Convened by Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission Virginia Coalition for Boys and Men

A statewide working summit

The Virginia Blueprint

A Summit Advancing Men and Boys

Real solutions from people doing the work

A one-day conference for the practitioners, educators, leaders, mentors and advocates advancing boys and men. Focused on what is working and how to do more of it.

Registration opens soon. Be the first to know.

No spam, just summit updates and the moment tickets go live.

18 SEP
2026 Virginia General
Assembly, Richmond

Who it's for

No boring panels. A day of sharing successes and making meaningful connections for people on the ground, doing the work.

The educators, program leaders, social workers, clinicians, coaches, mentors, educators and fathers who have been advancing boys and men for years. The Virginia Blueprint brings them together to share what works and leave with a plan and a new community.

EducatorsCliniciansMentorsAdvocatesFathers

Why now

The gaps are real and measurable. So are the programs closing them.

Three numbers Virginia can act on. Every figure here is sourced, and every one points to work already underway.

in the nation for the fourth-grade reading gap

The widest gap between girls' and boys' reading scores of any state. 2024, NAEP grade 4.

NAEP 2024, NCES

42%

of U.S. undergraduates are men

A shrinking share of higher education nationwide. 2021, national.

AIBM, Degrees of Difference

80%

of Virginia suicide deaths are men

In 2022, 1,211 Virginians died by suicide. Help is available 24/7 at 988.

Virginia DBHDS, 2025

Behind every number, Virginians are already responding. The Virginia Blueprint Summit gathers them. See the full data

The voices

People doing the work, on one stage.

See all speakers →

Richard Reeves

President, American Institute for Boys and Men

Author of Of Boys and Men and the leading national voice on the policy case for boys and men.

Del. Josh Thomas

Virginia House of Delegates, D-21

Chief patron of HB1188, the bill that created the nation’s first commission for boys and men.

More speakers announced soon.

We are confirming a bipartisan lineup of practitioners and leaders.

Get notified →

The day

The shape of the day.

One track, one room, one purpose. A full schedule with session titles and times is coming soon.

Full agenda coming soon

Morning

Doors, welcome, and the opening keynote

Setting the frame: where Virginia leads, and why it matters now.

Midday

Working sessions

Education, fatherhood, health, and workforce, led by the people doing the work.

Afternoon

Solutions showcase

Programs that work, and how to bring them home to your community.

Commitments and next steps

Leave with a plan, not just notes.

View the agenda →

The Commission

The nation's first permanent commission for boys and men.

Written into Virginia state code and independent of any governor. It passed with rare bipartisan margins and was signed by Governor Spanberger. The first legislative report is due October 2026.

About the Commission →

House · HB1188

91–6

passed the House of Delegates

Senate · SB447

36–0

passed the Senate

The Coalition

Ensuring a future for Virginia's men and boys.

A nonpartisan, statewide network of organizations and leaders, committed to a goal that that men and boys’ unique qualities are recognized and their struggles are supported, for the benefit of all.

01Raise awareness

02Advise policymakers

03Amplify success strategies

04Collaborate across orgs nationally

About the coalition →

The network

A statewide network, already at work.

See our members →

Center for the Study of Boys

St. Christopher's School · Richmond

Nearly 50 studies on how boys learn and grow, led by Dr. Kimberly Hudson.

Hopkins House

Alexandria · since 1939

An early childhood education center building a pipeline of male ECE teachers.

Dads at School

Statewide · K-12 father engagement

$1,000 grants and year-round support to bring fathers into K-12 schools.

Put us out of business. Make father engagement and school presence normal and boring.
Emma Johnson, Dads at School

Latest

News from the Commonwealth.

All news →

May 15, 2026Member Spotlight

Be there when Virginia leads the way for boys and men.

One email when registration opens. Nothing more, nothing less.