Yes, Boys Can!
Inspired by his own experiences as a father and policy expert, Richard Reeves’s groundbreaking book Of Boys and Men uncovered some of the ways and extents to which boys and men have been falling behind and imagined initiatives like “He Can H.E.A.L.” to inspire boys to pursue paths that they might otherwise feel are inaccessible or inappropriate for them. He says:
“Gender equality is not a zero sum game. We can do more for boys and men without doing less for women and girls. We can be passionate about women’s rights, and compassionate towards the struggles of boys and men.”
Working with national elementary art educator of the year Jonathan Juravich, Richard puts “He Can H.E.A.L.” into action with Yes, Boys Can!, a book for boys ages 8 to 12 that tells the stories of men who have followed their dreams, cared for others, and changed the world, conveyed through biography, illustration, and simple suggested activities.
Here are just a few of the many compassionate and enterprising men introduced:
- Booker T. Washington – educator and author
- Luther Christman – the first man inducted into the American Nursing Association’s Hall of Fame in 2004
- LeVar Burton – actor and literacy advocate
- Tom Daley – Olympian and knitter
While not all the names might be familiar, each of these life stories will inspire boys to fearlessly imagine what kind of man they could be and how they could change the world for good.
Because representation matters, and if you don't see it, you can't be it.
Richard V. Reeves is the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) and the author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It. Before founding AIBM in 2023, Richard was a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. While at Brookings, he focused on policies related to economic inequality, racial justice, social mobility, and boys and men. In 2024, Melinda French Gates made Richard the director of a $20 million grant-making fund to tackle the challenges faced by boys and men. He is also a regular contributor to The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Affairs, and other publications.
Between 2010 and 2012, Richard was director of strategy to the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister. A former European Business Speaker of the Year, his other previous roles include director of Demos, the London-based political think-tank, principal policy advisor to the Minister for Welfare Reform, research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, and journalist for The Guardian and Observer newspapers. He earned a BA from Oxford University and a PhD from Warwick University. He lives in Butler, TN.
Richard tweets from @richardvreeves and his website is richardvreeves.com.
Jonathan Juravich, Ph.D. began teaching elementary art outside of Columbus, Ohio in 2005. Still actively teaching art to young students, his personal and professional focus is on the importance of social and emotional learning in our daily lives. This is his favorite topic for research and discussion, including his dissertation, his TED Talk “How Do We Teach Empathy,” his limited series podcast "The Art of SEL," and his Emmy award winning digital drawing program "Drawing with Mr. J." In 2018, Jonathan was named Ohio Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year. In 2023, he was named the National Elementary Art Teacher of the Year by the National Art Education Association. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his family.