The Blueprint
MBK Houston Movement
"The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today."
~H. Jackson Brown Jr.
HISD's New Superintendent and the MBK Whole-Child Recovery Assistance Program (WRAP) Network
MBK received a verbal endorsement from HISD's new superintendent, Dr. Richard Carranza. He said, HISD must continue our work with MBK Houston to build safety nets for our children who struggle with more than just academics. He believes that wraparound services are critical to building equity for kids that are homeless, hungry, are in need of clothes, and other social and emotional necessities.
Dr. Carranza was a former teacher and can attest to the fact that many teachers can address some of the issues children face but the majority of schools need help beyond the school district's resources to assist kids cope and overcome these challenges.
Noel A. Pinnock, I MPA, CPM, IPMA-SCP
MBK Forum for Latino Young Men and Boys in Search of Justice Overview
My Brother’s Keeper Houston (MBK), in partnership with The University of Houston – Downtown (UHD) and Arte Publico Press (APP) hosted the Latino Young Men and Boys in Search of Justice: A My Brother’s Keeper Forum on Friday, September 30th at UHD. The event, inspired by an APP book of the same name, featured renowned authors and activists Luis Rodriguez, Javier Huerta and Albino Garcia.
Rodriguez delivered the event-opening speech which touched on the importance of events like the Forum, the need for positive adult mentors and for cultural centers and the arts. From the opening session, attendees moved to one of two tracks for the remainder of the event: Youth and Practitioner.
Students worked with facilitators on various topics
Youth Sessions
Using Luis Rodriguez’s opening speech as a starting point, 133 middle and high school youth attendees engaged in conversation with table facilitators on the topics of identity and perceptions of young men of color.
Youth share-out highlights:
“I matter to my family, my school, and my community”
“I know I’m not part of the group they talk about, because I know who I am”
“We need to be aware of our own biases. Nobody is bias-free but we need to be aware of them.”
Practitioner Sessions
Houston-area practitioners Dr. Crystal Belle (UHD) and Charles Rotramel (Houston ReVision) presented on the impact of “Zero Tolerance” school discipline policies on young men of color. Albino Garcia (La Plazita Institute) gave an overview of his work in Albuquerque engaging youth, elders and communities in a comprehensive, holistic and cultural approach. Dr. Anita Wadhwa (YES Prep) co-presented with her students on youth-led Restorative Justice Circles as an alternative to exclusionary discipline in a school setting.
By the Numbers
130+ students (representation from Middle School, High School, and College)
70+ practitioners (educators, social service providers, activists, and authors)
200+ books donated to students and practitioners
18 volunteer discussion facilitators engaged with youth
*All attendees received copies of Arte Publico Press books. Youth attendees received copies of Latino Young Men and Boys in Search of Justice: Testimonies, while attendees in the Adult/Practitioner track received copies of Overcoming Disparity: Latino Young Men and Boys.
A copy of Latino Young Men and Boys in Search of Justice: Testimonies was provided to all youth that attended
From the Foundation - Barbara Bush Literacy Connection - Dr. Julie Baker Finck at the Groomed for Literacy launch at Scenic Woods Library
Read the testimony from Ronald Wilson a member of the MBK Youth Advisory Council; Published by The Kinder Institute
Houston's Opportunity: Reconnecting Disengaged Youth and Young Adults to Strengthen Houston's Economy
Opportunity Youth and Young Adults are defined as individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither attending school nor working. Despite the country’s gradual economic recovery following the recent recession, these youth represent an often overlooked segment of society. Many have dropped out of school. Still more finished high school but had few options awaiting them. Barriers like criminal records and a lack of skills, experience or even transportation often work against their best intentions. Here are some stories about Opportunity Youth and Young Adults in Houston who have been struggling with obstacles such as family responsibilities, financial instability, teen pregnancy, lack of support from parents and teachers, etc.
