Boys to Men Mentoring Network

The mission of Boys to Men North Central AZ is to promote fundamental positive change in the lives of boys, their families, and the community by harnessing the power of group mentoring and the rite of passage. We empower young men to make healthy choices so they can become the man they want to be.

According to the 2015 Gallup Youth Poll, fewer than 48% of students feel engaged in school. Boys in particular are disengaged; they earn three-quarters of failing grades and are suspended more often than girls. In 2016, in Yavapai County, boys high school graduation rates were 8% lower than girls. Boys without a diploma are at risk for unemployment, low wages, and dependency. In fact, a study by Northwestern University found that a dropout costs taxpayers $292,000 over the course of a lifetime. Boys, in particular, need the support of adult mentors and healthy peer interactions in order to remain focused on their education. Since 2009, we have been providing those carefully designed, supportive mentoring interactions in schools. Each week, trained mentors meet with a select group of boys in schools to tackle the topics that matter to maturing boys.
Our mentoring is unique in several ways. We focus on emotional maturity and resilience rather than academic coaching. This focus helps boys bounce back from adversity and to develop positive character traits. We use group (rather than one-on-one) discussions to interrupt the isolation that teen boys experience and help them develop teamwork and leadership skills. Because we hold our mentoring circles in school, during school time, we encourage engagement and belonging in a way that ripples throughout the participants' school day. These unique elements have significant effects: boys who participated for one school year improved their GPA by an average of 27% and discipline incidents declined by 85%.

Testimonials

Bill's Story - "I started attending the Prescott High School circle and there were some guys there talking about this thing called Rite of Passage Adventure Weekend (ROPAW) and I just decided to go. That was definitely an experience. ROPAW meant a lot to me because it felt like I was being rebirthed as a different person. Before the ROPAW I kinda portrayed myself as someone who I wasn't and I was able to become proud of who I really am. If I hadn't gotten involved with Boys to Men, I'd still be same stupid kid, getting in trouble with the law and in school. Doing drugs and dumb stuff. I might even be dead. You could say that Boys to Men saved my life. Now I'm looking forward to growing up, finding a family, and just living a great life.
- Bill
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"​I've never had a father to teach me… but this weekend has given me a village of fathers, grandfathers and brothers." - John

"I was able to connect with the mentors and I was able to tell them stuff that I had never told anyone before." - Charlie

"​Bringing BTM to our school has added an additional layer of support for students who need as much support as possible. During the circles I have seen students who typically take very few things serious having meaningful conversations with their peers, opening up about themselves and others, and feeling valued. This year we have expanded the program to include more boys and I look forward to seeing how it could grow in the future." - Andy Binder | Principal | Prescott Mile High Middle School

"​We recently had a 17 year old boy work in the Boys to Men program. This boy had a severe substance abuse issue as a result of living in a violent home. He has searched for a positive male role model and BTM has provided him with a safe place to voice his fears and provide stable relationships and positive role models to begin a new life. Though this boy's struggles are far from over, this program has certainly laid a foundation for positive changes to begin. We have seen this scenario play out for several of the kids we serve.​"
- Scott Mabery, Yavapai County Director of Juvenile Probation