Our Story

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.