In his 2010 State of the City address, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg committed to finding new ways to tackle the broad disparities slowing the advancement of black and Latino young men relative to their peers in New York City. The Young Men’s Initiative, launched by the Mayor Bloomberg in August 2011, is the culmination of 18 months of researching the causes of those disparities and their potential remedies.
Through broad policy changes and agency reforms, a public-private partnership will invest more than $43 million annually in programs that will connect young men to education, employment, and mentoring opportunities; improve their health; and reduce their involvement with the criminal justice system. This report highlights both the Young Men’s Initiative policy goals, which include numerous efforts to break down legislative and institutional barriers to achievement for young men of color; and the new Young Men’s Initiative programs that offer expanded access to key skills and services.
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Press release
Soros Pledges $30 Million to Transform the Lives of NYC’s Most Vulnerable Black and Latino Boys
The Open Society Foundations today announced that it is partnering with New York City’s Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) to address broad disparities facing black and Latino boys and men in New York City.
Civic Engagement
Bolstering Women and Youth, Linchpins of Democracy
Philanthropy has historically underfunded women and youth. Open Society’s new $50 million investment in their engagement addresses that imbalance—and builds on recent surges in civic engagement crucial to the future of American democracy.
Art and Activism
Reimagining January 6th
The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol left him in a cold sweat. Creating a comic book seemed like one way to reach people not obsessively following the news and spark activism to help defend a multicultural democracy.