Boys to Men Mentoring Network (BTM) is site-based group mentoring program focused on middle and high school boys identified by school administration as at-risk, i.e. exposed to high levels of risk in their families, homes,communities, and social environments.
The program has been highly praised by school administration, teachers and parents.
“I find words inadequate for describing the profound impact the Boys to Men organization has had on the lives of several of our students. This program has been responsible for the transformation of some of our toughest at-risk youth into individuals who now show concern about their school performance and want to better their personal relationships. They demonstrate a new found pride in themselves.”
Dana Wright, Principal La Mesa/Spring Valley Middle School Click here to read the full letter
We have 7 Boys to Men group mentoring sites in San Diego. Every week groups of dedicated Boys to Men mentors show up at middle schools, high schools and foster care facilities to talk about what it takes to become a good man. Discussion topics include drugs, bullying, divorce, and gangs.
Boys to Men Group Mentoring Program Overview
Boys to Men’s High School program is a Proven Success!
Boys to Men began our high school program sixteen months ago when a Gateway High School teacher noticed her at-risk male students didn’t have positive male role models in their lives and asked us to start a program for the high school boys.
Over those sixteen months, Boys to Men mentors came to Gateway after school, for one hour a week, and give these boys the positive male role models they were lacking. Our mentors didn’t help the boys with their homework, lecture them when they got in trouble or tell them how important it was to stay in school. In fact, we never told them what to do, gave them advice or solved their problems.
Yet the boys who participated in Boys to Men:
- Improved their GPA by an average of 57%.
- Reduced their discipline referrals by 216%.
- STAYED in school. Boys to Men students had a 0% dropout rate. (Gateway’s dropout rate before Boys to Men was 35.5%.)
How did we achieve these results?
We gave these boys a community of men and mentors who listened to them, believed in them and cared about them. Instead of telling them what to do, our mentors admitted the mistakes we made at their age, and told the truth about the struggles we face as men. This approach built a connection and trust that allowed boys and men to talk openly about the challenges in their lives and support each other in our journey to become better men.
[1] Gateway is a small (50 students) continuation school for students at high risk of academic failure who have been expelled from Grossmont School District High Schools.
More Testimonials
“I have seen young men with serious discipline issues join your program and gradually transform into honorable, honest, mature leaders on this campus. I am certain beyond question that we would not be experiencing the current positive environment at Spring Valley Middle School without the Boys to Men program. You have turned some of our most challenging students into productive leaders on campus, and we thank you.”
David Geck, Dean of Students La Mesa/Spring Valley Middle School Click here to read the full letter
Below is an excerpt from a letter from Counselor Bruce Crenshaw, who has attended three BTM weekends and attends the group mentoring sessions.
“I have been a counselor in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District for 23 years. This is the most powerful group I have worked with. I am impressed with the ROPA Weekend and the continued mentoring offered by this group is making a real difference in these boy's lives.”
Bruce Crenshaw, Counselor La Mesa/Spring Valley Middle School
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