Forge Real Men – Equip the MAN Project Pilot (Stockton Area)

Goal Amount: $1000 (covers cold plunge tank, ice, first-aid, survival basics, waivers, and initial gear for 3–5 young men during pilot stage)

The Brutal Truth

In San Joaquin County, too many boys and young men are growing up without a father who shows up, provides, protects, or disciplines. The fallout is predictable: lack of discipline, emotional fragility, poor work ethic, unstable finances, broken relationships, and a generation of guys who struggle to become the husbands and fathers God calls them to be. I’ve spent years in the trenches seeing this up close—as a social worker, former SUD counselor, group home social worker, ABA therapist, child abuse/neglect specialist, and successful life coach. I’m angry about it. And I’m not waiting for someone else to fix it.

What We’re Actually Doing

I’m launching a small, no-BS, faith-based pilot: 3–5 men, 3 week pilot group, weekly meets at the gym and outdoors.

We’re building:

• Discipline & work ethic (extreme ownership, no excuses)

• Mental toughness (labeling fear, crushing avoidance)

• Husband/father skills (sacrificial love – Ephesians 5:25)

• Finances & life skills (diligent plans – Proverbs 21:5)

• Physical grit (cold plunges, Spartan circuits, survival basics)

Every session ends with raw reflection on biblical manhood: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14). No fluff. No participation trophies. Just sweat, Scripture, and accountability.

Why This Gear Matters

We’re not asking for a fancy facility or paid staff. We need:

• A stock tank for cold plunges (mental toughness starts when excuses freeze)

• Trauma-level first-aid kit (real men prepare for the worst)

• Paracord, ferro rods, tarps for survival skills (build shelter before building excuses)

• Jump ropes, bands, headlamps for circuits and intensives

Total ask: $1000. Every dollar goes straight to gear—no salaries, no overhead. If we raise more, we upgrade first-aid or buy extra ice. If we don’t, we bootstrap harder.

The Real Ask

It seems like a lot of people are concerned about fatherless boys but few are willing to do anything concrete. I get it—time is tight, money is tight, trust is thin. But here’s the mirror: If we keep saying “someone should do something,” nothing changes. So I’m doing something. Small. Local. Biblical. Dangerous yet kind. How open are you to being part of the first wave that actually moves the needle instead of just talking about it?

No pressure. No guilt. Just a straight-up opportunity to invest in men who will one day lead families.

Why Now? Why Me?

I’m a Social Worker by trade and education, husband, father of two, full-time therapist in child abuse/neglect, former SUD counselor, group home social worker, ABA therapist, and someone who previously built and ran a successful life coaching business. I’ve spent years walking alongside broken men and boys. I know the patterns. I know the excuses. And I know grace-fueled accountability can break both.

If this resonates, donate what you can. $25 buys ice for a plunge. $50 buys a trauma kit upgrade. $100 buys a stock tank. Every dollar directly equips young men to stop being useless and start being useful—to God, their future wives, their kids, and society.

If not, no hard feelings. But don’t pretend you don’t see the problem.

Thanks for reading this far.
You just proved you care enough to listen. Now decide if you care enough to act.

In His service,

Julian

Stockton, CA

Founder – MAN Project (Masculine Accountability Network) Pilot