National Campaign to Advance Achievement Among Boys and Young Men Announces Launch of Minority Male Youth 2050

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achievement is declining among all young males, regardless of race or ethnicity. With that said, the risk factors for underachievement are most pronounced among minority males. By 2020 the combined minority population in grades K-12 will exceed the white population. By 2050 Hispanics will comprise a majority of the US population. Yet today among males, only 28% of African Americans, 24% of Native Americans and Pacific Islanders and 16% of Hispanic Americans have at least an associate degree.

In response to these trends, The Boys Initiative has launched Minority Male Youth 2050. The mission of the project is to facilitate a cooperative endeavor among organizations and stakeholders in male minority youth. The purpose of the endeavor is to 1) exchange and collect information on solution-focused research, demonstration projects and strategies that enhance minority male achievement; 2) develop and support recommendations for research, best practices and "what works"; and 3) facilitate pilot projects and advocacy efforts that focus on solutions.

Detailed information about the project can be found at the project page on The Boys Initiative's website.

http://www.theboysinitiative.org/

"The members of our project steering committee are among our nation's leaders in the field of minority male youth. They understand the obstacles that our minority male youth face today, and have dedicated their careers to finding solutions to this pressing problem." said Dennis Barbour, CEO of The Boys Initiative. "We are honored that they will be guiding this effort."