Community Inquiry Topic

After our class this past Thursday, I've finally come up with a topic for my Community Inquiry project. There are many programs available to women and girls when it comes to preparing for adulthood. I haven't read or heard much on programs for young men and boys that need direction and assistance with being adult men in this great democracy, the United States of America. I would like come up with a mentoring / rites of passage program for young males living in Urban communities. I envisioned a program where young men at age 8-10 are paired with adult males who are committed to mentoring and educating the selected young men about the roles, responsibilities and expectations of being a man. The relationship would be maintained until at least the young male graduates from high school. Hopefully some life long relationships could evolve from the program, especially for the young men without fathers actively participating in their lives. As for the rites of passage part of the program, there would be some kind of training that the mentor would help facilitate whereby the paticipant is guided into finding his role in society . The end result would be adolescent men becoming productive citizens participating in society instead of being onlookers. Feedback and suggestions appreciated.