Building Community

Building on the rite of passage adventure weekend, young men and their mentors come together every two weeks to play, eat, and further develop the new insights and capacities gained from the weekend.

One simple action can change the world.

Community groups provide the forum for ongoing education, empowerment, and support and allow the young men to continue to strengthen relationships with peers.

MORE: About Community

Boys To Men, is a multi-faceted community effort. First, the men in the community step up to be mentors. Second, community involvment of families request that their sons be involved. Third, young men who are involved in the program act as "Journeymen" -- "I Am On A Journey"

The community meets as a goup every other Sunday at various locations in the Chicago area. There's flag-football games, laser tag, bowling and other sports, a BBQ-cookout, fire-rings and discussion groups. The young men are divided into age-related groups for open discussions about topics that are important to them. The older men in the community listen to the boys and encourage them to speak their truth and "get something" for themselves.

Herb Sigurdson

HERB SIGURDSON
1927-1997

The Boys to Men Mentoring Program is the vision of Herb Sigurdson (1927-1997). Herb was a former head of Boys Town and worked his whole life in the effort to assist men and youth toward building a better world. The following is a poem Herb wrote to celebrate his 70th birthday, three short months before his passing that year.

Rafting at 70

I was born with Love three score and ten years ago
It has followed my life wherever I go
It was gifted by God through my family and friends
There's no reason to believe that this LOVE ever ends
I've had bang ups and hang ups along life's rugged way
Mixed with plenty of pleasure and plenty of play
It seems like rose glasses distort what I see
But my heart is so full that it looks right to me
So what is the big deal about 70 and rafting
It's the white water challenge the Kern has been crafting
With banners flip flopping once more we'll ride high
We're ready for anything under the sky
As if we should need it, it's one more excuse
For dancing and prancing and just letting loose
You're the best of the best bringing faith, hope, and pleasure
You fill up my life with LOVE beyond measure
So I thank you, my family, my friends one and all
For making this party such a wonderful ball
If I could have guessed that we'd have such a blast
I'd have arranged to turn 70 many times in the past