Read our Q&A with Lars E. Rascoe III, President and Co-founder of Boys II Men.
What inspired you to become a provider?
When we started the program in 1995, I was an 8th grade teacher in Marion County. I noticed – along with other teachers – that there were too many teenage boys who were not transitioning well into high school. We believed that if we could help youth visualize their future through relevant activities, they would see the importance of their education and maintaining respect for women. By 2003, we needed sustainable funding to keep costs low for participants and, at the same time, support more youth who might not have an opportunity to spend time with like-minded youth and mentors. Our community lacked good male role models who would spend time preparing our next generation so they became strong young men who would provide for their families, protect their families and our community, and encourage a positive atmosphere for their families to reach their full potential.
Share your background and any exciting things you’ve done to give back to your community.
I grew up in Indianapolis, and I attended Washington Township schools and graduated from North Central High School. I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout while in Boy Scouts. I attended Indiana State University because my 9th grade P.E. teacher thought I might be good at gymnastics. I received a teaching degree while competing in gymnastics. I quickly found my passion in educating middle school youth.
What is your organization’s mission or philosophy?
Boys II Men, Inc. is a yearlong program that was established in 1995, with the desire to better prepare middle school aged boys to academically master the challenges and rigor of high school so that they would be offered college or trade school acceptance and scholarships. We have found that boys need a safe environment where they can be themselves, develop their positive friendships, encourage their creativity, increase their self-esteem, and challenge their academic potential. “Building Men & Respecting Women” is our mission. Boys II Men, Inc. seeks to cultivate the development of adolescent boys in a safe and exciting team environment by promoting civic engagement, personal responsibility, positive relationships, respect for women, and a lifelong appreciation for learning.
What kinds of services do you provide?
Mentoring. Boys II Men, Inc. believes that if youth are going to be successful by living the lifestyle that they deem appropriate, they must be exposed to a direction which supports that positive desired interest. We can’t lead youth where they don’t want to go, and we can’t guide them if they don’t want to follow. But, if we build a relevant relationship with them and we can give them something to consider that is different than what they might be exposed to daily, they have a stronger chance of reaching their full potential.
For the past 25 years, our organization has been working hard to build a trusting relationship with our cadets. They believe that we are working to build their self-worth, emotional intelligence, and passion for their future. We strive to reduce instant self-gratification because relationships, education, and careers take time. Our cadets tell us that they are upset that they don’t have fathers in their lives, a positive program to learn from, and transportation allowing them to stay involved. They desire our TIME.
Whom/where do you serve?
We have at least 1 youth from each of the 32 different schools that participate in the group program. We work throughout Marion County as well as on the edge of Hendricks and Hamilton Counties. Our responsibility is to pick up youth, engage them in activities that will inspire them to successfully complete their goals, and put the youth on a path for academic success. Each youth also learns how to become a responsible man who respects all women.
Share any relevant background about your organization, such as how/why/when it was created.
In the early 90’s, a team of Marion County teachers noticed that our middle school boys were not transitioning well into the high school. After research and approval, we embarked on a mission to help middle school boys see the importance for their education and the need to respect women, like their moms and teachers. We wanted to incorporate the youth’s desire to have a fun outlet in a way that would also foster brotherhood. By 2006, Choices reached out to our program to enhance mentoring within the wraparound concept. This became our funding sustainability. Since then, Boys II Men, Inc. has been able to support youth who are in the foster care system, on probation, or wards of the state – as well as maintain a low cost for other youth in the community who are simply looking for a great program. Our collaboration with Choices has helped to maintain the beacon of hope for parents who need a little help from the village.
Share how your organization is making a positive impact.
We are making a positive impact with our youth because we are fostering relationships of respect. We are not trying to change our youth’s personalities or make them feel bad about their situation. But after spending significant time with our mentors, we hope our youth can decide the direction they want to go by experiencing an alternative to the lifestyle they currently have. We have had over 3,200 young males engage at some capacity with Boys II Men, Inc. A large percentage of these young men have become successful at maintaining jobs, careers, families, and this is important to our community.
Why do you like working as a Choices provider?
Boys II Men, Inc. can stay in our lane of mentoring because we have incredible, caring providers (ex: therapists, specialists, case managers) who all strive for the same outcome: for our families to get back on track toward success and normalcy.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Because of our relationship with Choices, Boys II Men has encouraged young men to go all over the world.
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