The YMCA Boys and Young Men of Color (BYMOC) strategy builds on, and invests in, pathways to success to help boys and young men of color reach their full potential. The First Coast YMCA is one of 54 Ys nationally participating in this strategy.
Ensuring Equitable Outcomes
The BYMOC Strategy ensures equitable outcomes for boys and young men of color ages 11-17 by removing systemic barriers, providing relevant services and support systems and creating nurturing environments that promote confidence and growth.
Why We Focus on Boys and Young Men of Color
- They are twice as likely to grow up in poverty
- They are more likely to live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty
- They are more likely to fall into poverty as adults, regardless of background
LEARN ABOUT THE Y’S HISTORY OF INVESTING IN BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR
Strategy Goals
The BYMOC Strategy is designed for flexible implementation through policies, practices, and programs that can be defined by the needs of each community and Y, including the following areas.
Implementation
The BYMOC Strategy is designed for flexible implementation through policies, practices, and programs that can be defined by the needs of each community and Y, including the following areas.
- Impacts students’ educational drive
- Empowers participants to believe in their capabilities
- Prepares them with the skills to achieve academic success
- Develops college- and career-ready young people
- Creates pipelines to connect them with post-secondary education and meaningful jobs
- Provides work-based learning experiences, financial education, skills development, career and college planning and resource navigation opportunities
- Creates experiences and environments that strengthen social-emotional competencies
- Supports character development across core Y values: honesty, caring, respect and responsibility
- Helps young people build healthy relationships with peers and adults
- Fosters positive cultural identity and self-identity
- Supports community connections and civic engagement
- Works with young people to develop healthy physical fitness and eating habits
- Focuses on healthy lifestyle changes that can prevent chronic conditions in adulthood (diabetes, heart disease, etc.)
- Combats food insecurity
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at YMCA Boys and Young Men of Color Conference – Washington D.C.
Learn More
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For more information on BYMOC and how it is making a difference across the country, visit the Y-USA page by clicking here.
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To learn more about ways to support BYMOC on the First Coast, contact Nekita R. Nesmith, CAP® at nnesmith@fcymca.org.
