When Mayor Michelle Wu welcomed a dozen new members to Boston’s Black Men and Boys Commission last week, she called it a milestone in the city’s effort to make equity more than an aspiration.

“When this commission was created, it was to ensure we were bringing new seats to the table to help shape Boston into a home for all its people” Wu said.

Established in 2022 and now written into city law, the Commission advises City Hall on policies that extend opportunity for Black men and boys in education, housing, health and safety and economic mobility. Housed within the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Advancement, it connects community leaders, educators and advocates with city officials to address long-standing inequities through programs, research and outreach.

Commission Chair Maddrey Goode said the most meaningful impact so far has been ensuring the office’s permanence inside city government. “Being charted into city law means it will last beyond any of the current commissioners” Goode said. “It’s recognized as an important part of how Boston does its work on equity.”

The Commission helped guide new investments: doubling Boston Public Schools’ funding for My Brother’s Keeper Boston; supporting first-time homebuyers and emerging Black developers through Welcome Home Boston; and expanding men’s mental-health programs. An Equity study for Black Men and Boys under way this fall aims to quantify gaps in housing, health and education and turn the findings into policy recommendations.

“The equity study will help us tell the story with data,“ Goode said. It’s how we make sure our recommendations reflect what’s truly happening in our communities.”

He acknowledged that limited resources remain a challenge but said collaboration is growing stronger across the city departments. “Our focus is alignment and access,” he said. People need to know what’s available and how to navigate it.”

For Bishop E. William Dickerson II, senior pastor of Greater Love Tabernacle and a founding commissioner, the work is personal. A former teacher and longtime community leader, he views the Commission as a network of encouragement for men and boys who may not see their own potential.

“Being able to reach Black men and boys to show them they have purpose in life — they have a support base — has really enhanced lives and offered hope,” he said.

Dickerson has officiated hundreds of funerals tied to violence over the years. He said those experiences drive his urgency to create programs that reach young men early and help them stay connected.

“I’ve seen dropout rates and violence take too many lives,” he said.

“This Commission shows that the city cares enough to offer guidance, resources and love. We’re part of the solution”

The Commission’s creation on Malcolm X’s birthday in 2022 symbolizes its roots in both advocacy and accountability. Since then, the Office of Black Male Advancement and the Commission have directed tens of millions of dollars from local, state and federal sources toward programs that strengthen families and neighborhoods.

Through My Brother’s Keeper Boston, more than 1,000 young men and boys have joined college tours, job summits and mentoring programs. Housing efforts have turned vacant lots into affordable homes, while new public-health grants fund workshops and counseling focused on men’s mental well-being.

Goode said these initiatives only succeed when residents see themselves reflected in them. “A lot of work is about awareness,” he said. “When people realise these opportunities are theirs, that’s when the change really happens.”

City leaders say the Commission’s insight continues to guide how departments address equity. In recent years, the city has expanded African American Studies courses, increased support for male educators of color, and added staff to community-safety efforts.

Frank Farrow, executive director of the Office of Black Male Advancement, said in a statement that the Commission’s collaboration with residents and policymakers “reduces systemic barriers to advancement for Black men and boys in our city.”

Both Goode and Dickerson hope the Commission’s growing visibility will inspire more young Black men to engage — not only as program participants but eventually as future commissioners, mentors and entrepreneurs.

Goode said his motivation comes from experience. “I grew up here and saw limited access, not limited opportunity,” he said. “Now I want to make sure others know how to reach the resources that can help them build careers, start businesses and thrive.”

Dickerson echoed that message, calling on residents to spread the word about upcoming workshops and listening sessions. “We want young people to see this as their table too,” he said. “There’s a place for them in shaping Boston’s future.”

As the Commission enters its third year, its members are balancing data-driven research with on-the-ground mentorship and outreach. The Equity Study’s findings, expected next year, will inform new recommendations on education, employment and public safety.

Wu said the city’s progress depends on sustaining this kind of partnership between government and community.

“When we bring a group of leaders like this together, our city gets so much in return.” she said.

For Dickerson, the purpose remains simple: keep hope alive and make opportunity visible. “You can never have enough love or goodness in the world,” he said. “That’s what this Commission stands for.”