provide opportunities for young people to achieve in school, in work and in the community.

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:

Emily Norris
Youth Engagement Coordinator
Office of Community Empowerment
865-215-3524
[email protected]


Mayor's Youth Council

The Mayor's Youth Council was established in 2021 with 17 members from eight area middle and high schools to create a platform for high-performing and high-potential young people to have meaningful and effective roles in the City’s policy and decision-making processes. Council members will collaboratively identify and address issues around community organizing, leadership and advocacy. As representatives of Knoxville’s youth, Council members will be responsible for elevating all youth voices through consistent communication with other youth.


Youth Forums

Empower Knox staff held Youth Forums in November 2021 to ask young people about their thoughts about the City of Knoxville and what changes they'd like to see made in the community.  

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
Change Center
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 Interdenominational Christian Ministerial Alliance (KICMA)
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
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