The Blueprint
Bureau of Youth & Adolescent Health
"A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.""
-Bob Proctor
In Memoriam of Joshua Dale Bradley
Former Phyllis Wheatley High School Student
Houston, Texas
1998-2017
"Joshua was very active at Wheatley High School, working with the Year Book Staff and was also a trainer with the Football Team. He graduated with the Class of 2017. [He] was always the jovial one in the family [and] had a way of making people laugh at the simple things in life. His smile and zest for life was a magnet that drew so many people, young and old, to love and cherish him dearly. Joshua was an active member of The Chauncy Glover Project which influenced his life greatly through mentoring. Joshua was employed at Cliff’s Grill in the Medical Center."
Young Joshua Dale Bradley
Love Token
MBK Delivery
MBK Alliance Sponsorship: Free Powerful Movie Screening!
A new film - Bilal: A New Breed of Hero - will be released February 2nd across the U.S. Our partner is offering key MBK Communities 50 tickets to advanced screenings of the film Bilal: A New Breed of Hero , which exemplifies the power one voice has to create change.
Inspired by a Truth Story, BILAL is an Ethiopian boy, with a dream of becoming a great warrior is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, BILAL finds the courage to raise his voice, speak truth to power and free his people. In these times, where our children are looking for stories that tell the truth of our power as a community, BILAL is the hero we need!
The screening cities, times and RSVP contact are listed below under Upcoming Events.
In The News:
Animated Film "Bilal," Inspired by Ethiopian Slave Who Became "Voice of Islam" Gets US Release
Bilal: A New Breed of Hero – Meet the Muslim action hero taking on Western cinema
MBK MC Williams Fieldtrip
MC Williams trip to the Houston Zoo in partnership with Reverend John Gibbs with over 49 middle school students who never been to the Zoo!
Happy National Mentorship Month!
#MBKTeamUp with the Houston Marathon Foundation
On January 14, 2017 MBK Houston and the Houston Health Foundation launches Team Up – an initiative that focuses on leveraging youth interest in sports to encourage students to stay actively engaged in their education by learning about the opportunities available to them in off-the-field careers in sports. The program will select participants from credible organizations working within the three MBK catchment areas of Kashmere, Scarborough and Wheatley.
“MBK Houston has been providing vital services to youth in some of Houston’s highest need communities for the last two years,” said Noel Pinnock (Bureau Chief, HHD Bureau of Youth and Adolescent Health). “This partnership with the Houston Marathon Foundation is certain to assist us in incentivizing these young men through mentorship and knowledge-building to stay focused, work hard and consider pursuing a career in sports business.”
MBK Houston and the Houston Health Foundation launches the Team Up initiative with one of its first partners, the Houston Marathon Foundation. Representatives from the Marathon Foundation have already participated in two “Discovery Days” with young men from the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program. During these “Discovery Days”, high school age youth have had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the staff responsibilities required to produce the Houston Marathon.
“The Houston Health Foundation is proud to support the MBK Initiative,” said Robin Mansur, Executive Director of the Houston Health Foundation. “The Team Up campaign is a new beginning for us to involve the Houston sports communities in the promotion of opportunities for our youth.”
Young men from the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program gained hands-on experience in the event operations, emergency services and media relations during the Marathon Weekend. We had wonderful volunteers come out to assist with the #MBKTeamUp Cheer and Water stations and were graciously rewarded with free Houston Astros tickets from Ally, Houston Marathon Foundation Organizer. Thank you all for the fun and support!
#MBKTeamUp Discovery Day with Sugarland Skeeters
Building a Community of Practice
MBK Food Pantry Launch
MBK Food Pantry Buildout
2018 Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Bettina Love
We proudly present the 2018 Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Bettina Love, an award-winning author and Associate Professor of Educational Theory & Practice at the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on the ways in which urban youth negotiate Hip Hop music and culture to form social, cultural, and political identities to create new and sustaining ways of thinking about urban education and inter-sectional social justice. She will visit UHD from January 30th—February 1st, 2018. See below in Upcoming Events. We encourage you to build these events into your Spring calendars, course schedules and provide extra credit opportunities to your students. Feel free to invite your colleagues, family, and friends to take part in the week-long events. In preparation for her seminars, workshops and public lecture, please read up on Dr. Bettina Love at:
1. Dr. Bettina Love
2. Get Free: Hip Hop Civics Education: The Architect of the New Civil Rights Movement
3. Hip Hop, Grit, and Academic Success: Bettina Love at TEDxUGA
In the face of the emerging challenges that face our university, our Houston community and our nation, we encourage you to mark Dr. Bettina Love’s visit on your calendar. Join us in our commitment to ensure equity and educational justice for ALL.
