Breakfast With Purpose : A Morning at The Sassy Biscuit Revealed How The Rock Project is Building Community One Young Person at a Time
The founder of The Rock Project LLC is using mentorship, community, and new experiences to help Richmond's youth see a future beyond their neighborhoods.
by Tranae Cearnal
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | 6:00AM
Darryl "Rock" Johnston, right, poses with participants in The Rock Project LLC's summer program during a breakfast gathering at The Sassy Biscuit in Richmond.
RICHMOND, Va — There are plenty of people in Richmond talking about what our young people need. Darryl "Rock" Johnston would rather show them.
When The Richmond Seen sat down with Johnston at The Sassy Biscuit, he wasn't there for a meeting or fundraiser. He was there with almost 30 kids currently participating in The Rock Project LLC’s summer program. They were invited there after one of the restaurant's employees, whose child participates in the program, invited the group out for breakfast. It was a simple gesture, but one that perfectly captured the spirit of community Johnston has spent years building.
As plates of pancakes and biscuits made their way to the tables and kids laughed across the restaurant, Johnston took a few moments to talk with us about the work that has become much bigger than himself. The conversation wasn't just about his nonprofit. It was about Richmond.
The 2009 L.C. Bird graduate and father of four has spent years coaching, mentoring, and pouring into Richmond's youth. Through The Rock Project LLC, Johnston combines community service, entrepreneurship, leadership, and life skills
"I like to get these kids out of that neighborhood," he said. "Not because where they live is bad, but because I want them to see something different."
Creating Opportunities Beyond the Neighborhood
Sometimes that means taking a child from Southside to Chesterfield. Sometimes it's a trip to Kings Dominion. Sometimes it's simply introducing them to parts of the city they've never experienced before. Johnston recalled meeting young people who had never ventured outside the neighborhoods where they grew up.
Every outing becomes an opportunity to expand a child's world. For Johnston, the issue isn't that Richmond lacks talented young people. It's that too many of them are growing up without consistent guidance.
"I just feel like nowadays there are no role models or mentors," he said. "Instead of giving kids advice, they'll give them a vape or a gun."
Johnston knows firsthand how much one positive influence can change a person's trajectory. He credits coaches and mentors with helping shape his own life during his formative years as a student athlete, which is why he feels compelled to become that person for someone else.
"I've been trying to mentor these kids because that's what people did for me."
Growing up in Richmond, Johnston admits he "was in the mix." He understands the pressures, the temptations, and the decisions many of these young people face because he's lived them.
"I really be trying to steer kids away from certain stuff because I know."
As our conversation drifted beyond mentoring, we found ourselves talking about something bigger: community. Grandparents. Uncles. Neighbors. The village that once helped raise children. Programs like The Rock Project don't replace fathers, grandparents, or communities. But in many cases, they help fill the gaps left behind, providing kids with consistent adults who show up, listen, and invest.
Looking around The Sassy Biscuit that morning, it was hard not to see that village in action.
For more information on Darryl “Rock” Johnston and The Rock Project, LLC, follow them on Instagram @therockllc.
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