Mission: The Initiative Baltimore strives to inspire young men to lead their communities through civic engagement, community development and political leadership. Vision: A community where every citizen votes, is educated about the political system and encouraged to develop community driven solutions. The initiatives' goals include: 1) Equip Young Leaders with tools needed to lead and inspire schools and communities. 2) Encourage Young Leaders to pursue education to cultivate their voice and leadership skills. 3) Challenge Young Leaders to develop solutions to community issues they’re passionate about. 4) Train Youth Leaders to promote safety, peace, community inclusion and advancement. Created by Don Gatewood and Christian Gant, The idea arose from the contentious 2016 presidential election, which emboldened citizens to vocalize their community and political concerns in national demonstrations. The Initiative was created to help young men identify constructive ways to channel their community passion. Throughout the initiative, young men will learn to lead their communities through civic engagement, community development and political leadership. Historically, Baltimore has low voter turnout, especially among men. Therefore, our vision is a community where every citizen not only votes but is educated about the political system and encouraged to develop community-driven solutions. Our objectives mirror the guiding principles of The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund, which includes: Collective Decision Making, Community Ownership, Integration Leadership and Racial Equity.