Counseling: Talking about feelings does not fit within traditional masculinity (Real, 1997) so many males choose not to enter counseling. Sadly, the most “difficult to reach” adolescent male often ends up in the criminal justice system (Counseling Magazine, 2007). We therefore use boys groups integrating media, arts, and culture to facilitate sharing, skill building and problem solving in a fun and safe environment. Redefining male strength as self-control, inner-peace, and healthy relationships, we prevent unwanted behaviors and build a positive peer network to support student success.

Leadership Development: The transition from elementary to middle school has been called one of the toughest, with after-school hours identified as the riskiest for violence, drugs and sexual activity (www.SafeYouth.org). BOTR therefore targets 4th through 8th grade males for this project. Each year, participants move through a month of school success training, a holistic health/Rites of Passage curriculum, training on peer education, and delivery of workshops for younger boys in their community. Older males from agencies like Ella Baker Center come in to present and team-building and outdoor education trips are taken to keep students engaged.

Academic Mentoring: With many boys struggling academically and far too few male teachers, BOTR staff lead H.W. Clubs for boys and girls, helping students to focus on academics and school success. Participants learn to value education as a youth and also to consider it as a future profession from the positive and professional men working with them.

Professional Mentoring: A bond with a caring adult is a protective factor that affects all areas of youth behavior and development. Yet for males who may lack this bond with their dad, providers have had trouble finding male mentors to fill this role. BOTR therefore works with Glenview Community Association, Montclair Community Action Group, the Rotary Club and other partners to connect students with a diverse group of men representing human service, social change careers and socially responsible business. Our speaker series events are integrated into our day counseling and after-school leadership programs. They provide our boys with exposure to a variety of career paths and a constant flow of men from the community who care about them and their future.

Youth Workshops: BOTR offers both one-time and on-going workshops for youth that may cover any of the following topics: Male Gender Socialization, Manhood Training, Media Literacy, Violence Prevention, Healthy Peer, Dating and Family Relationships, Coping Skills, Education, Employment and Life Planning. We have offered such workshops in partnership with Youth Employment Partnership and Berkeley Boosters Police Athletic League, as well for young men at Civicorps Schools.

Workforce Development: BOTR is working with our partners to expand our pipeline project to include training, education and work opportunities for young men interested in social service and social change careers. These are middle class professions including education, social work, and public health in which males are greatly under-represented yet greatly needed by boys and the community as a whole.

Parent Education & Staff Development: BOTR has facilitated both an on-going Boys Task Force at Edna Brewer Middle School to assist staff to improve boys’ outcomes school wide, as well workshops for teachers, Parent Associations, Master’s students at U.C. Berkeley School of Social Work, CASA volunteers working as advocates for Alameda County foster youth, Safe Passages Site Coordinators and after-school workers, and Youth Bridge nurses and youth workers. Partner with us to provide training in boys and young men’s work for your parents, employees or volunteers!