boy is beautiful.
ABOUT BOYCOLLECTIVE
A passion built on belief and conviction.
BOYcollective is a platform devoted to celebrating and promoting the brilliance and beauty of Black boys in America. Built around a book, a film, and a social media campaign, it exists as a space to immerse in the optimism, the hopefulness, and the good news about Black boys, countering a
long-standing narrative of chronic underachievement with one of possibility, high expectations, and joy.
Our mission is to elevate Black boys to new heights of achievement, fulfillment, and contribution.
We support parents, educators, and communities as they write that story.
THE FOUNDER
About Neil Phillips
Father. Educator. Entrepreneur. Speaker.
PHOTO - PORTRAIT
Neil is an educator, founder, and speaker whose career has spanned elite private schools, public Title I charters, and the highest-visibility corner of corporate DEI. A Harvard graduate and former professional basketball player, he has spent two decades building and contributing to spaces where Black boys are expected to thrive.
Neil co-founded and led Visible Men Academy, an all-boys Title I charter school in Bradenton, Florida. He served as Chief Diversity Officer of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association / Golden Globes during a defining moment for the organization. Today, through Neil P. Phillips, LLC, he consults and speaks across education, media, and industry — and is completing the book and documentary film Boy.
Neil is a proud father of two boys, now young men, who inspire him every day.
"Of course, there are home, school, community, and organizational environments that excel in setting high expectations for our Black boys. Where this is the case, the subsequent results are clear."
- Neil Phillips, Author