Statement by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in Support of Men and Boys
Delivered on February 5, 2025
Lastly, investing in our people means following the data – And the data is telling us that we need to have a greater statewide focus on supporting and elevating our men and boys.
And it’s not just that in Maryland, labor force participation for young men is nearly the lowest it has been in two decades…
It’s also that suicide rates among men under 30 have risen by more than a third since 2010.
Across the country, college attainment levels are the same now for men and boys as they were in 1964.
And Maryland still sends youth under the age of 18 to our state prisons at twice the national rate.
The data is telling us a clear message: We need to better understand and address what’s happening with our men and boys.
I want to be clear: This administration remains steadfast in our support for all Marylanders, regardless of their gender or background.
As the father of a son and a daughter, I want both of my children growing up with all of their God-honoring and God-given opportunities –
But if we want to truly unleash the power of Maryland’s labor force, we need to make sure our men and boys aren’t still falling behind.
I strongly believe our mission to uplift men and boys isn’t in conflict with our values to leave no one behind – it’s in concert with them.
In the words of the great Marylander Frederick Douglass: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
And we have already started doing exactly that – in ways that uplift our men and boys and help support the aspirations of all Marylanders.
In 2023, we launched a first-in-the-nation Service Year Option to help high school graduates find their path and purpose.
In 2024, we made sure that we rewarded our service members through policies to support both veterans and military families.
And in 2025, I will be directing my entire administration to begin implementing targeted solutions to uplift our men and boys.