July 27–31, 2026 · Daily 9:00 AM–3:00 PM · Grades 9–12 · Yonkers, NY
Every young man deserves a man who believes in him.
BILLY connects young men in grades 9–12 with high-level mentors who look like them, understand their world, and pour into them through leadership, discipline, faith, and purpose.
Exposed to more. Becoming more.
◆
9–12
Grades served
1:1
Mentor check-ins
Weekly
Leadership sessions
Everywhere
The work happens
BILLY Leadership Academy
Dates
July 27–31, 2026
Daily
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location
Grades 9–12 · Yonkers, NY
Limited Enrollment · Daily mentorship from accomplished men
Learn More§ 01 — About BILLY
Young men become what they are exposed to.
BILLY stands for Because I Look Like You. Through powerful mentorship experiences, real conversations, leadership development, and access to successful men from their own communities, BILLY helps young men see what is possible for their lives.
This isn't a program for troubled kids. It's a program for high-potential young men with influence, personality, athletic ability, creativity, curiosity, and leadership — young men who need the right environment to grow into it.
Mission
Expose young men to strong male leadership, mentorship, discipline, faith, and opportunity — so they become confident leaders in their homes, schools, and communities.
Vision
A nation of mentors who help young men become disciplined, purpose-driven, emotionally strong, spiritually grounded, and prepared for manhood.
§ 02 — The Founder
Every movement begins with one person willing to believe.
BILLY wasn’t created because there weren’t enough youth programs.
It was created because too many young men were growing up without consistent access to strong men who could challenge them, believe in them, and expand what they believed was possible.
Founder Michael Bailey has spent his life building relationships across athletics, business, entrepreneurship, faith, and community leadership.
After experiencing firsthand how one mentor, one conversation, or one opportunity could completely change the direction of a person’s life, he envisioned something bigger.
Not another mentorship program.
An ecosystem where young men could consistently sit across the table from successful men who looked like them, understood them, and genuinely invested in who they were becoming.
That vision became BILLY.
Today, BILLY exists to build disciplined, purpose-driven young men through mentorship, leadership, exposure, accountability, and brotherhood.
“One conversation can change the trajectory of a young man’s life. BILLY exists to make sure those conversations happen.”
Michael Bailey
Founder
Because I Look Like You
The BILLY Philosophy
“You can't become what you've never seen. Exposure changes expectations.”
Strong men build strong young men.
§ 03 — Core Pillars
The foundation of a man.
Six commitments. Every session. Every conversation. Every young man.
Identity
Helping young men understand who they are and who they can become — before the world tells them otherwise.
Leadership
Teaching responsibility, confidence, communication, and the weight of decisions that shape a life.
Discipline
Structure, consistency, fitness, and accountability. Mastering the self before leading others.
Faith & Purpose
A foundation beyond popularity, pressure, and distraction. Grounded, centered, called.
Exposure
Time in rooms with entrepreneurs, athletes, professionals, and leaders who share their story.
Brotherhood
A safe, strong environment where young men are challenged, sharpened, and supported.
§ 04 — What We Do
Mentorship, engineered for transformation.
BILLY creates intentionally personal, relational, and transformational experiences. Every touchpoint is designed to sharpen, expose, and grow.
- 01Weekly leadership sessions
- 02Small group mentorship
- 03One-on-one check-ins
- 04Exposure trips
- 05Guest mentor sessions
- 06Faith-based conversations
- 07Fitness & discipline workshops
- 08Entrepreneurship & brand-building
- 09Police interaction & life skills
- 10Confidence & personal presentation
- 11Parent communication & progress tracking
The Session Flow
01
Vitals Check-In
Mental, physical, spiritual, family, relationships.
02
Prayer or Reflection
Centering the room before the work begins.
03
Mentor Spotlight
Direct exposure to a man walking the path.
04
Open Discussion
Real talk on what's actually going on.
05
Leadership Topic
A life lesson worth carrying forward.
06
Accountability Goals
Named commitments. Followed up on.
§ 05 — For Parents
Your son doesn't need more lectures.
He needs exposure, guidance, accountability, and men he can respect. BILLY gives young men access to leaders who pour into them, challenge them, and help them see what is possible.
BILLY serves young men in grades 9–12 with potential, influence, creativity, athletic ability, or leadership qualities. A trusted space where your son will be surrounded by strong men who care and lead by example.
§ 06 — For Schools & Orgs
Leadership programming, built to plug in.
BILLY partners with schools, youth programs, nonprofits, and community organizations to deliver leadership enrichment, workshops, cohorts, and curriculum-based experiences for young men.
- — After-school enrichment
- — Leadership workshops
- — Mentorship cohorts
- — Speaker sessions
- — Development curriculum
- — School partnerships
§ 07 — For Sponsors & Donors
Invest directly in young men.
Sponsors help fund programming, meals, venues, transportation, mentor stipends, apparel, events, and scholarships. BILLY creates measurable community impact — one young man, one room, one relationship at a time.
01
Fund
02
Mentor
03
Multiply
§ 08 — The Mentors
Men who lead by example.
BILLY mentors are athletes, entrepreneurs, police officers, trainers, business owners, faith leaders, professionals, and community leaders. Representation matters — but relationship transforms.
01
Identity & Self-Belief
Who you are before who you are told to be.
02
Police Interaction
Perception, presence, and staying safe.
03
Entrepreneurship & Brand
Building something that carries your name.
04
Fitness & Discipline
The body as the first thing you can control.
05
Faith & Purpose
The reason behind the work.
06
Exposure to Achievement
Rooms that expand what feels possible.
07
Appearance & Confidence
How you show up sets the tone.
08
Real Conversations
Nothing off-limits. Everything with respect.
“Representation matters, but relationship transforms.”
“BILLY puts young men in rooms that expand their vision.”
§ 09 — Start the Conversation
Choose the door that fits you.
Every audience has its own path in — pick yours and we'll take it from there.
Parents & Guardians
Enroll in the Academy
Reserve your son's spot in the Summer 2026 Leadership Academy.
Schools & Orgs
Start a Partnership
Bring BILLY programming into your school.
Sponsors & Donors
Sponsor a Cohort
Fund the programming that transforms lives.
Mentors
Become a Mentor
Apply to lead the next generation of men.
Or reach us directly