The Ever Forward Club

“I Wish I Never Had You.” ?? Those words cut deeper than anything else. And he heard them over and over again. ??? Every scream. ??? Every insult. ??? Every moment she treated him like a burden. She never showed him love. Never made him feel wanted. She only made it clear—he was a mistake in her eyes. So when she got sick… he was gone. No visits. No care. No second chances. Because why would he stay for someone who never showed up for him? ?? The lesson? You don’t get to break your child for years and expect them to heal you later. Children aren’t emotional punching bags. They are people. They deserve respect. ?? Parents, mentors, leaders—listen closely. ?? ? Your words shape their self-worth. ? Your actions teach them what love looks like. ? Your relationship today determines if they’ll want one tomorrow. ?? Every young man deserves guidance, respect, and a safe place to grow. ?? Join the movement & be the advocate they need: ?? https://lnkd.in/gcdFqFzc ?? Credit: @shyviell_filmmaker on Instagram #RespectYourChildren #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #BreakTheCycle #MentorshipMatters #YoungMenMatter #FathersMentorsLeaders #StepUp #HealingStartsNow

At the Young Men’s Conference, Charles Hawkins Charles Hawkins? looked a room full of young men in the eyes and made sure they heard what too many don’t hear enough: ?? You are loved. ?? You have purpose. ?? You have more support than you realize. Because the truth is, too many young men suffer in silence. They think they have to handle life alone. They believe showing emotion is weakness. But Charles reminded them: Strength isn’t about doing it alone—it’s about standing together. ?? This is why brotherhood matters. ?? This is why mentorship matters. ?? This is why young men need spaces where they feel seen, heard, and supported. ?? Every young man deserves to know he’s not in this alone. That’s what we’re building—a community where young men uplift each other and grow together. ?? Join here: https://lnkd.in/gKdn8daJ #Brotherhood #YoungMensConference #YouAreNotAlone #MentorshipMatters #YoungMenThrive #PositiveRoleModels #GrowthMindset #WeRiseTogether

At the Young Men’s Conference, Joe Frank (Wells Fargo Advisors) broke down a lesson most young men never hear early enough—how to build wealth, not just make money. ?? Making money is step one. Learning how to keep it and grow it? That’s the real game. Because here’s the reality: ?? A job gives you a paycheck. Investing gives you a future. ?? Spending money is easy. Building wealth takes discipline. ?? If you don’t learn about money now, you’ll spend your life working for it—instead of making it work for you. ?? Example: Start investing $100/month at 18 and, by retirement, you could have over $1 MILLION. ?? Wait until 40? You’ll need to invest 10x more per month to catch up. The difference? Financial education. Wise decisions. Taking action early. This wasn’t just a talk about money—it was a lesson in ownership, breaking cycles, and creating a legacy. ?? Are we raising young men who just earn and spend? Or young men who know how to invest, save, and build financial freedom? ?? Parents, mentors, teachers—this is where YOU come in. Young men need real financial wisdom, not just a paycheck. They need leaders who will show them the way. ?? Step up and be the advocate they need. ?? Join the community here: https://lnkd.in/gCwaZuP7 #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #YoungMenMatter #FinancialLiteracy #GenerationalWealth #WealthMindset #FathersMentorsLeaders #StepUp #TakingOffTheMask

?? The Countdown is ON! 2 Months Until the Dance-A-Thon! ?? ???????? Get ready to move, celebrate, and make an impact—the 21st Annual Ever Forward Club Dance-A-Thon is almost here! ?? May 24, 2025 ?? Theme: Costume Party (Bring your best look & best moves!) ?? Participate Live or Virtually ?? Every step, every beat, every dance = Supporting Young Men & Our Community! For 21 years, Ever Forward Club has been empowering young men, building brotherhood, and strengthening communities. This Dance-A-Thon is more than an event—it’s a movement. ?? How You Can Be Part of the Celebration: ? Register & Join the Dance Challenge ? Donate & Help Us Reach Our Goal ? Share this with friends & family—let’s make this the BIGGEST one yet! ?? Let’s dance for a purpose. Let’s show up for the next generation. Are you in? ?? Register for the Dance-A-Thon & donate here: https://lnkd.in/g4ECA_PY #EFCDanceAThon #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #DanceForACause #CommunityChallenge #CostumeParty #StepUp #21YearsStrong

HOW YOU STAND CHANGES HOW THE WORLD SEES YOU. At first, he stood there—shoulders slouched, head down, voice barely above a whisper. Uncertain. Small. Invisible. Then Coach Holley stepped in. Because confidence isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you carry yourself. Some young men are lucky enough to learn this from a father. Others from a mentor. But far too many? They grow up without a strong, healthy man to show them the way. ?? Every young man deserves to be taught how to step into the world with confidence. To know that he belongs. ?? The question is—who is teaching the boys in your life? ?? This is why we need more mentors. More fathers. More leaders. Not just telling young men to be strong—but showing them how. ?? Step up today. Be the example. Join the movement. ?? Join the community here: https://lnkd.in/gCwaZuP7 #CoachHolley #YoungMenMatter #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #BreakTheCycle #FathersMentorsLeaders #ConfidenceMatters #GuidanceChangesLives #StepUp

You’ve Survived 100% of Your Worst Days. Read That Again. At Redwood High School, Redwood Continuation High School? Ashanti Branch Ashanti Branch? stood before a room full of young men and asked a question that hit deeper than most expected: ?? “How are you?”—and he didn’t accept fake answers. ?? Because "I’m fine" isn’t always the truth. ?? Because you are NOT a burden. People care about what you have to say. Ashanti knows this firsthand. Growing up in Oakland, raised by a single mother, he learned early that talking about your struggles could get you in trouble. He was scolded for “sharing family business,” taught to stay silent, hold it in, wear the mask. But silence doesn’t heal. Opening up does. ?? Young men need spaces where they don’t have to hide. Where they can be real. Where they know their voice matters. ?? The question is—who is creating those spaces for the young men in your life? ?? Parents, teachers, mentors—this is YOUR call to action. They don’t just need discipline. They need guidance. They need YOU. ?? Step up today. Join the movement of advocates who are breaking the cycle. ?? Join the community here: https://lnkd.in/gCwaZuP7 #RedwoodHighSchool #YoungMenMatter #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #BreakTheCycle #FathersMentorsLeaders #GuidanceChangesLives #TakingOffTheMask #StepUp

Exploding on Your Son Won’t Teach Him—It’ll Shut Him Down. He messes up. You lose it. He tunes out. You think you’re getting through to him, but really—he’s just learning to fear you, not trust you. ? Fear doesn’t build respect—it builds distance. ? Fear doesn’t teach accountability—it teaches avoidance. ? Fear doesn’t make him stronger—it makes him silent. So what actually works? Leadership, not control. ? Want him to take responsibility? Show him how. ? Want him to respect boundaries? Model them. ? Want him to trust you? Be the person he can come to—not the person he hides from. Young men don’t just need discipline. They need guidance. And that’s exactly what we do inside Advocates for Young Men—a community of parents, mentors, and leaders who are stepping up. Join here: https://lnkd.in/gCwaZuP7 Credit: Matthias Barker #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #RaisingBoys #StrongFathersStrongSons #MentorshipMatters #BreakTheCycle

?? Joe Frank Joseph Frank? (Wells Fargo Advisors) dropped a powerful truth at the Young Men’s Conference—one that every young man needs to hear. ?? “Do the un-Amazonable thing.” ?? ?? If I buy you a weight room, you still have to lift. ?? If I buy you a book, you still have to read it. ?? If I give you an opportunity, you still have to show up and do the work. That’s life. No shortcuts. No easy downloads. No Prime shipping on success. ??♂? You can have every resource in the world, but if you don’t put in the effort, it means nothing. This wasn’t just a lesson in financial literacy—it was a lesson in leadership, character, and ownership. Because the truth is: ? Hard work builds confidence. ? Discipline creates success. ? Taking responsibility leads to real growth. ?? Are we raising young men who expect things to be handed to them? Or are we raising young men who know how to put in the work? ?? Parents, mentors, teachers—this is where YOU come in. Young men don’t just need resources. They need guidance, accountability, and real-life lessons. ?? Step up and be the advocate they need. ?? Join the movement today: https://lnkd.in/gCwaZuP7 #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #YoungMenMatter #FinancialLiteracy #Leadership #HardWorkPaysOff #FathersMentorsLeaders #StepUp #TakingOffTheMask

Dr. Becky Kennedy Dr. Becky Kennedy? shared a simple but powerful parenting shift—one that can change the way we raise, teach, and mentor young men. She used to step into an elevator with her young son and say: ? “Don’t touch the buttons!” And when he did? She got frustrated, mad, reactive. Then, she changed her approach. Instead of controlling, she set a boundary. ? Now, she calmly says: “I will put my body between you and the buttons because I don’t want you to push them.” A boundary isn’t about forcing them to obey—it’s about leading with action. ?? Think about it—how often do we tell young men what not to do, instead of showing them what’s right? We say: ? “Don’t be disrespectful.” ? “Don’t be reckless.” ? “Don’t mess up.” But do we model respect, responsibility, and self-control? Do we guide them with clarity, not just commands? ?? **Parents, mentors, educators—this is your challenge.**Young men don’t just need rules; they need role models. They don’t need to be controlled; they need to be led. ?? Step up and be that leader. Join the community that’s shaping the next generation of young men. ?? Join the Advocates for Young Men Community today: https://lnkd.in/gCwaZuP7 Credit: @drbeckyatgoodinside #RaisingBoys #BoundariesWithLove #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #StrongFathersStrongSons #FathersMentorsLeaders #StepUp #TakingOffTheMask

At Winters Middle School WINTERS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT? Principal José Bermudez Jose Bermudez? and his team saw the problem firsthand—too many students feeling alone, disconnected, unheard. So they took action. ?? In the past two years, they launched a Wellness Center—a space where students can send anonymous messages about their struggles, a place where they don’t have to suffer in silence. Why? Because in today’s world, where face-to-face connection is fading, technology has changed the way kids interact. ?? More screen time. ?? Less real conversations. ??♂? More isolation, more loneliness. But last week, something powerful happened. Ashanti Branch Ashanti Branch? stepped into that space and changed everything. He didn’t just talk—he connected. He led students through The Mask Challenge, and for the first time, they got quiet, they reflected… and they opened up. ?? Imagine what happens when young people feel truly seen, truly heard. When they realize they’re not alone. That’s what happened in that room. And for many, it was a life-changing moment. ?? Parents, educators, mentors—THIS is why we need to step up. Young people are struggling, but the right guidance, the right conversations, and the right leadership can break through. ?? Be part of the movement that’s giving young men the tools to unmask, heal, and grow. ?? Join the Advocates for Young Men Community today: https://lnkd.in/gCwaZuP7 #MillionMaskMovement #EverForward #MentalHealthMatters #YoungMenMatter #FathersMentorsLeaders #BreakTheSilence #StepUp #TakingOffTheMask