Young Black Men Are_____. A new kind of Vision Statement
When you think of a vision statement, what comes to mind? Usually, they’re clear, concise declarations of what an organization hopes to accomplish in the future. They offer direction, a glimpse of what success looks like, and a commitment to a set of values. Standard stuff, right?
But here’s the thing—at Word is Bond, we’re not interested in playing by those conventional rules. We’ve come to realize that one of the biggest issues in our world is that we constantly try to define everything. Every person, every group, every community. But what if we left room for people to define themselves?
Our vision statement is not just a statement of purpose. It’s a challenge. An invitation. A provocation. And most importantly, it’s a direct attack on the norms of what a non-profit should be.
Instead of following the traditional path, we created a vision statement that opens up space—space that allows others to fill it out for themselves. It’s called “Young Black Men Are ____,” and it’s as much a question as it is a statement. But what makes it so powerful is that it’s left unfinished, and in that unfinished space lies the opportunity to shape what the future holds.
Our vision statement isn’t about telling people what young Black men are; it’s about inviting everyone to define it for themselves. And it’s different because this isn’t about providing a solution or a finished product—it’s about starting a conversation. One that gives young Black men the power to determine who they are, and the freedom to rewrite the narrative for themselves.
So, why is “Young Black Men Are ____” so important? Well, it comes from our deeper theory of change, something we’ve been refining in what we call our “UN” sessions. Yes, “UN”... and if you’re wondering about the grammar of that, here’s the thing: to "UN" something isn’t just about negating or undoing—it’s about unraveling. It’s about stripping away the preconceived notions and limitations that society has placed on us. To “UN” is to release what’s been forced upon us, allowing space for something new, something expansive. It’s about granting permission to dream bigger, think broader, and act bolder.
The idea of “UN-ness” embodies the philosophy of unraveling the expectations and labels that have bound us. For us, it’s about creating the freedom to dream in abundance, not in limits. And it’s from this philosophy that our vision statement was born.
But here’s where things get really exciting: this isn’t just a vision statement for us. It’s a vision statement for everyone. When we launched this campaign, we didn’t just ask young Black men to fill in the blank. We invited the entire community to participate. We asked police officers, lawyers, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, community organizers, and future leaders from all walks of life to contribute.
The responses were powerful, diverse, and inspiring. Words like “Young Black Men Are Limitless.” “Young Black Men Are Resilient.” “Young Black Men Are Creative.” And that’s just the beginning. Other words included:
Young Black Men Are Strong
Young Black Men Are Visionaries
Young Black Men Are Warriors
Young Black Men Are Brave
Young Black Men Are Infinite
Young Black Men Are Loved
But here’s the most powerful part: it wasn’t just young Black men filling in the blanks—it was the whole community. Black people, white people, everyone came together to define what young Black men are. In doing so, we took back the narrative. For too long, the world has defined who young Black men are based on stereotypes and limitations. But our campaign gave everyone the opportunity to say, “No, this is who they really are. This is who they can be.”
This vision statement isn’t just about making a statement for the sake of it. It’s an open invitation for others to reconsider their biases, to challenge the labels society has put on young Black men, and to imagine something different. Because the truth is, so often we define people by who they are in the present, not who they can become in the future.
Think about it. What if, instead of seeing young Black men as just who they are now, we saw them as who they could become? What if we chose to see the potential, the power, and the limitless possibilities within them?
For instance, imagine if the world said, “Young Black Men Are Love.” Think about how that could change everything. If we saw young Black men as vessels of love, compassion, and connection, we’d be opening up a world of transformation, healing, and unity.
But this isn’t just a pipe dream. It’s a start. A spark. And that’s exactly what Word is Bond is here to do—to trailblaze the path for others to follow. We’re here to make sure the world hears the voices of young Black men and sees their potential for what it truly is—unlimited, powerful, and unbreakable.
So, as we move forward, we continue to challenge the world to fill in that blank: Young Black Men Are... What will your answer be? And more importantly, how will you help others see the truth of who young Black men really are?
It’s time for us to stop defining them by the limits others have placed on them. It’s time to give them the space to define themselves—and the world will be better for it.