​​On Saturday, May 21, 2016, Boys Town Washington DC partnered with Men for Change, an ​organization dedicated to mentoring, tutoring and providing guidance to youth in the Federalsburg, Maryland area, to hold an event called Perseverance and Decision Making.

The event, which hosted six youth from Boys Town, 25 mentees from Men for Change, and eight parents, featured presentations that taught the youth valuable life skills to help them persevere in life.

Donnell Potts, Boys Town Washington DC Family Home Program Director, comprised a team of Boys Town employees to deliver presentations at the event. The presentations ranged from identifying personal role models, to focusing on goals and learning real life statistics. These taught the youth valuable life lessons and allowed the participants to discuss the presentations more in depth in smaller groups.

“Boys Town Washington DC staff did stellar presentations that were engaging, and motivating,” Donnell Potts said following the success of Perseverance and Decision Making. “This experience inspired the group of mentees to know that through making good choices, they open up a world of possibilities.”

The relationship between Boys Town Washington DC and the Men for Change began last year when Donnell Potts was awarded with ​the organization’s Community Impact Award  in November 2015. Since then, the two organizations wanted to bring together their children and families for a fun, educational event.

Following the presentations, children and parents were able to bond even more by sharing a meal and participating in outdoor activities.

“I want to recognize the Family Home super team that helped with hosting the ‘Men for Change’ mentoring group,” said Potts. “Words can’t express my gratitude for their selfless dedication to imparting wisdom to the youth of the ‘Eastern Shore’. This event was special and the presentations they gave were beyond impactful.”