About BOON
Born Out Of Necessity.
Built For The Next Generation.
BOON invests in the adults who shape the lives of Black youth, through African American-centered scholarship, practical resources, and stronger relationships across the Village. Why BOON Exists
Who We Are
Black youth are the reason this work exists.
When we strengthen the Village, we strengthen Black youth.
Black youth are shaped every day by the adults around them. Parents. Teachers. Coaches. Counselors. Pastors. Mentors. Neighbors.
Every one of those relationships shapes their identity, character, and capacity for growth.
BOON invests in that Village. We advance scholarship, equip caring adults with practical knowledge and resources, and cultivate relationships across the people who influence Black youth. The goal is not simply stronger programs. It is a stronger ecosystem around youth.
Christian-based. African American-centered. Ecumenical. Holistic.
BOON partners across Christian traditions and denominations with people committed to the flourishing of Black youth.
Born Out of Necessity
Looking at the full week changed the question.
BOON wasn't born in a single moment. It grew from two decades of watching the same question go unanswered:
Scripture names the aim plainly: life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10).
Churches and ministry leaders were investing faithfully. But no matter how meaningful one or two hours of discipleship could be, those hours had to compete with the other 166 hours of the week. And those hours were already full of influence.
Influence doesn't wait for a church service.
It happens wherever life happens.
Hours in a week
Parents
Teachers
Coaches
Counselors
Neighbors
Mentors
Pastors
That's when BOON came into focus.
What if the Village became more intentional? What if the adults who influence Black youth saw themselves as part of the same story, each contributing their unique role? What if scholarship, practical resources, and stronger relationships helped that Village work together instead of in isolation? BOON exists to help make that possible.
How BOON Works
Strengthen the Village. Strengthen Black youth.
BOON focuses on the people and systems surrounding youth. Our work moves through three connected strategies.
01
Research and Scholarship
Advance what the Village knows.
BOON advances research and scholarship that deepen our understanding of the holistic development, faith, culture, identity, and lived experiences of Black youth.
02
Equip Caring Adults
Turn knowledge into practice.
We equip parents, educators, coaches, mentors, faith leaders, and other caring adults with knowledge and resources they can use in the relationships they already have.
03
Cultivate Relationships
Help the Village work together.
We strengthen relationships among the adults who influence Black youth so people are not discipling, mentoring, teaching, and supporting youth in isolation.
The Outcome
Identity Formation. Character Development. Capacity Building.
“It takes a Village to raise a child.”
African Proverb
“All life is interrelated.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“We must never give up on any child.”
Marian Wright Edelman
“The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow.”
Nelson Mandela
Why BOON
Built differently on purpose.
BOON is designed to strengthen the full ecosystem around Black youth, not compete with the people and organizations already doing the work.
African American-centered scholarship
BOON develops scholarship from the lived experiences of Black communities, biblical truth, cultural wisdom, and developmental science. Our work is intentionally designed to help the Village understand and disciple Black youth with greater cultural depth and clarity.
The Village, not one institution
Black youth are shaped by an ecosystem of adults. BOON connects parents, churches, educators, coaches, mentors, researchers, and community leaders around a shared vision.
Infrastructure, not another program
BOON does not exist to compete with churches or youth organizations. We strengthen the work already happening through research, shared language, relationships, resources, and frameworks.
Our Story
It Started with a Question.
BOON continues to grow through listening, research, relationships, and the needs we see in the Village.
2019
The Question Takes Shape
A growing conviction emerges: Black youth need discipleship that connects faith with culture, identity, community, and everyday life.
2021
Seeds for “The Network” Are Planted
A team of 4 begin meeting monthly to build “The Network.”
2023
BOON Is Born
BOON takes shape around the mission of supporting Black Churches and Faith-based organizations.
2024
Listening Becomes Research
Youth voices and community insight begin shaping deeper scholarship, questions, and resources.
2025
The Village Expands the Conversation
BOON’s mission is redefined to strengthen the Village surrounding Black youth.
2026
The Framework Takes Shape
BOON begins developing a shared framework connecting research, faith, culture, and community.
Leadership
A question that became a movement.
BOON grew from a persistent question about what it takes for Black youth to experience abundant life, and from recognizing that the answer cannot rest on one institution or one hour of the week.
Candice Wynn founded BOON around a broader vision: strengthen the adults who shape youth every day, connect them around shared knowledge and purpose, and build scholarship that reflects Black communities.
“What if the Village became more intentional?”
Candice Wynn
Founder and Executive Director
Our Board of Directors
Meet Our Board of Directors.
BOON brings together people committed to scholarship, faith, creativity, relationships, and the flourishing of Black youth.
Andrea Caldwell
Board Member
Brings strategic vision and product development acumen to drive awareness, engagement, and growth.
Rev. Dr. Virginia Ward
Board Member
Brings scholarship, theological education, and decades of Next Gen ministry leadership to BOON’s work.
Rev. Sean Watkins
Board Member
Brings ministry experience and a commitment to discipleship that meets Black youth where they are.
Bridget Wiles
Board Member
Brings organizational insight and a heart for the families and communities raising Black youth.
Rev. Lee Wilson
Board Member
Brings pastoral leadership and long-standing relationships across the Village.
Built With the Village
We strengthen the work already happening.
BOON partners with Churches, Ministries, Researchers, Community Organizations, Funders, and Educators who want to strengthen the environments surrounding Black youth.
Our role is not to replace what your organization already does. We bring research, shared language, resources, relationships, and frameworks that can make that work stronger.
Get Involved
Community
Stay connected to the Village.
Follow the work wherever you spend time. Follow BOON, join the community, watch The Ville, and keep learning alongside the work.