Before Damian Valentine was mentoring boys across Houston, he was just a young father trying to lead by example.
Raised on James Franklin Street in Acres Homes, Valentine grew up in a home grounded in faith, responsibility, and strong fatherhood. His father, David, was a leader in their family and the community. And like his father, Damian attended George Washington Carver High School and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU).
It was at PVAMU that Valentine became a father himself. And in 2010, when he gained full custody of his 10-year-old son Devante, everything changed.
“We live in a society where a father or a man could just say, ‘Go be raised with your mom,’” he said. “But my dad took on that responsibility. So I already had the blueprint on how to be a strong Christian father and that’s something I’m grateful for.”
What began as personal responsibility quickly became a larger mission. To his friends, family and community, Valentine is known as the “Man of Many Hats.” He’s a music artist, author, actor, and fashion enthusiast and each role is part of the toolkit he brings to his real purpose: mentoring the next generation.
That led him to create Young Kings Mentoring Organization, a Houston-based nonprofit focused on empowering young men through education, sports, and entertainment. By aligning his passions with what the youth already gravitated toward, Valentine built a program where growth doesn’t just feel like guidance—it feels like inspiration.
Many of his son’s friends didn’t have father figures or mentors. These young men called him “Dad.” Valentine was committed to being that support system for young men in this city.
The K.I.N.G. blueprint
At the core of the Young Kings Mentoring Organization is the K.I.N.G. principle: Knowledge, Integrity, Nobility and Gentleman. He created this curriculum, symbolized in a crown worn by a cartoon version of his son in the book titled I Am A King. Mentees earn a stone for each trait, culminating in a crowning ceremony that affirms their growth.
“I look at the education system and I say, ‘What did we leave out?’ We’re doing so much, but what did we leave out? When they walk across that stage, they still don’t know who they are,” Valentine said. “I applaud everybody in the education system, all the teachers I call the teacher, superheroes, the principals, the assistants, the counselors, so I work with them and collaborate, but I know that there needs to be more.”
The Young Kings’ space in Houston isn’t just for discussion, it’s for creation and healing. From recording studios to media rooms, it offers young people a place to develop real skills and safe expression.
“I want to put a young man in the room, a young lady in the room that says [who wants to] pursue music and do it in a loving and encouraging atmosphere. Because Hollywood and the entertainment industry are dangerous,” Valentine said. “We’re experiencing a time where one of the biggest music moguls is on trial. And a lot of people think that this is what I have to do to get studio time. God is the center and the core of everything that we do.”
The Power of Brotherhood
This ecosystem of mentorship and creativity attracted like-minded leaders like Terrance Wright, a fellow father and Royal King mentor, who brings a fitness and mental health background to the organization.
Wright, also an actor and community advocate, first connected with Valentine through Houston’s creative circles. But what bonded them wasn’t just shared auditions but shared purpose.
“We were both in our communities, me in health and wellness, Damian in entertainment,” Wright said. “But we realized we had the same heart. The same mission.”
Wright’s story brings a powerful contrast to Valentine’s childhood.
“I didn’t have someone showing up to games or giving me pep talks,” he said. “So now, I do for others what I wish someone had done for me.”
He believes the key to real change starts with conversation.
“A lot of young men just need a safe space to talk about stress, relationships, pressure. They’re dealing with more than people think,” Wright said. “And we normalize that. We show them it’s okay to say, ‘I need help.’”
Though Valentine and his team are firmly rooted in Houston, their vision stretches beyond the city limits. Messages worldwide, such as Brazil, Japan and Africa, are pouring in from people moved by their videos, content, and presence.
“I always say we’re like the Avengers,” Valentine said. “Black Panther, Iron Man, and Thor. We’re all out here, trying to protect something. We don’t teleport, but we’ll take the plane if we have to.”
