Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Dr. Arik King for being a spotlight for Black History Month. Check out the Future Kings website here. Learn more about the Chamber’s DEIA Committee here.

Where were you born and raised and, if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun?

I was born in Chester, PA, and raised in Media, PA. I moved to Stafford, VA in 1992. I have come to Loudoun as part of the expansion of my non-profit.

Tell us about your business/nonprofit, and how long you’ve been in your industry.

The name of my non-profit is Future Kings. We are a workforce development organization targeting boys of color from economically challenged households from diverse communities. We teach college-level STEM topics in the areas of cybersecurity, biomedical sciences, game design, and drone engineering. I have been in this industry for 13 years.

How did you get into this line of work?

I sold a business and began a career as a public school teacher. Once becoming a teacher, I recognized a need for programs that provided technical training and aspirational goals to Black and Latino boys.  I started an after-school program to meet that need. That program later became the basis for the Future Kings program.

Have you had any special mentors or inspirations that guided your career?

Martin Luther King, Jr, and Rev Leon Sullivan are special inspirations. Special mentors include James Garret, Clarence Miller, and James George.

What is the best part of your job and why?

The best part of the job is seeing the effect the program is having on both participants and their families. The positive feedback could never be purchased.

What is it like doing business in Loudoun/Northern Virginia?

I have been very pleased with my experiences in Loudoun County.  So far I have dealt with LCPS, Loudoun Education Foundation, Loudoun Cares, Claude Moore Foundation, Virts Miller Foundation, Xelevate, Loudoun Economic Development, a few non-profits, and a number of for-profit businesses. All experiences have been extremely positive.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month reminds me that Black History happens every day in ways large and small, that we need to better understand how important our own stories are, and that each of us has a responsibility to remember our past as well as advance our culture.

Favorite things to do when you are not working?

I enjoy sleeping, going to my favorite restaurants, and watching TV with my wife.

Thank you to Dr. Arik King! Check out the Future Kings website here.