Young Man with a Plan

Young Man with a Plan (YMWAP) is a Boston mentoring nonprofit for young Black and Latino men, now settled in a permanent home in Hyde Park. It focuses on young men in the middle: youth who are neither high flyers nor acutely at risk and are often overlooked as a result. Through holistic mentoring sustained over six or more years, participants build brotherhood, make academic and social-emotional gains, and create success plans for sustainable futures.

During the school year, each young man receives three hours of weekly mentoring from staff and a team of school-based and near-peer mentors, and summer programming keeps participants connected and accountable. The program frames its work around wide gaps in Boston, including college attainment among Black men and life expectancy between neighborhoods. YMWAP leaders are often called on by school leaders, educators, METCO and funders to consult on the needs of young men of color.

What to Know

• The program works with more than 375 young men.
• In 2026 the organization was honored by the City of Boston and the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Advancement.
• Executive Director Dr. Jay Simpson’s doctoral research at New England College focused on Black male college persistence.
• It hosts Young Man Institute fireside chats on topics such as the role of rigor in academic spaces.