The Bulletin
MBKA Community Challenge and More
My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Announces Winners of the Community Challenge Grant Competition
CHICAGO—Today, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance), an initiative of the Obama Foundation, announced the winners of its inaugural MBK Community Challenge Competition. The Foundation selected 19 organizations across 10 states and Puerto Rico as national models to expand evidence-based initiatives to reduce youth violence, grow effective mentorship programs, and measurably improve the lives of boys and young men of color. There are ten winning “National Impact Communities” and nine “Seed Communities.”
The winning communities represent every region of the country, strong public-private partnerships, and diverse cities, rural areas, Tribal Nations, and barrios of all sizes. Winning organizations will share more than $5 million in grants, direct technical assistance, and evaluation support. Youth and leaders from many of the organizations will participate in the Obama Foundation’s 2018 Summit in Chicago November 18-19.
MBK Alliance also announced it will host MBK Rising!, its first national convening. MBK Rising! will bring together the growing network of MBK Communities and boys and young men of color-focused organizations, young men of color, elected officials, and cross-sector leaders to join President Obama to celebrate progress, spotlight what’s working, and uplift the voices of youth.
The gathering will take place in Oakland, CA, in February 2019, marking the fifth anniversary of the initial launch of My Brother’s Keeper by President Obama. My Brother’s Keeper Oakland and My Brother & Sister’s Keeper San Francisco will co-chair the host committee. MBK Rising! is by invitation only, but interested young men and practitioners working to address aligned issues can review application information at obama.org/mbka/rising/. Registration opens on Wednesday, December 5.
Challenge Competition Winners
National Impact Communities
- NACA Inspired Schools Network / MBK Albuquerque (Albuquerque, NM)
- Mass Mentoring Partnership, Inc. / MBK Boston (Boston, MA)
- Black Family Development Inc. / MBK Detroit (Detroit, MI)
- Youth Guidance and Thrive Chicago / MBK Chicago (Chicago, IL)
- Change Happens / MBK Houston (Houston, TX)
- Liberty Hill Foundation / MBK LA County (Los Angeles, CA)
- Sierra Health Foundation Center for Health Program Management / MBK Sacramento Collaborative (Sacramento, CA)
- Puerto Rico Community Foundation / Puerto Rico MBK (San Juan, PR/Loíza, PR)
- Urban Strategies Council / MBK Oakland (Oakland, CA)
- Nepperhan Community Center, Inc. / Yonkers MBK (Yonkers, NY)
National Seed Communities
- Juma Ventures (Atlanta, GA)
- Youth Leadership Institute – Fresno Boys and Men of Color (Fresno, CA)
- African-American Empowerment Network (Omaha, NE)
- Orlando Community & Youth Trust Inc. (Orlando, FL)
- RYSE (Richmond, CA)
Chicago Seed Grants
- BUILD, Inc. (Chicago, IL)
- Lawndale Christian Legal Center (Chicago, IL)
- New Life Centers of Chicagoland, NFP (Chicago, IL)
- South Shore Drill Team & Performing Arts Ensemble (Chicago, IL)
Full details on each project can be found on Obama.org.
Impact Communities will receive:
- Two-year engagement led by MBK Alliance and implementation partners to identify gaps and assets, develop recommendations, and support an implementation plan;
- Access to implementation and content partners to advise on overarching “Local Action Plan” development and long-term infrastructure to sustain the work;
- Between $100,000 to $500,000 over two years to replicate or scale mentoring or youth violence prevention interventions; and
- $50,000-$75,000 per year, for two years, in matching funds to backbone organizations for the purpose of hiring MBK Alliance Community Coordinators.
Want To Participate in the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit Live and Online?
The Public Charge Announcement
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed changes that will greatly expand what is known as the “public charge” test for immigrants to the United States. If this proposal is adopted, it could potentially bar some immigrants from permanent residency (also known as the green card) or a visa.
The public charge test determines an immigrant’s entry to, or permanent residency, in the United States based upon the likelihood this individual will need government benefits. The proposed public charge changes would negatively impact immigrants’ use of several government assistance programs. The current public charge law narrowly defines which government programs can be considered as a part of the public charge test, these include public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense. However, the proposed revisions would broaden the definition to include other programs in health care and housing.
The City of Houston and Houston Health Department believe the proposed revisions will have a negative impact on all Houstonians – both for residents who are citizens and permanent residents, and those who are not.
The Federal Government is currently accepting comments from the public on the proposal with a deadline of December 10, 2018. The City of Houston has a website www.houstontx.gov/publiccharge where people can learn more about the proposed changes, review frequently asked questions, and submit feedback through an easy-to-use portal. We encourage you to direct your clients and community to this website. We suggest a social media push and have attached the graphics we’re using in our effort, which you are welcome to use as well. If you do share these via social media please let us know, so we can amplify your message.
We also encourage you to submit feedback as an agency tailored to how the proposed changes will impact your clients and community. Attached for reference is the letter the Houston Health Department recently submitted in this regard.
Collectively we can help facilitate a large quality of impactful feedback to the Department of Homeland Security about the detrimental effects of the proposed public charge changes.
Sincerely,
Stephen Williams
Director
Houston Health Department
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Email: mbkhouston@houstontx.gov
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