When Corey Manning walks into the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury, he carries with him more than two decades of leadership experience and his own story of how safe spaces and caring mentors changed his life.
As a boy, Corey found encouragement and belonging at the John Avery Boys & Girls Club, an experience that showed him the power of caring adults and a community that believes in you. Today, he returns to that same mission, this time as the Executive Director of the Yawkey Club of Roxbury (Yawkey Club of Roxbury – BGCB).
Corey’s career has spanned more than 25 years of youth development, mentoring, and community leadership. At NC Public Allies, Mass Mentoring Partnership, FCD Prevention Works, and YouthBuild Global, he championed Opportunity Youth, positive youth development, workforce pathways, and educational programming. In each role, his goal has been consistent: to create spaces where young people feel safe, seen, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Corey sees the Boys and Girls Club not only as a second home for youth, but also as a launchpad for members, staff, and community partners. “My goal is to make sure the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury isn’t just an after school program, it’s a stepping stone, a place where young people, staff, and families can grow their skills, find their purpose, and feel like they belong,” he says. “When we build that kind of culture, everything grows.” His leadership philosophy, Serving for Sustainability, centers on creating joy-filled, high-impact environments where growth is collective and long-lasting.
Corey is more than a leader. He is a connector, known for his authenticity, humor, and ability to build trust. Corey has used storytelling to heal, unite, and inspire. As founder of One Smile LLC and a nationally recognized comedian, he harnesses humor and storytelling to support healing and connection. He believes joy is not a distraction from the serious work of youth development, it is one of its most powerful tools.
Robert Lewis Jr., Nicholas President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, sees Corey’s arrival as both timely and transformative. “Corey brings the perfect blend of lived experience, professional expertise, and heart. He understands what our young people need because he has walked in their shoes. His leadership will be an incredible asset not only to the Yawkey Club but to our entire BGCB community.”
A graduate of North Carolina Central University and an alumnus of the American Express Leadership Academy, Corey brings both strategic insight and lived experience to his new role. For him, this is more than a professional step, it is a full-circle moment that connects his personal journey to the next generation of Roxbury youth who visit the Club each day.
