Advancing Equity and Justice for Black Men and Boys in Greater New Orleans
The Greater New Orleans Funders Network (GNOFN) is dedicated to mobilizing and amplifying philanthropic efforts that advance equity and justice across Southeast Louisiana. By fostering collaboration and shared learning among its members, GNOFN maximizes the impact of investments, driving systemic change and addressing the region’s most pressing challenges.
Central to GNOFN’s approach are its Action Tables, which convene members to explore a range of critical issues facing the community. These member-led groups enable GNOFN to remain flexible and responsive to emerging needs. Recently, the Black Men and Boys Action Table engaged in an in-depth exploration of systemic barriers faced by Black men and boys through a presentation titled A Life Course Framework for Improving the Lives of Boys and Men of Color by Arnold Chandler of Forward Change.
The presentation covered three key areas:
- Major social and structural changes in the U.S. since the 1970s that contribute to a gender-specific cycle of disadvantage.
- The impact of declining employment, increased mass incarceration, community violence, and other challenges on Black men and boys.
- Evidence-based interventions that have been shown to support positive outcomes for youth of color.
One of the key takeaways from this discussion was the strong correlation between intergenerational income mobility for Black men and boys with the percentage of single-parent families at the neighborhood level. This finding underscores the importance of neighborhood-based interventions in improving life outcomes, in conjunction with individual and family-level interventions.
The research also notes the persistent barriers within systems such as education and criminal justice, which tend to offer numerous "chutes" for downward mobility (e.g., expulsion, felony conviction) but few "ladders" for recovery and reintegration. This structural imbalance makes it particularly challenging for Black men and boys to reestablish stability after encountering setbacks.
Another important insight was the recognition that the value of a high school diploma for Black boys extends beyond the credential itself. The experiences and opportunities that support educational attainment - like peer-to-peer networking, mentoring from adults outside the family unit, exposure to college and career opportunities - are critical to long-term success.
This presentation is part of a larger listening and learning series conducted by the Black Men and Boys Action Table, which includes gaining direct insights, knowledge, and perspective from Black men and boys who live in the region. By combining community voices with research, GNOFN ensures that its funding strategies are informed by a deep understanding of the complex challenges facing Black men and boys. This approach underlies our commitment to promoting equitable outcomes and building a more just, resilient Greater New Orleans for all.
This article is written by Charles West, GNOFN Black Men and Boys Action Table Facilitator. Charles is the President of Evan James Consulting. Charles leads engagements to help the social sector create equitable outcomes. Prior to Evan James, Charles led a team in the New Orleans mayor’s office that developed and implemented cross-sector strategies to address the adverse conditions disproportionately affecting communities of color; working to improve public safety by reducing the murder rate, increase economic opportunity for disadvantaged job-seekers, and reduce mass incarceration. Charles also served as Director of the Office of Criminal Justice Coordination and Chair of the Criminal Justice Council, advising the Mayor and City Council on criminal/juvenile justice policy matters. Previously, Charles worked as a business analysis and technology consultant on projects in the public and private sectors. Charles holds a BS in Computer Science and an MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology.
