother Jordan, father of a young son himself, formalized the organization and began expanding it into neighborhoods and schools.
Today, Our Kings runs programs across three school districts 鈥 San Diego Unified, Lemon Grove and Santee 鈥 each with tailored focuses, from working with teachers and parents on supporting Black boys in the school system to monthly gatherings with students. Their flagship school-based initiative is called KINGS: Kind, Intelligent, Noble, Gifted Sons of Queens and Kings, an acronym created by Owensbrown鈥檚 brother.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an affirmation,鈥 Owensbrown said. 鈥淭he world calls Black boys aggressive, unintelligent, a threat. We tell them they are everything but that.
鈥淵ou are a gift to the world. You鈥檙e not just someone who doesn鈥檛 matter and can go to jail or be killed on the street,鈥 she said.
Outside the classroom, Our Kings provides enrichment activities such as swimming lessons, horseback riding and surfing alongside three cohort-based programs tailored by age. Mommy and King (ages 0鈥6) focuses on storytelling centered on Black boys, along with music and art, to support developmental skills and help guide parents through early childhood. K.I.N.G.S Keepers (ages 7鈥13) is a program where boys learn trades, receive tutoring and participate in community events.
The newest initiative, Kings to Kings (ages 14鈥18), connects teens with mentors and helps them learn essential life skills such as car maintenance, financial literacy and job interviewing.
鈥淲e always say it鈥檚 something you wish you had before you became an adult,鈥 Owensbrown said.
Our Kings aims to give Black boys a safe, affirming space to grow up with confidence and joy, free from the pressure to 鈥渕an up鈥 too soon. By partnering with organizations including the police and fire departments, the nonprofit fosters mutual understanding, helping boys see authority figures as real people, and vice versa.
One of the group鈥檚 many standout stories involves a young man who entered the cohort because he felt like he didn鈥檛 have a voice.
鈥淎t our most recent brunch, he had the confidence to deliver a speech in front of over 200 people,鈥 Owensbrown said. 鈥淭hat is a really big accomplishment!鈥
The annual Our Kings Hats & Bow-Ties Brunch, which started with 25 attendees in 2021, has become both a fundraiser and a celebration. This year, it raised $10,000 to support programs, supplies and activities for the boys. Families, community partners and honorees attended, including the very first Kings to Kings cohort, which Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe鈥檚 office recognized.
As Our Kings continues to grow, its next major event is an August 2 open house at KIPP Academy for families to explore programs in advance of its next cohort cycle in September.
Owensbrown said she feels honored that the boys, from the youngest to the oldest, form a strong sense of brotherhood through the program. Whether in their neighborhoods or out in the community, they recognize each other with a special handshake and call each other 鈥渒ing.鈥
鈥淪omething very powerful is knowing they鈥檙e not alone,鈥 Owensbrown said.
For more information about Our Kings, go to www.ourkings.org.