Seattle Kingmakers Crowning Ceremony Celebrates Excellence, Brotherhood, and the Power of Belonging
Based on an interview with Kingmakers of Seattle facilitator Keenen Allen.
The Seattle Kingmakers Crowning Ceremony was a powerful reminder of what is possible when young Black men are given the space, support, and resources to discover their potential and thrive.
As Seattle Public Schools continues expanding the Kingmakers curriculum across the district, this year's celebration reflected the profound impact the program is having on students, families, and school communities. The ceremony brought together Kings from six Seattle Public Schools Kingmakers sites, alongside hundreds of family members, educators, district leaders, and community supporters to celebrate a year of growth, achievement, and brotherhood.
The evening began with a community dinner featuring two local Black-owned food trucks and ice cream, creating space for families and students to connect before the formal ceremony. Inside the auditorium, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ben Shuldiner attended his first Kingmakers Crowning Ceremony, offering words of encouragement and expressing his excitement for the program's continued growth across the district.
One of the evening's most inspiring moments came from a former Kingmaker who joined the program in middle school. Now entering his junior year at the University of Washington on a full academic scholarship, he shared how Kingmakers helped shape his identity and future, reminding younger students of what is possible through perseverance, education, and self-belief.
This year's ceremony also introduced Seattle Kingmakers' first student writing competition, giving Kings the opportunity to reflect on their experiences in the program. Students were recognized for academic achievement, attendance, and personal growth, while graduating seniors received Kingmakers graduation stoles as they prepared for their next chapter.
The evening concluded with every King walking across the stage to receive his Kingmakers crown, surrounded by thunderous applause from proud families and peers.
What made the night truly special was seeing every Kingmakers site under one roof. Students from different schools, many meeting for the first time, celebrated one another as brothers. Dressed in suits and ties, they cheered each other on with pride while families applauded every student as if he were their own. In a city where opportunities to witness so many Black young men gathered in celebration are far too rare, the ceremony offered a joyful and unapologetic display of Black excellence, community, and possibility.
For those who work with Kingmakers every day, the ceremony served as a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Throughout the school year, the impact of the program unfolds one classroom, one conversation, and one student at a time. At the Crowning Ceremony, that impact becomes impossible to miss. It is a celebration of transformation, belonging, and achievement, and a clear reminder that when our Kings are seen, valued, and supported, they flourish.
