Young Males of Color Cross Cities Collaborative: YMC3

America’s young males of color are dropping out of high school at alarming rates, producing extremely low standardized test scores, matriculating to institutions of higher education at low rates, entering the juvenile justice system at disproportionate rates, and experiencing high rates of unemployment and underemployment.

According to the report titled “Public Education and Black Male Students” presented by The Schott Foundation for Public Education, in 2001-2002, “59% of African-American males did not receive diplomas with their cohort. ”  The problem is even more acute in urban areas, where the graduation rates are declining significantly. Only 38% of African-American males in Baltimore (City), MD, 54% in Washington, D.C.  and 49% in Philadelphia  graduate with their peers. 

In response to this pressing problem, Concerned Black Men and other national and local partners have created the Young Males of Color Cross Cities Collaborative (YMC3). A newly designed initiative focusing on young black males in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, YMC3’s goal is to improve the lives of young males of color in the areas of achievement, college and careers. CBM is the lead agency in this collaborative. Other partners include the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Associated Black Charities in Baltimore, and the Children and Youth Investment Trust in the District of Columbia.

YMC3 Mission and Goals

The mission of YMC3 is to improve the lives of young males of color (YMOC) by fostering community and system-level change through a youth-development lens that supports them to achieve their maximum potential. To achieve this mission, YMC3 has the following goals:

• To improve the organizational capacity of grassroots and community-based organizations to expand and enhance their infrastructure, program skills and funding opportunities for quality service delivery to YMOC;
• To influence local and national public policy through advocacy on behalf of YMOC for system-level change that ensures accountability to their needs;
• To conduct or promote community assessment and research that informs policies, promising practices and programs that support YMOC;
• To develop and promote the use of male-specific and culturally appropriate youth development practices and programs through promising models that can be replicated or adapted for national dissemination.

Anticipated Outcomes of YMC3

The long-range outcomes for the YMC3 initiative are to increase the academic achievement levels and high school completion rates of young males of color which will lead to increased college matriculation rates and improved preparedness for the world of employment.  As such, the YMC3 has both system and youth-specific outcomes.

YMC3 Organizational Structure

Concerned Black Men and its partners soon will hire staff for this initiative. The oversight of the effort consists of key stakeholders sitting on a National Leadership Council, Local Leadership Councils, and Local Advisory Councils (work groups).  A National Champion, a noted male of color, will assist in promoting the work of YMC3 across the country.