Exciting Change to Eligibility Process for Children & Adolescents by the Harris Center for MHIDD
As part of The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD's efforts to better meet the needs of our community, we are happy to announce that children and adolescents 3-17 years of age are no longer required to visit the Eligibility Center in order to access our services. They may simply walk-in, with a parent/legal guardian, to our Southwest Children's Clinic during regular business hours.
To obtain services for children and adolescents 3-17 years of age, please follow these steps:
- Parents/legal guardians may call The Harris Center's 24-hour HelpLine at 713-970-7000 to obtain information on services available and required documentation and paperwork needed to assess eligibility for services. While this step is not required, it is highly encouraged in order to ensure that the intake process at the clinic flows as smoothly as possible.
- Parents/legal guardians should bring their children and/or adolescents for whom they are seeking services to The Harris Center's Southwest Children's Clinic located at 9401 Southwest Freeway, 4th floor, Houston, 77074, during regular business hours from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Monday-Friday. No appointment is needed, and walk-ins are processed until daily slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
This change allows those seeking services to complete the eligibility process and be seen by our clinical staff at the first meeting rather than requiring a separate appointment to begin receiving treatment.
As always, please call The Harris Center's 24-hour HelpLine at 713-970-7000 should you have any questions regarding this process or anything related to the services provided by The Harris Center.
The Reach Higher and Better Make Room Teams would like to share important College Access Tools
Better Make Room is the First Lady's campaign to directly reach underserved, college-aspiring youth. It targets Generation Z (ages 14-19) to celebrate students, change the national conversation, reach students directly where they are, and give them a space to express themselves while navigating the college-going process.
UpNext is Better Make Room's new college support tool announced by the First Lady. It gives high school and college students, parents, and school counselors across the country access to free personalized support on all things college including help with their college search and applications, federal student aid, even student loan repayment – all through texting. Students can text COLLEGE to 44044 to start receiving information.
FAFSA: Starting this year, the FAFSA is available on October 1st, giving students additional time to meet most deadlines and explore and understand their financial aid options. The FAFSA is available at https://fafsa.ed.gov/.
College Scorecard: The College Scorecard is an interactive website that provides the clearest, most accessible, and most reliable national data on college costs, graduation rates, typical debt levels, and post-college earnings so that students can make the most informed choice possible in selecting a good-value college. Check out the College Scorecard website <https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/> .
UEA recently hosted an Aviation S.T.E.M. Spring Break and Summer Camp at Sterling Aviation High School, where students learned about aircraft dynamics, airport safety, various careers, drone technology and received great mentoring from our handpicked volunteers as well! Being able to partner with local nonprofits, schools and businesses provided many unique experiences the students will not soon forget. Programs like these, that are engaging, consistent, authentic, modern and state-of-the-art can be quite successful not only in densely populated urban communities, but rural areas nationwide!
UEA will partner with another local nonprofit and put a team of diverse teenagers together to compete in the National Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Championships - and win! We are working with an aviation education group to take ten (10) local students to New York for one week to experience aviation operations specific to that region of the United States. Just as notable, UEA is scheduled to host the first ever Aviation S.T.E.M. Week and Summit in Anchorage, Alaska from June 13 - 17, 2017 working with their local aviation and business leaders on this historic feat!
UEA is still in need of funding for transportation, standard polo uniform shirts (Citywide Aviation Club), drone Do-It-Yourself build kits and donations for lunches while out on field trips.
The link to donate directly is: UEA Thanks You for Your Donations!
SAVE THE DATE: Mentoring to Medicine - November 5, 2016
Join the MBK Houston Movement
Become a School Based Mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and MBK Houston
MBK Houston Community Engagement Events (YTD)
MBK Assessment, Intervention, and Mobilization (AIM) 2016 Engagement
High-touch Community Engagement Events
Mayor Turner's MBK Summit 2016
For More Information...
Email: mbkhouston@houstontx.gov
Website: mbkhouston.org
Location: 8000 North Stadium Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Facebook: facebook.com/mbkhouston
Twitter: @mbkhouston