As we get to know our youth through programs like Friday Night Club, ACBA basketball, and BAP, we recognize that some of the young men in our community lack positive male role models in their lives. Often, our young men learn that the only emotion they can freely express is anger. Our goal is to provide a safe space for young men to express themselves and learn from one another. So, we established the Boys2Men program to further nurture a safe environment for our youth and young adult community.

We strive to create an environment for young men to openly discuss real world subjects, encouraging young people to ask tough questions. The focus will be on topics that are not necessarily taught or talked about in school, but are vital for transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. We want to engage our high school men in subject matters ranging from deeper topics such as faith and religion, parent communication, and positive romantic relationships, to other less serious, but still very important topics, such as college success, health and fitness, and the ability to manage personal finances.

The group meets on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 6:30 PM, and begins with a discussion topic. Afterwards, we have a “survival cooking class”, where we cook a simple low-budget meal together, and then eat and fellowship. So far, we have six participants and hope to grow to a group of 8-10. Sherman and I feel great that we can provide the youth with the knowledge and guidance we wish we had in high school. We believe that it will give our young men confidence in their future success and further foster the Cameron House culture of faith and mentorship.

Casey Chow, Cameron House Leadership Development Programs Coordinator