Y-ABC Supports Complete Communities Program
Program includes training on following areas:
- Effective communication strategies
- Connecting to your elected officials
- Increasing awareness of available resources
- Skills in coalition building within and outside your community
- Health literacy
There will be an opportunity to apply for mini-grants for community improvement projects.
Below are Y-ABC Project photos from the meetings being held in Acres Homes and Gulfton.
For more information, to refer a friend, or sign up, please contact:
Francisco Garcia, Y-ABC Coordinator
Email: francisco.garcia@houstontx.gov
Office: 832.393.4588 Mobile: 832.245.3898
Fall 2017 Fleming Middle School "Respect MyVoice" Recap
Program Period: October 17th – December 14th 4:00pm- 5:00pm
Start: 8 students Final: 5 students
Program Facilitator : Stacy Penright (contact@respectmyvoice.org)
Program Focus:
- Communication
- Building Wealth
- Building your Brand
- Health/Wellness
After School Program Benefits:
- FREE educational/development resources
- Topics not typically learned in school
- Learning to communicate well with others
- Understanding banking basics
- How to work well with others
- Presenting in front of your peers
- Understanding basic business terms
Program Recap Notes
I. Communication
a. During the course the students prepared and completed 2 Debates, topics included:
i. FB vs. Twitter/ Dogs vs. Cats/ Seafood vs. BBQ
b. Students learned how to properly debate with respect; present to peers; work on filler words; give a presentation using visual aids
II. Building Wealth
a. Entrepreneur project- each student was assigned a business they owned as CEO. The students were responsible for the following:
i. naming the business; creating a logo; advertising; collecting funds; paying payroll
III. Building Your Brand
a. We discussed ways to build and enhance your brand. As a team we discussed and practiced, social media etiquette, and classroom etiquette.
i. Raising your hand before you speak
ii. Uplifting and not laughing at one another
iii. Clapping after someone speaks
iv. Respecting someone else speaking
IV. Health/Wellness
a. We discussed how to handle stress and conflict resolution. We discussed how to handle what you can control, and techniques to alleviate stress (breathing, exercise, positive thoughts, laughing).
My Brother's Keeper Milestone Snapshots
Houston Basics Overview
Real MEN Read at Wainwright Elementary
The Real Men Read program is still taking place and our next Reading session will be on February 1st, 2018! MENtors are always needed! Please send volunteer requests to: Francisco.Garcia@houstontx.gov
Current Reading MENtors (below) doing silly poses for the camera!
Young Men Empowerment Series: What's In Your Pocket? #2
Circle of Men at Clifton Middle & Scarborough High School
Ambassador of Compassion Program
Learn more about AOC with the video below!
MBK Houston, Alief ISD, and Budewig Intermediate Jr Achievers Mentorship Training
MBK Houston partnered with Budewig Intermediate in Alief ISD to conduct a 6 week training with the Jr Achievers curriculum. MBK Houston mentored 2 separate classes in identifying the importance of establishing their own “Brand” through a series of lessons. The students worked on recognizing the choices they make can impact their future, Examining career clusters and the jobs they would like to explore, recognizing the four factors in choosing a job, work skills, job hunting skills, and differentiation the difference between technical skills and soft skills. At the end of the training the students were awarded with a certificate of completion for their time and commitment to the program.
Junior Achievers Program Overview:
JA It’s My Future provides practical information about preparing for the working world while still in middle school.
Following participation in the program, students will be able to:
- Explore potential careers, discover how to plan for a job, and learn how to keep it.
- Develop personal-branding and job-hunting tools for earning a job.
HCC Fast Track: 100% Job Placement for Industrial Scaffold Program
Free tuition for a two-week course is offered to those who qualify. Requirements are:
- Be 18 years or older
- Pass a drug test
- Be an adult recipient of TANF and/or SNAP; or at be at the risk of becoming a recipient
- Make $37,000 a year or less, with a dependent child in or out-of-the-home
For more information call: 713.718.2070
---> Learn More Here
Disparities in Arrest and Sentencing Among 17-24 Years: Implication for Youth Empowerment
The City of Houston arrest data (2010-2016), with over 124,600 youth between the ages of 17-24 years from Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, was examined. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine the distribution of arrests by race and zip code. Additionally, sentencing outcomes were examined by race for the given level and degree of offense.
The results indicated:
- Rates of arrests for Black youths were nearly double the rates for others including Whites (9.3 % vs 14.6% respectively) for similar offense level and degree, higher percentage of Black youth received jail time than their counterparts.
- Lower percentage of Black youth received probation than others. Zip code level median household income correlated inversely with rates of arrests among Black youth (r=-0.23), which was lower than that of others group (r=-0.37).
