The city of Boston has announced a significant initiative to support Black men and boys through a $500,000 grant program aimed at community-based organizations.
Unveiled by the Office of Black Male Advancement on April 14, the funding will be awarded to 52 organizations focusing on critical areas such as mentoring, housing mobility, economic inclusion, and out-of-school activities.
Harry Harding, vice president of innovation and strategic partnerships at Children’s Services of Roxbury, a recipient of the grant, emphasized the community’s moral responsibility to cultivate future leaders, millionaires, and change-makers from their own neighborhoods.
“These grants represent a vital investment in organizations with a proven track record of supporting Black men and boys,” stated Frank Farrow, executive director of the Office of Black Male Advancement.
Mayor Michelle Wu echoed this sentiment, highlighting the city’s commitment to empower the community.
“These grants support and uplift organizations who are already deeply invested in their communities and doing critical work every day across neighborhoods,” Wu remarked, expressing gratitude for the Office of Black Male Advancement’s efforts to ensure Boston is a city that embraces everyone.
Children’s Services of Roxbury will utilize its funding to enhance its Youth, Purpose, and Partnership Program, which connects local teens with opportunities for growth through digital storytelling.
Harding noted that the program aims to equip young people with essential technological skills and encourage their participation in community leadership.
“The beauty of it is that we want to give them access to all the different kinds of technology that may put them in positions to thrive,” he explained.
The grant will help cover salaries for program staff and provide stipends for youth involved in the program, ensuring they are rewarded for their contributions.
“This funding allows our teens to gain skills transferable to their future careers while amplifying voices that are too often overlooked,” Harding added.
He emphasized that young people want to engage positively in their communities, and their perspectives should not be disregarded.
Meanwhile, other organizations also expressed enthusiasm about the grants and their potential to benefit local youth.
William Dickerson II, senior pastor at Greater Love Tabernacle in Dorchester, underscored the necessity of investing in youth in the community.
He criticized those who merely criticize young people without providing the needed resources to help them succeed.
Dickerson’s church plans to allocate funds towards free field trips and educational programs, which he believes will direct young boys towards productive paths.
“This helps the young boys be directed in the right way.
It’s not about proselytizing; it’s about helping them stay off the streets and engage in constructive activities,” he asserted.
He invoked the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” stressing the collective responsibility to uplift youth.
Dickerson concluded that while some children might lack resources, they possess the intelligence and potential to thrive and contribute positively to Boston.
In addition to the financial support, grant recipients will gain access to a Capacity Building Institute that offers coaching and technical assistance to aid in fundraising efforts.
Harding anticipates that the capacity-building initiatives offered will foster connections among organizations serving similar communities.
“Partnership is really … the name of the game,” he stated, emphasizing that achieving shared goals necessitates investing in collaboration and building organizational capacity.
He pointed out that such capacity-building efforts, combined with the city’s financial support, will help dissolve the misconception that Boston is resource-rich yet network-poor.
“If we work together and collaborate more, we’ll yield better outcomes supported by the investments and resources we bring to the table,” Harding remarked.
This profound initiative marks a pivotal step for Boston as it strives to address systemic disparities and empower the city’s Black male population through meaningful investments in their communities.
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