THINK BIG: Eric Capehart

Black History Month at Tennessee State University

THINK BIG: Eric Capehart

*Tennessee State University celebrates Black History Month by recognizing individuals or organizations that have made noteworthy contributions to the University’s history, and are taking the “Think Big, TSU BIG!” approach to their areas of study and expertise while impacting the campus community and beyond.

It didn’t take much for 2004 Tennessee State University graduate Eric Capehart to recognize that minority youths fall prey to issues like poverty and crime at higher rates than their Caucasian peers. He found that any combinations of those issues lead young men of color to prematurely spend time in the juvenile court system.

Capehart felt a calling—“an inner voice”—that challenged him to do something about it. So, in 2007, the Nashville native founded All The King’s Men. The Christian-based nonprofit organization provides mentor programming for middle and high school-aged minority men living in the Nashville area. “I envisioned my organization to be one that would work to reduce the disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile court system among young men of color across the country. We are working to spread our mission on a global spectrum,” Capehart said.

The organization recruits Tennessee State University male students from the campus organization Collegiate 100 Black Men to become mentors in the program and calls on both local figures and former criminals to serve as speakers. The program spans the life of the young men from childhood into adulthood as the mentee grows into a mentor for future generations. Just last year, WSMV-TV Channel 4 News endorsed All The King’s Men as an effective program that actually works. To learn more about Capehart’s program, visit www.akmnashville.org.