What Does It Mean to Be a Man is group for male teens ages 10-13 and 14-17 at Balance Health and Wellnessgeared towards middle school/high schoolboys. This group is especially geared towards young men who do not have a father or significant male role model in their life, but is open to any young man looking to develop their sense of self.The group will engage in activities geared towards developing healthy self-expression, interpersonal skills, and a vision for their future. Youth will learn to answer the question of what it means to be a man themselves, set goals to become that man, and involve themselves in active living to accomplish their goals.
/Who We Are
About Us
“What Does it Mean to Be a Man” started as an idea in a college class to help boys reach their potential as men. The founder, Tyler Atkinson, wanted to create a space for young men to come together and talk about what it was like to grow-up as a male in their community, how to deal with pressures and conflict that comes into their life, and set goals as to the kind of man they wanted to be in the futureContact Us
Phone: (928)-286-7229Email: to sign up or for more information
References
Boys to Men. (2015). The Middle School Boy Problem. Retrieved from Boys to Men:Grover, S. (2016, June 03). Boys Without Fathers: 3 Myths, 3 Miracles. Retrieved from Phsychology Today:
/ What Does it Mean to Be a Man
405 N Beaver St, Suite 9
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
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What Does it Mean to Be a Man /
Sponsored by Balance Health and Wellness
The Struggle
The national program called Boys to Men as called Middle School the “critical window” of a boy’s life. Studies have shown that many of the struggles boys face begin to really hit hard in middle schools. According to statistics 85% of youths in prisons came from fatherless homes, 71% of high school drop outs come from fatherless homes, 63% of youth suicides come from fatherless homes (Boys to Men, 2015). On top of this GPA’s drop for boys across the spectrum, and those with GPA’s lower than 2.5 drop the hardest. The average age of a boys first drug use is 13, and alcohol consumption begins at age 12. /Reality
The reality is that young men are amazing and just because they don’t have a father doesn’t mean that they face impossible odds. They are often bright, insightful, and have real dreams and aspirations that they can achieve. Studies have shown, and have even been documented in films like “In a Perfect World…” that boys, no matter what their circumstances are in,can be just as successful in society as any other child given the right support (Grover, 2016).“It is easier to build strong children that it is to repair broken men.”
-Fredrick Douglas
The Support
Studies have shown how mentorship support and meeting other boys from fatherless homes supports boys in self-identity, helps them set goals for the future, and raises their GPA. What Does it Mean to be a Man is geared towards providing time and space to make boys bright potential and dreams become reality. /
Who, When, Where
The group is facilitated by Tyler Atkinson BSW. Mentors come from volunteer from the community and NAU student population. Community members may also be occasionally be invited to participate by teaching or sharing about profession skills such as home repair, art, cooking, being a pilot, becoming a doctor, and car mechanics depending on the various interests of the particular group and their vision of what it mean to be a man.Group Meetings are held at Balance Mental Health and Wellness from 4:00-5:00 on Tuesdays for young men ages 14-17 and Thursdays from 4:00-5:00 for ages 10-13.