Monday Mission Update: One Young Man. Endless Possibilities.
When you ask Jason about his experience with the Y, he doesn't start by talking about programs.
He talks about people.
As a freshman in the Next Generation Scholars program, Jason found mentors who challenged him, peers who encouraged him, and experiences that pushed him outside his comfort zone. Through the Y's Young Men Thriving initiative and Freedom Riders program, he discovered confidence, leadership, and a belief that he could shape his own future. Jason's story.
One of his favorite memories came during the Young Men Thriving Retreat, where he spent time outdoors zip-lining, trying archery, tackling team-building challenges, and having honest conversations with other young men and mentors.
Reflecting on the experience, Jason shared:
"Whether it's something small like riding a roller coaster or something big like pursuing a major opportunity, don't let your fears stop you from being great." (The Y in Central Maryland)
Unfortunately, Jason's story is not yet the norm.
Across our country, too many boys and young men are struggling with loneliness, mental health challenges, and a lack of meaningful connection. Suicide rates among young men have increased by one-third over the past 15 years. One in seven young men reports having no close friends, two-thirds of men under 30 believe that no one cares if they're okay, and men now account for only 41% of college degrees being earned (lower than women's share in 1970).
These statistics remind us why this work matters.
The Y's Young Men Thriving initiative exists to ensure more young men experience what Jason did: caring adults who believe in them, opportunities to build confidence and leadership, and a community that reminds them they belong. Serving boys ages 11 to 17 during pivotal years of development, the initiative combines mentorship, youth development, academic support, career exploration, and social-emotional learning to help young men reach their full potential. When you add in young men ages 18 to 23, here at the Y we are serving around 27,000 boys and young men across all of the ways in which we engage with them (programmatically, through membership and employment). That’s a big responsibility that we take very seriously.
Jason is now preparing to attend the University of Maryland to study molecular biology— a future built not by chance, but by encouragement, opportunity, and by the people and organizations who invested in him. His story is a powerful reminder of what can happen when a young man has a community in his corner.
At the Y, that's exactly what we're building every day.
One relationship. One opportunity. One young man at a time.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland