Giving Black Boys and Men Multigenerational Support

How can we ensure young people have healthy, promising futures? By giving them the resources, relationships, and environments that support their wellness. Brotherhood of Elders Network (BOEN) does exactly that: It provides young people with the tools to thrive, led by the guidance of a multigenerational network of Black men.

“We do as much as we can to advocate for the needs, the aspirations, and the interests of African American boys and men,” says Baba Greg Hodge, the CEO of BOEN.

For generations, Black communities have faced the worst of systemic harms, from being displaced from long-term homes to underinvestment in majority Black schools, neighborhoods, and community spaces. Brotherhood of Elders Network partners with local leaders and organizations to reshape systems and make real change possible. 

Before BOEN formally launched in 2011, community advocates came together to discuss their vision for their neighborhoods, and the role they should play to make it happen. From there, BOEN developed a framework. It focuses on the well-being of families, connections to African heritage, and partnerships with local organizations. An intentionally intergenerational network, BOEN uses a cascading mentorship model, including elders in their mid-80s, all the way down to teenagers, and all ages in between. The organization embraces the leadership and expertise of youth, elders, and adults to co-create community-centered programs and initiatives. 

An early grant led to the launch of BOEN’s “The Art of Being a Black Man” curriculum. The community-informed curriculum exposes participants to culturally-relevant education, music, and dance, all while they receive mentoring, peer support, and greater insight into the civic issues that impact their everyday lives. The holistic curriculum became a resource for Oakland Unified School District’s Office of African American Male Achievement, providing students with resources and guidance for navigating early manhood. 

BOEN’s programs and initiatives support the wholeness of Black men, boys, and families, from ancestry and culture to education and leadership development. BOEN’s Ubuntu fellows have traveled to South Africa, allowing them “to see a bigger world, a bigger community,” Hodge says. Those at-risk for not attending college pursued higher education after the trip, while others fulfilled their dream of entrepreneurship.

With the San Francisco Foundation, BOEN began the Bese Saka Initiative to support Black-led organizations in the region. BOEN also developed the Black Youth Development Book, a directory of Black-led youth organizations providing academic support, mentoring opportunities, youth employment, and more.

“One of our strong suits is we help folks find the services they need,” Hodge says. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BOEN started the African American Response Circle, a collaboration of organizations concerned about how officials were responding to the coronavirus in the Black community. They met weekly, ultimately raising nearly $1 million, channeling resources back into the community when they needed it most. 

BOEN leaders have collaborated with the City of Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Safety by mentoring justice-impacted youth on the importance of finishing school, job training, and healthy relationships. When the City of Oakland began a violence prevention program several years later, BOEN leaders stepped up. 

The network’s newest efforts include its collaborative work in a 40×40 block area of East Oakland with Roots Community Health, which will focus on infant and maternal health. With East Oakland Youth Development Center, BOEN is concentrating on early childhood education, community schools, college and career exploration, and the Black teacher pipeline. In partnership with Black Cultural Zone, the collaborative will focus on housing and economic development.  

As BOEN evolves, its core intergenerational support never waivers. 

“We grieve with each other,” Hodge says. “We laugh together. It’s the relationships that matter.”