MBK Houston is expanding divesion and pre-arrest interventions aimed at reducing negative biases of law enforcements towards black youth that will prove to be useful in closing these disparity gaps. Lastly, addressing upstream factors (i.e., poverty, low education, exclusionary discipline practices, etc.) must be done collectively to ensure systemic improvements are long-lasting.
Upcoming Events
Free Movie Screening for Bilal: A New Breed of Hero (AMC Studio 30)
*We recommend ages 13+ if a youth is attending without an adult.
BILAL Movie Screenings
Miami
Date: Monday, January 29, 2018
Time: 7:30pm
Theater: AMC Sunset Place 24 (5701 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33143)
Washington, DC
Date: Monday, January 29
Time: 7:00pm
Theater: Regal Majestic (900 Ellsworth Dr. Silver Spring, MD 20910)
Houston
Date: Monday, January 29
Time: 7:00PM
Theater: AMC Studio 30 (2949 Dunvale Rd, Houston, TX 77063)
San Francisco
Date: Monday, January 29
Time: 7:00PM
Theater: AMC Metreon 16 (101 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103)
Dallas
Date: Monday, January 29
Time: 7:00PM
Theater: AMC NorthPark 15 (8687 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX 75225)
San Diego
Date: Monday, January 29
Time: 7:00 PM
Theater: AMC Mission Valley (1640 Camino Del Rio N , San Diego, CA 92108)
Boston
Date: Tuesday, January 30
Time: 7:00pm
Theater: AMC Boston Common (175 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111)
Detroit
Date Tuesday, January 30
Time: 7:00PM EST
Theater: AMC Forum 30 (44681 Mound Rd, Sterling Heights, MIA 48314)
Chicago
Date: Tuesday, January 30
Time: 7:00PM
Theater: AMC River East 21 (322 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611)
Philadelphia
Date: Tuesday, January 30
Time: 7:00PM
Theater: UA Riverview Plaza Stadium (1400 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19147)
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Background:
Inspired by a Truth Story - A thousand years ago, BILAL, an Ethiopian boy, with a dream of becoming a great warrior is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, BILAL finds the courage to raise his voice, speak truth to power and free his people.
Monday, Jan 29, 2018, 07:00 PM
2949 Dunvale Road, Houston, TX, United States
MBK AOC Wheatley High School Kick Off
Wednesday, Jan 31, 2018, 02:00 PM
4801 Providence Street, Houston, TX 77020, United States
2018 Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Bettina Love Seminars
Please take time to register your participation in the following events:
Dr. Bettina Love, CCRS 2018 Scholar-in-Residence
“Hip Hop culture allows us to have complex class discussions about the contemporary everyday realities of urban youth who endure the social, economic, physiological, and psychological trauma of coping with the racial injustices of ‘post-racial’ America.”
Tuesday, January 30th
Administrator and Staff Development Seminar:
Hip Hop Culture, UHD Students and You?
Co-sponsored by University Student Affairs
Milam/ Travis Room 10:30am-12:00pm
Student Activists and Community Leader Workshop
Co-sponsored by Student Affairs and the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
A300 2:00pm-4:00pm
Wednesday, January 31st
Student Luncheon:
Hip Hop: Creativity & Black/Brown Joy
Co-sponsored by Center for Public Deliberation
Buffalo Bayou Room 12:30pm--2:00pm
Faculty Development Seminar :
Hip Hop Civics Education: Creativity, Intersectionality & Black/Brown Joy
Co-sponsored by the Urban Education Department
Milam/Travis Room 3:00pm-4:30pm
Thursday, February 1st
Faculty Development Seminar:
Hip Hop Civics Education: Creativity, Intersectionality & Black/Brown Joy
Co-sponsored by the Urban Education Department
Milam/Travis Room 10:00am-11:30pm
Social Justice Engagement:
YES Prep High School--Northbrook
Raider Circle N #1. Houston, TX 77080
3:00pm-4:30pm
Critical Race Studies Annual Lecture Series:
GET FREE: Creativity, Hip Hop Civics, Intersectionality, & Black/Brown Joy
Lecture, Book Signing and Public Reception
Buffalo/Houston 6:00pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2018, 10:30 AM
1 South Main Street, Houston, TX 77002, United States
In The Spirit of Giving
Shopping Spree with James Harden
THANK YOU TO MR. HARDEN for your hard work and dedication to the people of Houston. We are grateful to have you!" -Roderick Peoples, Systems of Care Counselor
Harvey Relief Food Drop Volunteer Appreciation
SOC Counselor Roderick Peoples (middle) with parents (below)
MBK Houston Toy Drive Giveaway with D.A. Kim Ogg
Follow Us @MBKhouston for more updates
Email: mbkhouston@houstontx.gov
Website: www.mbkhouston.org
Location: 8000 North Stadium Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 832-393-5169
Facebook: facebook.com/MBKHouston/
Twitter: @MBKHouston