2025 Election Guide
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ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore On July 7, 2025 visited the Next One? Up program headquarters in Baltimore City to participate in a roundtable discussion with students, coaches, and organizational leaders to discuss their program model focused on empowering young men and boys. During his visit, the governor heard from students about their experience with the program, and emphasized his commitment to the Moore-Miller Administration’s all-of-government approach to supporting young men and boys.
“I wouldn’t be governor without countless people who recognized my promise and helped me realize my potential. In Maryland, we are going to be a state that sees our young men and boys not as problems to be solved, but as assets to be unearthed,” said Gov. Moore. “I believe Next One Up can be a model statewide, and a vital partner inside our work to ensure all young men and boys in Maryland can find their path and their purpose.”
In his 2025 State of the State address, the governor announced that the Moore-Miller Administration would take an all-of-government approach to understand the challenges young men and boys face and identify meaningful solutions. Since the announcement, agencies across the Moore-Miller Administration have been working to inform a policy development and engagement process in several key areas including: strengthening access to mental and behavioral health supports; strengthening pathways to careers in critical sectors such as education and health care; and providing young men and boys with positive role models and mentorship opportunities.
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The Moore-Miller Administration has laid a strong foundation to support young men and boys through existing programs that create pathways to economic opportunity and mentorship. The administration launched the THRIVE Academy to serve youth determined to be at a heightened risk for involvement in gun violence and championed initiatives such as the Service Year Option to promote access to mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities.
“A big thank you to our governor and fellow Blue Jay, Governor Moore, for joining us on the first day of the Next One Up summer program,” said Next One Up Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matt Hanna. “I started this program 16 years ago as a teacher in Baltimore. This program is about boys becoming men. Governor Moore’s focus on the support and success of young men and boys is real and a testament to who he is and where he comes from. We hope to see him again.”
Next One Up creates transformative opportunities for Baltimore’s student-athletes, grounded in the values of character, connection, and hard work. Through a comprehensive, long-term mentoring model, Next One Up delivers essential academic, athletic, and social support from middle school through adulthood, empowering young men to envision and pursue their own paths to success. The organization’s mission is to equip alumni to drive generational change through higher education attainment, meaningful and prosperous careers, and personal growth that positions them as leaders within their communities.
Since its opening in November 2023, the 14,000-square-foot Base Camp at Belvedere Square has become a central hub for the Next One Up community. The space offers structured programming several days a week for middle and high school students, as well as seven-day-a-week drop-in access for all members, including college students and alumni. As of today, Next One Up serves more than 230 young people, with 31 additional students set to join the program this summer.