Who Are We?
Omega Lamplighters, Inc.
It all started in 2008…
Omega Lamplighters, Incorporated( #OLL) is a 501c3 youth leadership organization for young men in grades Third through Twelfth founded in 2008 by Royle King II. Tuesday, September 15, 2008 Omega Lamplighters was founded by Royle King II in Tallahassee, FL. The program was the brain child of King II who participated in two mentoring programs in his high school years. The Omega Sparks program created by the Theta Alpha Foundation (Dallas, TX) and the Dallas Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists Urban Journalism Boot Camp, a member chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. From this experience King II said he would later create something that was as impactful in his life but with a twist and inclusion of fun and things he wanted to do more of as a teen mixed with the additional things he knew he needed as a African American male in America. The program was piloted with 12 young men from the Big Bend area. Six from Wakulla H.S., two from Godby H.S., two from Lincoln H.S., one from Florida H.S. and one from Leon H.S. Simeon Nelson was appointed as the programs first Director. The first three and a half years set the foundation for the program and the formal in-duction process was birthed from these experiences leading to the first class of Omega Lamplighters. Sunday, February 15, 2012 the first official class, “Optimus 20”, of Omega Lamplighters was inducted into the program. During this time, the official logo, colors and shield design was adopted. The Big Bend Area (Florida) chapters include Leon (Tallahassee), Wakulla, Gadsden and Jefferson County.
Principles: Leadership, Academics, Maturity & Perseverance
MISSION: To prepare young men to be responsible citizens through a village of community mentors teaching perseverance, self-awareness, and confidence.
VISION: To be the premiere organization building a village that empowers & supports young men to achieve more than they thought possible.
Program Colors: Purple & Silver
Alternate Colors: Black, White & Green
Nickname:Light Team (#OLL)
Motto: “Together We’ll Do The Impossible" "It Takes A Village"
Aim: Turn good young men into GREAT young men!
Omega Junior Lamplighters
Then Came Omega Junior Lamplighters (#JLL) in 2016…
Omega Junior Lamplighters program is a mentoring program that focuses on the upliftment and development of male youth grades Sixth - Eighth. The program is part of the Omega Lamplighters Inc., mentoring program and was created to reach youth sooner and create a deeper path to early success. The purpose is to develop an atmosphere of learning, accountability, and brotherhood. We aim to accomplish this through our focus on the principles of Truth, Family, Friendship, Respect. These principles will serve as reminders to seek the Truth, respect Family, value Friendship, and treat others with Respect. The theme of “Am I My Brother’s Keeper” reflects group loyalty, group participation and group development. Junior Lamplighters are the first of its kind in Big Bend Area and in the program.
Thursday, August 18, 2016 Royle King II and Larry Harris had the initial meeting to give birth to the formal creation of the Omega Junior Lamplighters program in Tallahassee, FL. The two strategeically mapped out what the program would look like for a year and in 2017 began to take steps to induct the first class. Saturday August 11, 2018 the inaugural class of 19 young men were introduced and inducted into the Omega Junior Lamplighters program.
Program Colors: Purple & Black
Alternate Colors: White Green & Silver
Nickname: Fearsome Junior Light Team (#JLL)
Motto: “Keepers Of The Torch, Protectors Of The Flame"
Leaders In Training
Finally There Was Three! (#LLL) in 2022…
Leaders in Training (L.I.T) or (Little Lamplighters) is a leadership development mentoring program that focuses on the uplifting and development of male youth in grades third through fifth. The program is newly created and is a part of the Omega Lamplighters, Inc. mentoring program. The purpose is to create an atmosphere of learning, accountability, and brotherhood. The goal is for youth to now participate from elementary through high school.
Program Colors: Purple (Royalty) and Orange (Youthful Creativity)
Alternate Colors: White Green & Silver
Nickname: Little Lamplighters, L.I.T, Triple L, Little Lights and Little Lamps (#LLL)
Motto: “Fuel to the Torch, Spark to the Flame”