The Golden Corridor YMCA is joining a national YMCA movement to invest in boys and young men of color. The YMCA Boys and Young Men of Color (BYMOC) strategy ensures equitable outcomes for boys and young men of color ages 11-17 by removing systemic barriers, providing relevant services and support systems, and creating nurturing environments that promote confidence and growth.

Why We Focus on Boys and Young Men of Color

• They are twice as likely to grow up in poverty
• They are more likely to live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty
• They are more likely to fall into poverty as adults, regardless of background

Interested in being a part of this program? Contact us.

Implementation

The BYMOC Strategy is designed for flexible implementation through policies, practices, and programs that can be defined by the needs of each community and Y, including the following areas.

Education

• Impact their attitudes toward education
• Empower them to believe in their capabilities
• Prepare them with the skills to achieve academic success

College & Career Readiness

• Create pipelines to connect them with post-secondary education and meaningful jobs
• Provide work-based learning experiences, financial education, skills development, career and college planning and resource navigation opportunities

Character Development

• Create experiences and environments that strengthen social-emotional competencies
• Support character development across the Y's core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility

Belonging & Community Building

• Help them build healthy relationships with peers and adults
• Foster their positive cultural- and self-identity
• Support opportunities for community connections and civic engagement

Health & Well-Being

• Help them develop healthy physical and eating habits
• Teach them about lifestyle changes that can prevent chronic conditions in adulthood such as diabetes and heart disease
• Combat their experiences with food insecurity

Boys and Young Men of Color Strategy Goals

By 2024, the BYMOC Strategy seeks to achieve the following outcomes for 10,000 boys and young men of color across 100 cities across the U.S.:

• 70% of participants will access high-quality, nurturing and more culturally responsive neighborhood environments
• 75% of participants will have stabilized and improved grades by reducing suspensions and improving school attendance
• 100% of participants will have completed pre- and post-assessment for social-emotional learning
• 75% of participants will access high quality post-secondary and career-ready pathways