Our Story
Boys to Men Mentoring Network of Virginia (BTMVA) offers young men a safe place where they can talk about what is really going on in their lives, as well as a community of mentors and peers who listen, believe in them and help them make better choices
MISSION STATEMENT
Boys to Men Mentoring Network of Virginia's (BTMVA) mission is to support boys during their critical teenage years as they transition from a boy into a man. We do this by providing communities of caring mentors and role models who listen, accept, encourage and support teenage boys on their journey to become good men.
THE PROGRAM
BTMVA works with middle schools, high schools, churches, and other community organizations that serve youth to build a community of mentorship for young men. The goal is to give young men a variety of positive male role models who show up consistently and tell the truth about their struggles as men. We focus on young men aged 12-17 with an emphasis on middle school boys, as this is traditionally a time when boys are still impressionable and open to new ideas. Mentors help young men figure out what kind of an adult man he wants to be, praise him for his gifts, support him when he makes mistakes, and encourage him to make good choices on his path to manhood. The desire is for this to be learned from a positive role model verses someone on the street corner (e.g. gang member or peer). Young men in the program typically come from a single parent-figure household (e.g. mother, grandmother or aunt). They are referred to the program by parents, mental health professionals, teachers and counselors, the court system, social workers, peers and word of mouth.
WHO WE SERVE
There are currently 22 active circle locations in the Greater Richmond and Tri-Cities areas serving approximately 200 boys per week.
Chesterfield County
Academy 360
Bailey Bridge Middle School
Elizabeth Davis Middle School
Falling Creek Middle School
Manchester Middle School
Matoaca High School
Matoaca Middle School
Midlothian High School
Midlothian Middle School
Providence Middle School
Robious Middle School
Salem Church Middle School
Swift Creek Middle School
Tomahawk Creek Middle School
Community Circle: Career & Technical Center - Courthouse Location
Contact info@btmva.org to learn more
City of Colonial Heights
Colonial Heights Middle School
City of Hopewell
Hopewell High School
Prince George County
N.B. Clements Middle School
Prince George School of Education
City of Richmond
Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School
Cristo Rey Richmond High School
Virtual Circle
Contact
info@btmva.org to learn more
Our programs receive full support from staff, administrators and parents from these various settings.
BACKGROUND
Boys to Men Mentoring Network (BTM) was founded in 1996 in San Diego, California. The program has now spread across the United States and has international centers in Canada, Europe, New Zealand and South Africa. At present, there are 23 local centers throughout the world. Originally a community-based program, BTM is now focusing on building partnerships with schools and other community organizations to create site-based mentoring programs.
In 2009, Richmond native Steve Martin founded the local Richmond chapter (BTMVA) after working for several years with young men from Richmond through the auspices of the Washington D.C. chapter. BTMVA was incorporated as an independent BTM chapter in 2010 and received 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status in 2012.
