Mayor Michelle Wu, together with the Office of Black Male Advancement (OBMA), has announced new appointments to Boston’s Black Men & Boys Commission, a 21-member body that includes community leaders, experts, and residents focused on equity, opportunity, and empowerment for Black men and boys in the city.
The commission, housed under OBMA, works alongside city departments to influence policies and direct investments in education, housing, health, safety, and economic opportunity. In remarks announcing the new members, Wu emphasized that these appointments come at a pivotal moment, as the administration plans to further expand programs that have already aided Black families, businesses, and youth.
Since its formation, the Commission, in partnership with OBMA, has played a key role in shaping Boston’s approach to racial equity. Over the past three years, the city says it has channeled tens of millions in local, state, and federal funding to benefit Black households and entrepreneurs.
Under the My Brother’s Keeper Boston initiative, the city reports connecting over 1,000 young Black men and boys with services, college visits, and job summits. In parallel, Welcome Home, Boston has converted underused land into affordable homeownership options, helping more than a thousand families become first-time homeowners, particularly in neighborhoods affected by redlining.
Looking ahead into the new fiscal year, the city plans to ramp up these efforts. Among key initiatives:
- Doubling Boston Public Schools’ support for My Brother’s Keeper
- Expanding African American studies offerings
- Increasing budget allocations to Welcome Home, Boston
- Funding mental health programs tailored to men
- Enhancing the capacity of the Office of Community Safety
These efforts are connected to the Commission’s role in advising and recommending priorities for investment across city departments. The Commission has also worked to codify OBMA, ensuring that Black men and boys maintain a formal voice in city policy.
In collaboration with the Commission and the City Council, OBMA has launched Boston’s first Equity Study for Black Men & Boys. Led by Tury Research Institute, the study seeks to gather data on systemic inequities that affect Black males in the city.
A major component is an Equity Survey, open to Black men and boys living in Boston, which runs through October 31st, 2025. The city says the survey is designed to surface “the most pressing challenges and opportunities” experienced by Black males, with the goal of turning lived experience into informed policy.
Mayor Wu thanked both outgoing and incoming commissioners for their commitment, expressing optimism about the potential of these new appointments. She closed by underscoring the ongoing aim: to make Boston a city where Black men and boys have genuine access to opportunity and a sense of belonging.
