Turning Insight to Action: Supporting Young Men and Boys in Maryland
A place-based partnership focused on mentoring, service learning, and stronger support systems.
At a Glance
Location: Maryland (Prince George’s County, Montgomery County; expanding to Baltimore City and the Eastern Shore)
Focus areas: Education; Workforce; Health and Civic Engagement
Community Partners: Maryland Governor’s Office for Children
Timeline: January 2026 – December 2028
Project Stage: Launch / Active implementation
Across Maryland, many young men and boys face real barriers to opportunity and well-being—especially boys and young men of color, who too often have less access to the support, relationships, and pathways that help people thrive. Where a young person lives can shape whether he has access to mentoring, service opportunities, and strong role models. Many communities already have promising programs and committed leaders in place, but access to support can still vary widely, and systems do not always connect in ways that help young people move forward.
With support from the AIR Opportunity Fund, AIR is working with the Governor’s Office for Children to strengthen the Young Men and Boys Initiative. Over three years, this project aims to help state and local partners build on strong work already underway, make support easier to reach, and create stronger pathways to opportunity for young men and boys. The work begins in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties and will expand to Baltimore City and the Eastern Shore.
Brandy Farrar
Institute Fellow
This work is about turning what communities already know into coordinated action. By grounding the work in local evidence and lived experience, we are strengthening systems so young men and boys have the support, connections, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Brandy Farrar
Institute Fellow
The project focuses on two research-backed strategies: mentoring and service learning. Together, these efforts can help young people build strong relationships with trusted adults, gain skills and confidence, and find stronger connections to school, work, and community life. AIR is working alongside community-based organizations, local and state leaders, and advisory groups to help align efforts and learn from what is working in each community.
The work includes identifying local strengths, tracking progress over time, and providing training and practical support to partners. Just as important, it will help communities and state and local leaders see where stronger coordination is needed and how programs can better reach the young people they are meant to serve. Over time, the goal is to strengthen local efforts, share lessons across the state, and build a stronger foundation for young men and boys across Maryland.
Project Updates
Launched in January 2026 in partnership with the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children and the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
Asset mapping is underway in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, including site visits, interviews, and focus groups with community-based organizations, young men and boys, and cross-sector partners.
Training and technical assistance are in progress to support early mentoring and service-learning efforts.
Expansion is planned for Baltimore City and Maryland’s Eastern Shore as the project moves into formative evaluation and ongoing technical assistance through 2028.
Supported by the AIR Opportunity Fund
The AIR Opportunity Fund invests in community-led efforts to expand opportunity and improve lives. Through Priority Places, it supports projects like this one with funding, research, and hands-on partnership—helping communities build on their strengths, strengthen what works, and inform future efforts in other places. Learn more.
