Compassionate Manhood: Stepping into Mindfulness — Options for Young Men in 2026

By Heidi Wuescher, Youth Wellness Director

Fostering Hope is excited to introduce a new mindfulness-based offering for boys in residential treatment: Compassionate Manhood. This program supports social-emotional learning, healthy self-identity, and a sense of belonging for young men navigating complex life experiences.

Compassionate Manhood was founded by Jerod Johnson, who has worked with youth for decades and brings deep experience and passion to this work. He is enthusiastic about partnering with Fostering Hope and offering this programming to young men.

“Today’s youth are experiencing a high level of challenges related to poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, crime, violence, abuse, and trauma,” explains Johnson. “Compassionate Manhood provides a space for youth to explore self-awareness, self-management, leadership development, and healthy relationship building.”

Through interactive activities such as Manhood Feud, handshake experiments, and mindful group conversations, the program encourages connection and reflection. These activities have sparked meaningful dialogue among participants. Reflecting on recent classes at Applewood Centers, Johnson shared, “The classes have been filled with insight, laughter, and interesting perspectives from many of the young men. It was great.”

Johnson invites youth to reflect on powerful questions such as: What does it mean to ‘be a man’ in our society? What are boys and men often told they must act like? As conversations deepen, he introduces additional reflection prompts: Do you feel pressure to act a certain way or hide parts of yourself to fit society’s definition of masculinity? How do media, music, and social media influence how masculinity is portrayed in urban culture?

One particularly impactful session, “The Masks We Wear,” invited young men to paint masks representing their inner worlds. This creative project encouraged participants to express aspects of themselves they may often hide, offering a powerful blend of art, reflection, and vulnerability.

Johnson also notes the respect and intention the youth bring to the space. “Two things that always stand out to me are how completely silent they are during journaling time and how focused they are on their writing. Since expectations were set on day one, they are very intentional with their language and even hold one another accountable for keeping it clean.”

Fostering Hope looks forward to continued collaboration with Compassionate Manhood and hopes to expand this offering to additional partners throughout the Greater Cleveland area.

For partnership inquiries, contact Heidi Wuescher, Youth Wellness Program Director, via email at h.wuescher@fosteringhopeohio.org