Toson Knight, President and Founder of Caught Up Mentoring

"I was a troubled kid,” says Toson Knight, noting that he was kicked out of 13 different schools. Growing up in Highland Park, he says he has witnessed a number of his friends from his neighborhood get killed or go to prison.

“Everybody had written me off,” Knight says.

Without a steady father figure or a big brother in his life, Knight realizes he could have benefited from having a mentor when he was younger.

Today Knight runs Caught Up Mentoring, an organization that connects at-risk boys with mentors to help with building character in every facet of their lives. The organization started with the Project Re-Entry program, where they work with boys in juvenile centers to prepare them for life after being released. Knight brings in officials from GED and trade schools to teach them about their options, helps them prepare resumes, teaches financial literacy, dressing for success, health and fitness, and eventually connects them with mentors to keep up with them and their progress when they’re released.

“Sometimes they’re depressed. They don’t know what they’re going to do, so we try to connect them with people that can walk them through the process, make sure they’re going to school, and to help them find a job,” Knight says.

Knight also takes this same program into local high schools and works with at-risk students, teaching them life skills, learning from different members of the community and, in turn, developing character.

Knight eventually brought this program into schools, working with at-risk youth, which they call Project Empower.

Basketball plays a huge role in what Knight does in Caught Up Mentoring, which he uses to instill discipline and life skills with the students in Project I.S.O., and the kids that attend his Saturday Night Live program.

“Saturday Night Live, that program is basically for the neighborhood kids,” Knight says. “They’re always looking for something to do, so every Saturday we play basketball, bring different speakers to talk to them, and then provide them with food.”

At 29, running a mentoring organization and serving as a deputy district manager for the City of Detroit, Knight has a pretty full plate.

“I’m never bored, I can say that. I always have something to do,” Knight says. “I’m young, I’m energetic and I’m relatable. I feel like right now, one of my advantages is that I’m close in age with the kids, so I understand and they can see somebody that’s been through their footsteps.”

Despite being so busy, Knight has big plans for Caught Up Mentoring. He hopes to expand his program to more juvenile centers, more schools and to reach more kids.

“I just really want to make a big impact. Especially on the eastside,” Knight says. “I’m focused on there lately because that’s where I live, so I’m very interested in expanding the program.”

Another big goal Knight has for the organization is to one day open a community center where kids can play basketball and do their homework after school.

Knight and the rest of the staff stand out among most mentoring organizations because they strive to take into account that every child is different and encounters different challenges. The Caught Up Mentoring team works diligently to ensure the success of every student.

“There’s a huge need for this type of program, and professional mentoring in general,” Knight says. “A lot of people can say they have a mentoring program, but it’s about follow-up, it’s about professionalism, it’s about getting good speakers and putting on an authentic programing. That’s what’s most important to me as we continue to grow.”

LEND A HAND

Caught Up Mentoring is on the lookout for volunteers. Lend a hand as a mentor or spend some time giving a presentation to a group of kids in the program. And of course, monetary donations are also greatly appreciated. For more information about Caught Up Mentoring, call 313-510-8393 or visit CaughtUp.org.