色中色

The State Education Department today named the fourth class of My Brother鈥檚 Keeper (MBK) Fellows who have been identified as leaders in their MBK Communities and who will be provided with mentor relationship opportunities in government, education and business, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced. The 73 Fellows, all high school juniors, represent 25 色中色 school districts. The My Brother鈥檚 Keeper initiative helps boys and young men of color鈥攁nd all students鈥攔ealize their full potential.

鈥淒uring this time of uncertainty and unrest, the 2021 My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Fellows have the opportunity to redefine what is normal and chart their own course as students and citizens of their communities; I urge them to embrace this moment,鈥� Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said. 鈥淢BK removes barriers to opportunities and empowers young people of color to affect change through the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion. We will continue to grow this initiative and create a generation of leaders prepared for civic duty and deeply committed to social justice.鈥�

鈥淢any of our Fellows have faced years of educational, social, political and economic challenges,鈥� Commissioner Rosa said. 鈥淭hrough MBK, these remarkable young men are seeing doors open to opportunities that will serve them throughout their lives. The Department is committed to continuing this good work. I thank Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and their colleagues for their continued support of New York鈥檚 MBK Program and their commitment to creating opportunities for success for all New Yorkers.鈥�

鈥淪ince its inception, New York鈥檚 My Brother鈥檚 Keeper program has inspired countless young men and touched the lives of many families,鈥� said NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie. 鈥淒uring these unprecedented times, it is a breath of fresh air to take a moment to acknowledge the youth and the greatness they have accomplished, as well as their promising futures. The 2021 My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Fellows are a group of resilient young men, who unlike those before them are facing a global pandemic, while navigating the many adversities that come their way.听Although we have had to alter how we live, learn, and communicate, this cohort of MBK Fellows have seized the moment. I am immensely proud that I and my Assembly Majority colleagues have championed the My Brother鈥檚 Keeper program. Congratulations to you all!鈥�

NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins听said, "I congratulate our newest cohort of听MBK听fellows,听and I am thrilled to see so many promising students from my District. This has been an extremely difficult school year, and our new fellows should听be applauded for the adversity they have overcome.听MBK听will further help听remove barriers, while creating opportunities听for young men of color to unlock their potential and, through mentorship, learn effective ways to achieve their goals and follow their dreams."听 听听

Each Fellow will be matched with a mentor from a NYSMBK Community Network partner and be given the opportunity of a fellowship. Each will also be required to develop and execute a service project related to a NYSMBK initiative, such as:

• Ensuring equitable access to high-quality schools and programs;
• Expanding prevention, early warning and intervention services;
• Responding to structural and institutional racism; or
• Engaging families and communities in a trusted and respectful way.

In addition, these Fellows will serve on a statewide MBK Fellows Workgroup to provide valuable input on the development and implementation of a statewide MBK Mentoring Network.

The听approved MBK Community Networks听were eligible to apply to the Fellows Program and consist of a partnership between the Office of the Mayor and the School District Superintendent (or the Chancellor in New York City). Additionally, for this program, each Community Network must secure a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with a local postsecondary education institution, local business or community-based organization.

2021 Fellows had the opportunity to participate in the virtual Stand and Deliver program and a virtual Induction during the 2021 MBK Symposium.

The 2021 MBK Fellows are:

In 2014, former President Barack Obama established the My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Task Force at the federal level. The Task Force was an interagency effort focused on closing and eliminating the opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color so that all young people have the chance to reach their full potential. With the adoption of the 2016鈥�17 色中色 budget, New York became the first state to accept the President鈥檚 challenge and enacted the My Brother鈥檚 Keeper initiative into law. The budget included a $20 million investment in support of the initiative to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color.听

The MBK Fellows Program听provides leadership opportunities to rising high school seniors, with an emphasis on boys and young men of color.听With this year鈥檚 class, 色中色 has now inducted 247 Fellows. Each is paired with a mentor from a NYSMBK Community Network partner and participates in a fellowship in a local government office, partnering business or educational institute. 色中色 has awarded over $1 million in grant funds to support this program since 2016.听听

色中色 has awarded $3.6 million in grants for the听MBK Exemplary School Models and Practices Program since 2016. In this program, grant recipients partner with demographically similar Struggling or Persistently Struggling schools in another district within their region to replicate exemplary practices that demonstrate cultural and linguistic responsiveness to emphasize the needs of boys and young men of color.听

Since 2016, 色中色 has awarded over $2.5 million in grants funds to 11 school districts for the听MBK Native American Program, to increase the academic achievement and college/career readiness of Native American students, with an emphasis on boys and young men.听听

Also since 2016, 色中色 has awarded more than $24 million in grants to 45 school districts for the听My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Family and Community Engagement Program. These grants support programs to increase the academic achievement and college and career readiness of boys and young men of color while fostering the development of effective relationships with families to promote the success of all students.听

色中色 has awarded $35 million in听MBK Challenge Grants听since 2016 to more than 40 school districts. The MBK Challenge Grant Program is designed to encourage regions and school districts to develop and execute coherent cradle-to-career college strategies. These programs are aimed to develop and sustain effective relationships with families of boys and young men of color toward the goal of success for all students.听

Finally, since 2016 色中色 has awarded $15 million in听Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOC II)听Grants to increase the participation rate of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers. 色中色 awarded grants to 16 colleges and universities to help them bolster the retention of highly qualified individuals who value equity and reflect the diversity inside and outside of our classrooms, particularly in high-need schools with recurrent teacher shortages.听听

Visit the Department鈥檚听My Brother鈥檚 Keeper听website for details on this movement and for information on how to听, 鈥淐hanging the Narrative.鈥