Overview

Today’s youth face many obstacles. Community violence and other stressors create at-risk environments where making positive life choices can feel impossible. It’s easy for young men, particularly from disadvantaged communities, to become angry and afraid. It’s easy for them to follow negative influences that lead to serious trouble. It’s easy for them to drop out of school. In 2001, the Becoming A Man® program was launched to help young men navigate difficult circumstances that threaten their future. In 2017, BAM-Boston was founded to seek the same nationally-recognized outcomes for young men of color at risk for poor academic outcomes and/or involvement in the juvenile justice system as BAM has achieved in Chicago. Research by the University of Chicago Crime Lab has found that BAM reduces violent crime arrests by 50% and increases on-time high school graduation rates for youth in under-resourced communities. #SEL #CBT