{"id":253,"date":"2024-09-28T23:03:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T03:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/?page_id=253"},"modified":"2025-07-22T14:55:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T18:55:22","slug":"mission-philosophy-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/our-program\/mission-philosophy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Mission & Philosophy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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OUR MISSION & HISTORY<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Mission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Young Man with a Plan delivers holistic mentoring that helps over 375 young Black and Latino men in Boston build brotherhood, make academic and social-emotional gains, and access sustainable futures.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We create a new culture of brotherhood, respect, and aspiration<\/strong> for Boston’s Black and Latino teens to help them achieve college, career, and life success.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We serve young men in the middle<\/strong>: youth in grades 7-12 who are often overlooked because they\u2019re neither the high-flyers nor the acutely at-risk.<\/strong> They lack a place to belong and benefit greatly from sustained guidance and mentorship. We continue to serve alumni through age 24+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recruit participants from our 8 partner schools in Boston<\/strong>, which allows our dedicated team of 8 in-school mentors to provide frequent and immediately accessible support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combined with our weekly after-school group programming led by skilled staff mentors, young men receive 3+ hours of mentoring weekly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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YMWAP achieves results through 5 research-informed strategies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Connecting youth to caring adults<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Strengthening academic, social emotional, and financial literacy skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Individualized success planning<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Quality partnerships<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Creating a protective community<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    YMWAP is led by Executive Director Jaykyri Simpson, Ed.D., whose doctoral research <\/strong>on Black male college persistence affirmed the value of mentoring<\/strong> and the degree to which young Black men crave explicit guidance respectfully delivered by trusted people.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    History<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    Launched in 2015,<\/strong> YMWAP was a direct response to a 2014 meeting of cross-sector Boston school leaders who, deeply troubled by achievement gaps, academic disengagement, and increasing neighborhood violence, named their most urgent concern as \u201chigh school men of color in the middle.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Since our initial seed funding from the Charles Hayden Foundation, YMWAP has grown from 1 staff leader, 8 school-based mentors, and 30 students, into a staff team of 8, mentor team of 18, and 375 students and alums. We have added college and career curriculum<\/strong>, built a near-peer youth mentoring<\/strong> program, and were a Social Innovation Forum Innovator<\/strong> in 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    In 2021, YMWAP rented upstairs space in Hyde Park. In 2024, YMWAP expanded this program space,<\/strong> additionally renting the ground-floor space below our existing office, adding 3,000 sq. ft. newly built out with a fitness area, kitchen, shower, and washer-dryer <\/strong>– providing our young men with a space designed especially for them.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Formerly under fiscal agency, YMWAP received 501c3 status in 2023<\/strong> – a significant milestone for the growing organization!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    OUR PHILOSOPHY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    We know the value of mentoring through our own experiences as teenagers<\/strong>\u2014the critical guidance we received \u201cjust in time,\u201d as well as situations where we would have benefitted from additional coaching. As leaders of Young Man with a Plan, we hope to help our young men avoid some of the potholes we drove into on the road of life!<\/strong>

    We know that it is a challenging world out there for our students and that many of them don\u2019t see a place for themselves or a clear path forward. We also believe Boston (and beyond) offers endless opportunities <\/strong>if only our young men are aware of them and ready for them. We help students in the program to develop a belief system that elevates their vision<\/strong> of who they are capable of becoming and a Success Plan that outlines the steps to achieve it<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    \u201cYMWAP has been a great benefit in my life. <\/em><\/strong> Ever since the first session it felt like a family and put me with a group of role models who actually care about me and my future. YMWAP has changed the way I view myself and the goals I want to set forth for my life.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    OUR APPROACH<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Young Man with a Plan:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    • Is a 5+-year program<\/strong> of sustained holistic mentoring serving 375 Black and Latino teens and young adults ages 14 – 24<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Serves students \u201cin the middle\u201d<\/strong> who both have potential and are at risk of getting lost<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Has a focus on both academic and social-emotional growth<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Provides a safe place<\/strong> for young men from 8 Boston schools<\/strong>, all Boston neighborhoods and different cultures to meet together to share their hopes, fears, challenges and achievements<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Is led by Dr. Jaykyri Simpson, whose doctoral research focused on college persistence in Black males<\/strong>, and a talented program staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Has a men of color mentor team of 8<\/strong>, one in each participating school, who support students, form a supportive brotherhood, receive annual professional development, and bring the learning back into their schools<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Helps students understand college\/career options<\/strong> and develop a Success Plan<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Includes community service,<\/strong> cultural events, and a NH weekend wilderness trip<\/strong> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Provides opportunities for young men to meet and learn from successful men<\/strong> through their leaders, mentors, Men of Color Career Night, and enrichment like filmmaking, writing, and financial literacy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Is guided by a diverse Board<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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      Why is this work so important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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      At YMWAP, we wake up every day called to action by studies illuminating Boston\u2019s racial wealth and life expectancy gaps.<\/strong>

      YMWAP is dedicated to closing these gaps<\/strong> through educating, mentoring,  and exposing students to new ideas, places, experiences and college and career options. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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      What Distinguishes YMWAP From Other Mentoring Programs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      1. Our Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      More than 75%<\/strong> of our young men progress academically and nearly 100% grow socially and emotionally.<\/strong> Negative outcomes like teen parenthood, involvement in the criminal justice system, relationship violence, drug or alcohol abuse, and school suspension or expulsion are nearly nonexistent.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      2. Demand for Our Program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      YMWAP has a great and growing reputation. Our roster is full<\/strong> and the demand continues with constant requests to join or bring a friend.<\/strong> This is rarely the case for an after-school program that high school students must travel to! To meet this increased demand, we have recently expanded into 7th and 8th grade.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      3. Our Authentic Culture of Belonging & Accountability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      YMWAP is cross sector\/cross race\/cross neighborhood\/cross culture. We have created a brotherhood that builds understanding, breaks down walls, and disrupts violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Sustained mentoring through high school and during early college and career builds trusting relationships, encouraging young men to make good choices and pursue their full potential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Our retention rate is over 90%. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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      Accountability is our love language<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>
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      Young men enthusiastically attend weekly group meetings where they build brotherhood, check in and learn. Our work, however, continues outside of group with ongoing 1: 1 communication and coaching, often to address acute issues experienced at home, school or in relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Our leaders and extended mentor team serve as role models for brotherhood, provide support for each other, and encourage each other’s growth.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      OUR MISSION & HISTORY Mission Young Man with a Plan delivers holistic mentoring that helps over 375 young Black and Latino men in Boston build brotherhood, make academic and social-emotional gains, and access sustainable futures. We create a new culture of brotherhood, respect, and aspiration for Boston’s Black and Latino teens to help them achieve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":241273083,"featured_media":0,"parent":1567,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-253","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/author\/gmoralesc4ba7aef0f\/","display_name":"Giovany Morales"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Publicado 2 a\u00f1os hace","modified":"Actualizado 9 meses hace"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Publicado el septiembre 28, 2024","modified":"Actualizado el julio 22, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Publicado el septiembre 28, 2024 11:03 pm","modified":"Actualizado el julio 22, 2025 2:55 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PfcOmb-45","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/241273083"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253"}],"version-history":[{"count":100,"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2749,"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/253\/revisions\/2749"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youngmanwithaplan.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}