Boyz2Men appreciation dinner leaves mothers in tears

For single mother Kerry-Ann Rodriquez, and a host of other women, the evening of 6 April  will be a treasured moment they won’t soon forget. The women were treated to fresh roses, a night of music and fine dining at a luxury hotel – all from their teenage sons, as part of the annual Boyz2Men appreciation dinner.

“Tonight, is confirmation that all my hard work and my son’s hard work is paying off and he is moving in the right direction,” said Rodriquez, as she fought back tears while looking at her son, Mark Phillips, who now stands head and shoulders above her.

She became a single mother of two some 15 years ago, when she separated from her husband a few months after Phillips, their second child, was born. Since then, she has worked long hours and numerous jobs in what she describes as a “struggle” to provide for them.

“There was only so much I could do, but with my partner not being there things became really rough,” she told the Cayman Compass. “There were times when I had the school call me, when Mark was just giving a lot of trouble in school, seeking the support of [his] father.”

With his mother away working, and no other parent to provide much needed guidance, Phillips soon found himself mixing with the wrong crowd and developing bad habits. In 2021, he enrolled in the Boyz2Men programme and made a complete U-turn.

‘No one is showing me how to change’

“I’ll never forget his words, when he said, ‘Sir, everyone keeps telling me to change, but no one is showing me how to change’,” said Christopher Murray the founder of Boyz2Men.

Murray said Phillips’ haunting words marked the beginning of a new path for the teen.

“I have had numerous calls from persons who have all said the same thing, which is that they see the real and tangible change in Phillips’ deportment, behaviour and his commitment to the new life choices,” said Murray.

Phillips told the Compass, Anthony Lawson, the gala’s guest speaker helped him to articulate feelings and thoughts he has recently learned to accept, thanks to the Boyz2Men programme.

“I now understand that my past hurt and struggle isn’t who I am, it doesn’t define me, and it isn’t my fault, but my healing and my future is my responsibility,” said Phillips.

During a ten minute speech, Lawson reflected on his own difficult upbringing across George Town. He recalled bouncing from home to home in the Rock Hole, Windsor Park, and Washington Boulevard communities, all while he searched for stability, which he said he couldn’t appreciate when he eventually found it.

The now-businessman, husband and father gave a moving speech about self-healing, inner motivation and determination, which was well received by the attendees.

Now in its eleventh year, the Boyz2Men programme has mentored hundreds of adolescent male teens. Its dinner, which is one of the highlights of the programme, is in its sixth year.

In November 2021, the programme opened a new chapter at the Clifton Hunter High School in North Side, and this year students from both schools gathered at The Ritz-Carlton in celebration of their mothers.

Programme also supports emerging leaders

While the programme caters for at-risk youth such as Phillips, it also provides opportunities for character development for a wide spectrum of students, who also enjoy a stable home. Jerry Allen is one such student.

Now 16-years-old and a high school senior at Clifton Hunter, Allen has a passion for sports medicine. He was identified as a leader amongst his peers and someone to be emulated.

“I definitely feel very blessed to be seen as a role-model especially because there are so many other good young guys in the programme,” said Allen.

“We were blessed to have been able to not struggle as hard as other families, and to think that he is able to help be a leader has left me lost for words,” said Katie Allen, Jerry’s mother.

Not every mother was able to attend the dinner and, in their absence, students brought an alternative female role model, several of whom were teachers.

“There were teachers who were moved to tears, to hear some of the children express the impact they have had in their lives,” said Murray.

He added, “I am humbled to see how this programme has grown and I am grateful for all the support we have received.”