The Governor’s Office for Children has announced a new pilot program through Maryland’s Young Men and Boys Initiative focused on strengthening literacy, mentorship, and mental wellness for boys and young men across the state. The program brings together the State of Maryland, the Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, and Boys Who Write, a nonprofit that uses communication-based programming to help boys build confidence, strengthen relationships, and support their emotional well-being.
Funded by the Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, the 12-week pilot will initially serve 40 middle-school youth in Frederick, St. Mary’s, and Harford counties, with plans to expand the program statewide. Participants will take part in a curriculum designed to build reading and writing skills while also providing mentorship and opportunities to strengthen relationship-building skills. The program will connect literacy to interests such as music, gaming, podcasting, storytelling, and digital media, while also addressing challenges associated with doomscrolling and gaming culture.
The initiative is intended to help address a statewide gap in English Language Arts performance, with boys trailing girls by roughly nine percentage points across grade levels. Boys Who Write will bring its evidence-based curriculum to youth participating in Boys & Girls Club programming, using a hybrid online and in-person model centered around engaging, technology-driven projects such as music production, game design, and storytelling.
Maryland’s Young Men and Boys Initiative will serve as a convening partner for the pilot. Led by the Governor’s Office for Children, the Initiative is focused on improving outcomes for boys and young men by supporting their physical and mental health, preparing them to participate in a changing economy, and strengthening their engagement in their families and communities.
Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs State Director Mark Piccirilli said the Alliance is excited to expand its partnership with the Governor’s Office for Children and the Young Men and Boys Initiative while bringing Boys Who Write programming to three club locations. Club members and staff will have the opportunity to participate in the curriculum and engage with mentors focused on supporting their well-being.
Manis Canning & Associates is proud to represent the Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and to support the meaningful work it is doing for young people throughout Maryland. We are especially proud to see the Alliance continuing to invest in programming that strengthens literacy, mentorship, and well-being while creating new opportunities for youth across the state.
