Young Man with a Plan FY20 Report
“Being in YMWAP has brightened my horizon.
It really made me think of my future and what I want to do with my life.”
Despite a most challenging year, Young Man with a Plan continues to grow and deepen our program impact. YMWAP boasts incredible program demand, attendance, and pride of belonging. In 2019-20 YMWAP helped 128 Black and Latino males build brotherhood, progress academically and socially-emotionally, and develop Success Plans, which we continuously monitor with our young men.
Senior Outcomes
We attended the graduations of all our seniors. They received college acceptances to Olin School of Engineering; U Mass Amherst, Boston, Lowell and Dartmouth; BU; Bates; Northeastern; Bryant; Bentley; Wentworth; Framingham and Salem State, and Bunker Hill. Students are also going to BFIT, Year Up, and one to the military with the goal to become a police officer, with advice from Officer Mike, our BPD partner.
COVID
Through the duration of this pandemic we have been in constant contact with young men in the program through texts, FaceTime and Zoom—individually, by school, by grade, by weekly group. We make sure they are safe, secure and doing their schoolwork. They ask for advice and assistance. Our young men miss meaningful connection with their YMWAP brothers, schools and their friends. In addition to the disruption in normal schooling, many are dealing with almost daily neighborhood violence. Some of their families have been affected by Covid-19 illness. We have dropped off food, gift cards, video games, personal care and cleaning products.
Mentors
A cohort of eight school-based mentors received 16 hours of training in October 2019, with a focus on intrusive coaching skills, youth mental health, and social media issues. Mentors also attended brotherhood brunches during the year.
Boston Police Connection
BPD’s Officer Michael Long has joined the YMWAP family and attended several weekly meetings to discuss criminal justice careers and community policing.
College Admissions
Troy Williams, an admissions counselor from Harvard, spoke to our young men about college, college admissions, and the college essay.
Apprentice Mentors
Through a pilot launched in October, five apprentice mentors who were 2018 YMWAP graduates assisted at weekly meetings in capacities including serving food, learning about budgeting, and leading discussions about college and “lessons learned.”
Financial Literacy
We piloted a series of five Financial Literacy workshops with our 12th grade. Taught by certified financial advisor Isiah Benjamin, students played the “Rich Dad, Poor Dad Cash Flow” game, and discussed cost of living in Boston, the ROI of college, the “slow game” of building financial security, college financial aid, grants, scholarships and loans. They learned about compounded interest on savings and loans, and budgeting. As part of the financial literacy series guest educator Lenward Gattison shared his knowledge of home ownership and of real estate as a career.
Career Paths
Assistant Director Des Kennard led a project on Boston labor-market projections. Our students are ambitious and hungry for career guidance. They understand Boston’s gentrification, rising costs of living, and the need to prepare for work that enables them to grow financially. With funding from EdVestors, we developed “job descriptions” for ten IT/Computer and ten Healthcare jobs with post-secondary education requirements ranging from a 2-year certificate to advanced degrees. YMWAP also formed a connection with Ben Franklin Institute of Technology.
Leadership Development
Jaykyri was selected into the 2020 cohort of Strong Leaders Program (Lewis Family Foundation) where he participated in Leadership Development sessions and received one: one executive coaching. Jaykyri was also named a finalist in the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network Excellence Awards in the “Young Professional” category.
Outcomes
100% of students agreed “I enjoy being part of the brotherhood,” and, as a result of participating in YMWAP: I can make better decisions (94.8%); I have better relationships with people in my life such as teachers, family, friends (94.8%); I feel like I am gaining a sense of purpose (86.9%); and, If I say that I’m going to do something, I’m going to get it done (89.5%).
The best part of the program is: “being around new people and new faces, learning different perspectives, and the different goals everyone has - Having a space to go to and talk about what's going on with me and the world - All the love I got over these last 4 years - Having deep conversations about life, college, relationships, and how to move in a world that doesn't represent you - The guys I get to call my brothers - Having someone who can help me out when I don’t understand or don’t know what to do - Learning from the mistakes of Des, Jay and the other mentors so I wouldn't make them myself - The messaging Jay and Des delivered during the meetings - I love the food and being a part of a brotherhood - Having a place to go to after school to chill - The mentorship - Being together as a community.”
I learned: “That I can shy at times and that could keep me from certain opportunities – I am capable if I try - I need to open up more - If I put my mind to it I can get it done. All I have to do is work hard - I’m not really a school person but I love to work hard - I am someone other kids can look up to - I am a hard worker - I have a Boss mentality - If I keep at what I am doing, I will become successful in my own way - I need to take things more serious – I am able to do anything I put my mind to. Also that people will listen if you have something to say - I am motivated to live a purposeful life - I am a person everyone can get along with - I need to focus and try harder as a junior - I need to become more disciplined and focus on school - I want to be a lifelong learner.
I come back every week: “For the environment the mentors have created and how welcoming everyone is – because I know the mentors have our best interest at heart and have helped me focus on the things that are important - Having other kids that look like me - - Conversations that are real and authentic - Having people who have my back and meeting new people who could become my friend - The great environment, it always feels welcoming and I can always be myself -The environment that Jaykyri and Des have created - just the vibe in the room and how you feel comfortable telling everyone what's going on in my life - Music, real talks, guest educators, and Jay and Des – the brotherhood.
Delivering food donated by Lewis Family Foundation - Better Days - Zoom Check-In
ADDITIONAL 2020-21 COVID-RELATED UPDATES: During the challenging months of COVID and an uptick in Boston gang violence, we’ve provided deep sustained front line support for our young men. YMWAP continued intensive mentoring of 11th grade, ongoing recruitment of 9th grade, support of alumni as they fulfill college and work goals, and development and monitoring of individualized Success Plans.
We’ve taken a “case management” approach, implementing a daily schedule for checking in on young men regarding safety, physical and mental health, food, housing, family health, and academics. YMWAP increased school-based mentor hours and engaged, on a part-time basis, two community mentors who’ve worked with our young men in the past. Mentors received 16 hours of training that included trauma-informed care. The mentor cohort attends biweekly check-in meetings.
YMWAP staff and mentors have made over 220 deliveries of food, food gift cards, personal care products, cleaning products, masks and games to students in the program, enabled through donations from City of Boston Resiliency Fund, the Lewis Family Foundation, Haymarket People’s Fund, Stop & Shop, and The Boston Foundation. Food donations will continue throughout 2021.