The Movement Makers: Zion & Jamal
Zion and Jamal Givens are the father-son team behind Up To It™— a national movement that equips schools, coalitions, and workplaces with real tools for connection, prevention, and long-term wellness. Together, they blend lived experience, professional insight, and cultural relevance to spark conversations that lead to lasting change.
The duo behind Up to It
From a Conversation Between Father and Son… to a Nationwide Ecosystem for Connection and Change
Up To It began with one powerful relationship — between a father and son committed to open, honest conversations about mental health, identity, and family. Zion and Jamal Givens turned their lived experience into a movement. Today, Up To It helps schools, coalitions, and organizations across the country build real connection and long-term mental wellness from the inside out.
Their programs don’t just spark good conversations — they empower students, trusted adults, and entire teams with the tools to create change that sticks.
Jamal Givens brings over 20 years of experience in mental health education and substance misuse prevention. As CEO of LPKNC, he’s led statewide coalitions, facilitated thousands of youth and adult workshops, and continues to champion family-centered solutions.
Zion Givens blends authenticity, cultural relevance, and high-energy facilitation to connect deeply with youth, especially young men. With lived experience and professional skill, he brings vulnerability, leadership, and action to every stage he steps on.
Together, they’re not just speakers — they’re building the future of youth mental wellness.
Our journey began with the realization of the unique beauty of our father-son relationship. We wanted to show that meaningful, impactful, and loving relationships with youth are possible and essential. Inspired by our experiences, we created Up To It Presentations to equip parents, guardians, grandparents, and trusted adults with the tools to navigate tough discussions and strengthen connections.
We offer engaging and interactive presentations for youth ages 12-21 and adults. Our main topic for youth is teen mental health. Additionally, we provide employee wellness presentations focused on mental health and parenting, aimed at fostering supportive and healthy work environments.
Our goal is to create a safe and supportive space where individuals and families can learn, grow, and ultimately create deeper connections with their loved ones. With our unique perspective and dynamic chemistry, we strive to make every presentation impactful and relatable.
Join us on this journey of growth and transformation. Let’s have those tough conversations and build stronger connections together.
It Started with Conversations… and Became a Movement
A father and son. Two generations. One mission: helping schools and communities create mental wellness systems that actually stick.
A father-son team with a fresh perspective
With two generations working together, we bridge the gap between youth and adults, making it easier to connect, understand, and learn from each other.
Real talk, no fluff
We don’t just repeat stats and theories—we share personal experiences, real stories, and practical insights that resonate with every audience. This realness is the foundation of the tools, trainings, and programs we’ve created — built to work in real life, not just theory.
Interactive, engaging, and fun
Forget boring lectures. Our sessions are packed with humor, storytelling, and hands-on activities that make learning about mental health and connection feel natural.
Passion with purpose
We’ve seen how conversations save lives. That’s why we built Up To It™ — to turn talk into action, and action into lasting change.
