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Sep 16, 2025

Governor Newsom launches new statewide service effort to support the well-being of young men

What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom today launched the California Men's Service Challenge, a bold new effort to inspire service, leadership, and community engagement. In partnership with California Volunteers, the Challenge calls on 10,000 men to step up as mentors, coaches, and tutors — while inviting organizations across the state to join this movement building belonging and purpose.

SACRAMENTO – Continuing his effort announced through a statewide Executive Order to address disconnection in young men and boys, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced a new initiative that encourages and helps  men step up and serve their communities through the California Service Corps and volunteer and service opportunities with partner organizations. Prompted by the rising suicide rates, disconnection, and declining career options among young men and boys, these efforts aim to address this generation's mental health crisis, while creating pathways for purpose, leadership and belonging.

Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence — disconnected from community, opportunity and even their own families. This action is about turning that around. It's about showing every young man that he matters, he has purpose, and he has a community.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Our boys are growing up in a time when too many feel disconnected and unseen. Women and men may face different challenges, but we share a responsibility to lift up the next generation, and that work will take all of us. The California Volunteers Men's Service Challenge calls on 10,000 young men to step forward as mentors and coaches, offering the care and connection that can combat isolation and build belonging. In doing this work, we embody the very best of California, lifting up the next generation and reshaping our culture for the better

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

In partnership with Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) Director Josh Fryday, the state is partnering with leaders already doing the work, including Improve Your Tomorrow, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentor California, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Giants Community Fund and the American Institute for Boys and Men.

California Men's Service Challenge participants will engage young men directly, helping them build connections to education, careers and community. The effort advances Governor Newsom's broader commitment to create more pathways for youth success. By combining service with mentorship and skill development, the initiative provides a sustainable model to ensure young men feel valued, supported and equipped to thrive.

"Young men across California are struggling with disconnection, loneliness and a lack of direction. Through service, we can give them a sense of purpose and the opportunity to build careers while making a difference in their communities," said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. "We need 10,000 men to step up and lead in their communities. We're also calling on organizations to join us as partners. This initiative is about investing in the next generation of men as leaders, teachers and mentors."

The California Men's Service Challenge builds on the California Service Corps, the largest service force in the nation, which empowers Californians to tackle the state's toughest challenges while building skills for the future. Together with local partners, schools and community organizations, this new effort will ensure more young men see themselves as leaders with the power to create lasting change.

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Join the California Men's Service Challenge

The crisis of loneliness

Young men are more disconnected from school, work, and relationships than ever before, with nearly one in four men under 30 years old reporting that they have no close friends, a five-fold increase since 1990, with higher rates of disconnection for young Black men. A lack of social connection is associated with increased risk of poor health, including mental health disorders, poverty, and even premature death.

This disconnection has pulled men out of the workplace. Labor force participation among men without a college degree is currently at historic lows, with about one in nine men aged 25-54 neither working nor looking for work. The unemployment rate for men in California is also higher than the rate for women, and college enrollment and completion rates for men have dropped significantly over the past decade.

What others are saying

"Mentorship is how young men transform isolation into connection and purpose. At Improve Your Tomorrow we've seen that service and brotherhood are powerful antidotes to the loneliness so many boys face today. That's why we strongly support the Governor's California Men's Service Challenge. When young men are given the chance to be seen, be supported and serve their communities, they not only change their own lives — they help shape the future of our society," said Michael Lynch, CEO and Co-Founder, Improve Your Tomorrow.

"As bell hooks reminds us, 'Love is an action, never simply a feeling.' Our boys are in crisis — starved for belonging, aching for someone to see them and stand with them. True connection, that active love, can be their lifeline. MENTOR California is proud to join Governor Newsom, GO-Serve and partners statewide in shining a spotlight on belonging, unlocking opportunity and igniting hope," said Marcus L. Strother, Executive Director, MENTOR California.

"At a time when so many young men face disconnection, dwindling opportunity and unmet needs, Big Brothers Big Sisters is ready to answer the call — together with our community. We need more men to step forward as mentors, so every young man has the consistent support he deserves. As mentors, as role models and as a community, we can harness the power of mentoring and social connection to drive real, lasting change," said Sloane Keane, CA Association Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters, California Volunteers Commissioner.

"Now more than ever, there is a need for boys and young men to feel a sense of purpose and connection. As the Center for Community Well-Being across the LA region, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles knows the power of service in shaping healthier, more connected communities and has long been a source of great mentorship and volunteerism. The LA Y is proud to partner with the California Men's Service Challenge to call on our male Californians to join in, inspire service, and to foster roles that inspire leadership, resilience, and build brighter futures for all." said Victor Dominguez, President and CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.

"In a healthy society, everybody knows that the community needs them. Too many men today do not feel that. As a result, they can become detached, even despairing. But we need men in our families and in our communities, bringing their energy and talents to the table. Right now, many organizations say they don't have enough men stepping forward to serve; meanwhile, many men say they are unsure of their purpose and role in our communities. This is a timely call to men: We need you," said Richard Reeves, President, American Institute for Boys and Men.

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"We've seen firsthand how young men, whether stepping onto a field as a coach or serving as a Junior Giants Ambassador, gain confidence and a stronger sense of purpose. These opportunities change not only the lives of the players but also the young men who choose to serve — and that's why this work is so important," said Cassandra Hofman, Program Director, Giants Community Fund.

How we got here

Since taking office in 2019, Governor Newsom has been focused on building a California for All, investing in efforts to make government work for everyone by reaching underserved communities and demographic groups, expanding access to services that meet people's basic needs so they can focus on pursuing opportunities and advancement, and actively assessing disparities in opportunity and outcomes to more effectively deliver governmental services to all intended beneficiaries.

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