Mapping Momentum for Boston’s Youth

There is a strong momentum in Boston to ensure that Black and Latino boys and young men—who represent more than half of Boston’s males age 24 and under—have the opportunity to succeed and achieve their full potential. They are an important, concentrated population in the city, with 72 percent of Black and Latino young men 25 and under currently living in just eight of Boston’s 23 neighborhoods.

Black and Latino boys and young men face unique structural challenges and unequal opportunity throughout their lives. Despite more than $14 billion in direct and indirect investment from the public and philanthropic sectors over the last decade, life outcomes for this demographic remain relatively stagnant in categories such as reading and math proficiency, attainment of a high school diploma, and employment. To combat these trends, stakeholders from across sectors can build on the city’s existing assets to strategically coordinate programs working in communities, city agencies, and philanthropic organizations that serve Black and Latino boys and young men.

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