Building Better Men

The Building Better Men Program (BBM) was started in 1991 by Odis Bellinger and founded on the principle that young men can be successful despite challenges associated with absent fathers. Their goal is to enable young men to become productive members of society.

This goal is accomplished with small reading groups, interactive group workshops, individual counseling, relevant participant role-play, male encouragement conferences, educational collegiate tours, and recreational field trips. These components of the program teach social and personal responsibility, decision-making, leadership skills, critical thinking and literacy skills.

D2N facilitates opportunities that provide new experiences for BBM's participants. We initiated relocating BBM to the S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center, where the two programs collaborate. D2N supports the further development of BBM's business model as they continue to grow and extend their reach to more and more young men. In summer 2021 BBM and Project F.I.S.H collaborated on a fishing fieldtrip. In winter 2022 BBM and Detroit Outdoors teamed up to introduce some of boys to ice climbing.