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The overall purpose of YMI is to foster an attitude of achievement in at-risk males by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to make choices for positive direction in life. By doing this, we believe we can help at-risk males to increase their chances in life that will result in a better future.

• We serve males, ages 8 - 16 years of age. Our focus is on African American males or other at-risk males throughout the county of Marion.
• We provide a low-cost summer camp every year that requires families to pay a minimal uniform/activity fee. In return, participants gain access to male mentors, a violence free safe-haven during the summer with positive atmosphere and positive peer mentoring, as well as specialized workshops and field trips.
• We offer weekly incentives for participants and those who complete the summer camp are automatically enrolled for the following year. Specialized workshops help to address the myriad of barriers that black and at-risk youth often come in contact with.
• Workshops are offered in conflict resolution, developing heathy lifestyles, creating positive interactions with law enforcement, college life, career exploration, and how to give back to community. They also gain access to school year mentorship and activities.

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• YMI was founded in 1993 by the Rev. Malachi Walker.
• YMI is a male youth empowerment & mentoring program for young men ages 
  8 – 16.
• YMI uses a wholistic approach designed to empower males mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
• In 2019 YMI serviced more than 100 young men.

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• In 2015, Public Safety officials in Indianapolis have identified 6 focus areas with high crime rates: 16th Tibbs, 29th & Dr. MLK Jr. St., 34th & Illinois, 38th & Sherman Dr., 42nd & Post Rd., and New York & Sherman Dr.
• YMI strives to partner with Public Safety to recruit within these areas because while these areas make up 4.7% of the population in Indianapolis, they typically account for more than a third of non-fatal shootings and homicides within Indianapolis.
• Past criminal behavior is strongly linked to violent crimes. In 2015, 84% of homicide suspects in Indianapolis had a criminal history.
• In Indiana Black males comprise approximately 2.8% of the state’s total population, but nearly 40% of the total prison population.
• In Marion County, homicides are the leading cause of death for 18-24-year-old males. Over the past couple of years, this age seems to be lowering. YMI believes that by reaching out to these males prior to age 18, it will be able to help males in Marion County address some of the issues impacting them in their adult lives.
• The rate of gun deaths in Indiana increased 30%↑ from 2009 to 2018, compared to an 18%↑ increase over this same time period nationwide. Indiana has the 16th-highest rate of gun homicides in the country.  (State Fact Sheet, Indiana, Feb 2020, Everytownresearch.org/EveryStat)
• 85% of the young men we work with come from single parent households, mostly female.
• Lastly, by addressing some of these problems with our participants at an early age, we believe they will have a better chance to become productive citizens in Indianapolis and not become part of the criminal justice system.