Becoming A Man (BAM)

At 17, Phillip* has lost many of the most important people in his life including his mother, grandmother, uncle and niece. His older sister was beaten to death. His father is in prison. Despite his hardships, Phillip is a bright student and promising athlete. His many family tragedies, however, have weighed on him greatly and at times resulted in distress, depression and failing grades. The Becoming a Man® (BAM) program changed the trajectory of Phillip’s life. Core values such as self-determination have helped him be more self-aware and verbal about his feelings. Through weekly group sessions and the support of a trauma-informed BAM counselor, Phillip has learned to calmly deal with difficult emotions, stay focused on school and has even earned a basketball scholarship. With a caring counselor to guide him, Phillip improved his GPA and created a solid action plan for his future. He stated that his goal is to get out of the “neighborhood routine” and have a better life. He is now a student at Chicago State University. No matter what the circumstance or challenge, we never give up on our kids. BAM offers the support that young men like Phillip need to commit to education and achieve goals that lead to success in adulthood. *Name changed for confidentiality.