Hero Story

Building Better Men creates future male leaders to become productive members of society through a program that teaches young men ages 8 – 18 life skills, anger management, reading and comprehension, early career exploration as well as cultural and recreational experiences. The B2M program was started in 1991 by Odis Bellinger and was founded on the principle that young men can be successful despite challenges associated with absent/uninvolved fathers. 85% of the young men serviced in the Building Better Program are from the 48205, 48214, 48213 area of Detroit MI. The 48205 area code is considered the most impoverished area in the city of Detroit. The program participants are 90% African American, 5% Caucasian, and 5% Native American/Hispanic.

Accomplishments:
80% ACADEMIC GRADES ENHANCED
75% PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT OF PARTICIPANTS
90% PROGRAM COMPLETION RATE
90% ATTENDANCE RATE

What's Special: Building Better Men organization provides the opportunity of not just mentorship but friendship, experience and lasting connections for not only the young men but their parents as well. It takes a village to be a village to one another.