History
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History Boys To Men
In 1996, the Boys to Men Mentoring Network was founded by Herb Sigurdson (1927-1997), Joe Sigurdson and Craig McClain in La Mesa, California. Before Herb’s passing, he was a former Executive Director of Father Flanagan’s Boys Town and dedicated his life to building a better world.
Cofounders Craig McClain & Joe Sigurdson
Joe and Craig worked diligently to assemble a team of committed men and created a mentoring program that was meant to support the fatherless teenage boys in their community. They created a curriculum that incorporates holistic, intergenerational, and asset-based mentoring practices and encourages community involvement, intensive self-reflection, positive critical thinking habits, and self-accountability.
The curriculum is being replicated in various communities to empower young men around the world (United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) that are autonomously governed and managed. In San Diego County alone, more than 13,000 boys and men have participated in the program from 1996-2024.
In August 2009, the first in-school group community was established in the San Diego public school system. This site-based group mentoring model has been a resounding success with school administrators, parents, mentors and, most importantly, the boys. In 2024, Boys to Men Mentoring facilitates groups at 38 school partner locations across San Diego County serving nearly 800 boys on a weekly basis.
