Palisades National League of Young Men Offers a Bonding Experience for Sons and Mothers

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

When young Palisadian Gavin Rifkin first joined the National League of Young Men in September 2021, he was thrilled to join a group that enabled him to make a difference.

Founded in May 2016, NYLM, is an organization that teaches young men leadership skills and gives them the opportunity to serve their community while developing in a multitude of ways. A four-year program, NLYM’s key elements are “leadership, service, culture and protocol.”

“NLYM is special to me because I get to give back to the community and help people out. It has made me grow as a person in many ways,” Rifkin said to the Palisadian-Post. “I also wanted to learn from speakers and I wanted to learn basic stuff. For example, after one of our meetings we walked to the gas station and we learned basic things about cars.”

With 11 chapters across three states, NYLM came about when two mothers from Newport Beach wanted to reinforce their bond between them and their sons, and create a healthy, productive environment for young men to flourish.

The Pacific Palisades/Brentwood chapter—which started in 2016 and houses 95 members—has become a staple for many mothers and their sons in the Palisades.

“It is special to me because I am learning what it is like to donate my time,” Rifkin explained. “[My] favorite event so far was putting Thanksgiving bags together on an event called ‘Big Sunday.’ We spent a Sunday giving back to those who wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving dinner.”

Rifkin’s mother, Carrie, who has lived in the Palisades for 13 years, said NYLM has become even more important since the COVID-19 pandemic began, as it offers a safe, fun and inspiring support group.

“These young men and all our young people missed out on a lot because of COVID,” Carrie said to the Post. “Any reason to get them together to socialize, learn about new things, become leaders and give back through hands-on direct philanthropy is a win-win.

“As a mother, my selfish reason is that it gives me more time to do things with my son. Now that he is in high school, he doesn’t need me as much and we don’t spend as much time together.  But doing a beach clean up with him and other moms and boys his age or going to meetings together is time to cherish. College will be here before we know it.”

Rifkin, a freshman at Brentwood School, will be able to enjoy NYLM along with his mother until his senior year. Since joining, he has been able to partake in several son and mother meetings, including a Compass dinner for families that honored the children with awards for their philanthropy whilst in the program.

“I see that my son realizes how beneficial it is to give back to the community,” Carrie said. “I think it has made him realize how important it is to help others in need and donate some of your time for this.

It gives my son and I some special time to do activities and meetings together. We don’t get this time normally in our family of five so I love having NYLM just for us. It really is the best part.”

For more information or to become a member, email membership@nlympalisades.org.