Spreading Holiday Cheer
DECEMBER 11 -13, 2024
Our annual holiday gift drive is back and ready to unwrap some smiles. Together, we can change the path of struggling young men and create a brighter future.
OUR NEXT STEP...
THE TEEN PATHWAY TO GREATNESS INITIATIVE
As we enter the next quarter century of empowering troubled teens, now is the time to expand our mission to offer a more comprehensive and far-reaching solution to the Boy Crisis in our community.
The pilot Teen Transformation Program will embrace a wrap-around approach that will have at its epicenter the hallmark Boys to Men programs that have successfully touched the lives of thousands of boys throughout San Diego County.
Why the Teen Pathway to Greatness Initiative? And Why Now?
Building on more than two decades of service, the leaders of Boys to Men are embracing a sense of urgency to create an even higher level of programmatic activities that will create long-term solutions. Boys to Men Mentoring wants to stand by its boys after they reach the age of 18—giving every boy an even greater opportunity to reach their full potential. Based on our successful track record, Boys to Men leadership is unanimously committed to the mission of enhancing and growing our visionary programs and services.
As our community of boys continues to evolve, it is all of our responsibility to provide them with the opportunities to receive the support they need to grow, and the resources they need to be successful.
The TEEN PATHWAY TO GREATNESS INITIATIVE has five components:
1] Journeyman Leadership Academy (JLA)
Boys to Men Mentoring seeks to establish the Journeyman Leadership Academy (JLA), a youth-led leadership program to promote positive and collaborative self-development amongst teenage boys. The Academy empowers boys to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to lead dynamic civic engagement and reform geared towards, but not limited to:
- celebrating diversity,
challenging oppressive systemic barriers, - reducing neighborhood violence,
- and encouraging positive change in the community.
JLA will offer dynamic youth leadership development opportunities for teenage boys allowing them to unleash their full potential and power. Through community service and advocacy, JLA will promote racial, ethnic, gender, and religious justice for all. JLA will encourage meaningful participation by providing distinctive opportunities to learn and apply leadership techniques in a safe and confidential environment.
2] The Coalition for a Brighter Future
Realizing that our boys may have needs and challenges beyond our expertise, our goal is to establish the Coalition for a Brighter Future—which provides a true “wrap-around” approach by uniting like-minded community agencies that provide a wide array of programs and services. This community of outstanding nonprofit partners will provide socio-emotional and other services that establish an inclusive method of surrounding our boys with resources, connections, and a pathway for success by empowering them to reach their full potential.
Examples of community partners include experts in drug and alcohol recovery; career training and job placement; continuing education, tutoring, vocational training and scholarships; suicide prevention; mental health services; and recreation. By surrounding our boys with as much expertise and resources as possible, we are laying a foundation for success and a brighter future for our boys in need.
3] Mentoring Program Expansion
The waiting list for Boys to Men’s mentoring program grows every week as the need for this kind of emotional support for our at-risk youth continues to be an effective way of addressing destructive behavior and academic delinquency. Not only is Boys to Men facilitating these safe spaces in schools across San Diego County, but we offer our mentors the tools required to effectively address the needs of these boys. This is our largest program, currently serving 37 middle and high schools, with 50 groups and approximately 800 boys each week. Our long-range goal is to be in every school in San Diego County, but within the next five years, we want to add more than 100 schools plus increase our Open Community Mentoring group sessions.
With the growth of our in-school mentoring program comes the need for office expansion and regional areas of support to better serve our program staff and service population. We are exploring innovative and cost-effective ways to expand our presence throughout San Diego County. Office expansion with the concept of satellite offices in each area of the county could be an affordable solution for personnel to work from and potentially host additional Open Community Mentoring Group sessions on a regular basis.
4] Adventure Mountain Weekend Expansion
With an increased number of schools serving many more teen boys, comes the need for additional Adventure Mountain Weekend retreats at Legacy Ranch. There will be a need for a full-time facility manager to supervise and maintain the Ranch plus oversee any improvements, renovations, etc. that are required.
5] Establishment of an Endowment
With an increased number of schools serving many more teen boys, comes the need for additional Adventure Mountain Weekend retreats at Legacy Ranch. There will be a need for a full-time facility manager to supervise and maintain the Ranch plus oversee any improvements, renovations, etc. that are required.