Forward Promise

A new $9.5 million initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focused on promoting opportunities for the health and success of middle school- and high school-aged boys and young men of color.

A new $9.5 million initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focused on promoting opportunities for the health and success of middle school- and high school-aged boys and young men of color.

About Forward Promise


Forward Promise reflects the Foundation’s belief that it is essential to focus on what makes people healthy—or unhealthy—from a perspective that includes factors outside of the medical care system. Social influences rooted in our neighborhoods, housing, schools, jobs, and economic security have a powerful effect on our health. Across most of these areas, however, boys and young men of color often have limited positive options.

With this initiative, and together with other foundations and organizations active in this arena, we want to vastly expand the potential for boys and young men of color to grow up healthy, obtain a good education, and find meaningful employment. Together we can realize a future where young men of color have the opportunity to become healthy adults who contribute to their communities and society.

Learn more about the challenge and our strategy >

Latest News

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Young Men of Color, Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline

The Grio highlights RWJF's Forward Promise initiative and features two of the ten new Forward Promise grantees.

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RWJF Joins Major Initiative to Aid Boys and Men of Color

Twenty-six foundations commit to forming a national philanthropic alliance to evaluate promising approaches, advocate for effective public policy and systems change, and invest young men of color as assets for America’s future.

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Help Our Youth Go from Failing to Fulfilling Their Dreams

In this guest commentary on Detroit Free Press, Maisha Simmons (RWJF) and Tonya Allen (Skillman Foundation) share how Stepha’N Quicksey didn't become a statistic.

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2013 Gathering of Leaders

In June 2013, the second annual Gathering of Leaders convened front-line innovators, scholars, policy-makers, funders, media professionals and advocates for ongoing information sharing and strategy development in the young men of color field.

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New Brief: Policies and practices that support young men of color

Investing in Boys and Young Men of Color: The Promise and Opportunity” highlights key challenges, recommendations, and ideas for action to improve health, education, and employment outcomes for young men of color.

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Connect with Maisha Simmons

Program Officer

As RWJF's Program Officer for Forward Promise, Maisha is on the frontlines of the Foundation's grantmaking strategy to improve the health and success of young boys and men of color.

Read Maisha's updates

Visit Maisha's profile