FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2025
B-roll and press conference footage included below.

MEDIA CONTACT: Christina Cano, Christina.Cano@cv.ca.gov, (279) 224-2907

California Men’s Service Challenge Calls on 10,000 Men to Serve and Lead in Communities Across California

What you need to know: California is launching the California Men’s Service Challenge, a bold effort to inspire service, leadership and community engagement among male Californians. Today, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor is calling on 10,000 young men to step up as mentors, coaches and tutors and inviting partners across the state to join in this movement.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom and Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) Director Josh Fryday announced California is calling on young men and boys to step up and serve their communities through the California Service Corps and volunteer and service opportunities with partner organizations. This initiative builds on Governor Gavin Newsom’s commitment, outlined in a recent executive order responding to rising suicide rates, disconnection and declining college attendance among young men and boys, to address the mental health crisis while creating new pathways to 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,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

Through this effort, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor 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.

“Across California, young men face disconnection and uncertainty, yet they hold immense talent and leadership,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “Through service, we can help them find purpose, build careers and make a real difference. We’re calling on 10,000 men to lead and on organizations to join us, an investment in the next generation of mentors and coaches.”

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.

RELATED FOOTAGE:

Press Conference: Governor Newsom launches new statewide effort to support the well-being of young men
B-roll: California Men’s Service Challenge

INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH: GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. Christina Cano, Christina.Cano@cv.ca.gov, (279) 224-2907

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

First Partner Jennifer Siebel 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.”

Michael Lynch, CEO and Co-Founder, Improve Your Tomorrow:
“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.”

Marcus L. Strother, Executive Director, MENTOR California:
“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.”

Sloane Keane, CA Association Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters, California Volunteers Commissioner:
“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.”

Victor Dominguez, President and CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles:
“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.”

Richard Reeves, President, American Institute for Boys and Men:
“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.”

Cassandra Hofman, Program Director, Giants Community Fund:
“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.”

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About California Volunteers, Office of the Governor 
California Volunteers, under GO-Serve, empowers Californians to take action to improve their communities. California Volunteers is the state office tasked with recruiting Californians to engage in public service.