The mission of the Empower Knox initiative is building successful life outcomes for Knoxville’s youth.

Empower Knox has its roots in the Save Our Sons initiative, established by Mayor Madeline Rogero and City partners to remove barriers, address persistent opportunity gaps and build strong, lasting bridges to success for Knoxville’s sons ages 14-24. 

In collaboration with the new and existing partner organizations (listed below), Empower Knox works to build capacity within organizations that address and meet the needs of at-risk youth.

For information about the Empower Knox initiative, contact:

Kathy D. Mack
Community Engagement Manager
Office of Community Empowerment
865-215-3524
kmack@knoxvilletn.gov


Youth Forums

Empower Knox is making plans to establish a youth council in 2021 and would like to meet with groups of young people to advise on its creation. People ages 12 to 20 are invited to attend the next virtual Youth Forum on Feb. 18, from 5-6 p.m. Email Kathy Mack to sign up to participate. 

Interested in applying for the Youth Council? Download and fill out the Youth Council Application form and email it to kmack@knoxvilletn.gov. 





Members of the Mayor's Community Empowerment Roundtable:

A 1 Learning Connections/The S.M.A.R.T. Institute
Amen Academy
Beta Theta Boule
Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Childhelp, Inc. 
City of Knoxville Community Empowerment Department
Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee 
Community Voices
Community Volunteers / Partners
East Tennessee Freedom Schools
Emerald Youth 
Forget You Not
Future of Hope Institute at Johnson University
Girl Talk Inc.
Harmony Family Center
Johnson University, Education 
KICKO
Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL)
KAUL Young Professionals
Knoxville Education Foundation
Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC)
KnoxWorx, Knoxville Leadership Foundation
Mayor Indya Kincannon
Metro Drug Coalition
Operation Hope
Pellissippi State Community College
Penultimate Development
Project Grad Knoxville
RealTalk Mentoring Inc.
SEEED Knoxville
Shora Foundation 
Skyranch Youth Aviation Program
University of Tennessee Football
The Knoxville Interdenominational Christian Ministerial Alliance (KICMA)
United Way of Greater Knoxville
University of Tennessee Diversity and Community Relations Office
Wesley House
YOKE
YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center 
Zaevion Dobson Memorial Foundation

MY BROTHER'S KEEPER

The My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Alliance leads a cross-sector national call to action focused on building safe and supportive communities for boys and young men of color where they feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity.

The MBK Pledge calls for mayors, city councils, and police oversight bodies to address police use of force policies and commit to the following actions:

1. REVIEW your police use of force policies.
2. ENGAGE your communities by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in your review.
3. REPORT the findings of your review to your community and seek feedback.
4. REFORM your community’s police use of force policies.

Mayor Kincannon Announces My Brother's Keeper Pledge - 06/04/2020



Learn more about the My Brother's Keeper Mayor's Pledge at www.obama.org/mayor-pledge

Learn more about the My Brother's Keeper Alliance at www.obama.org/mbka