The Bulletin
July 11, 2019
President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative in 2014 to address the persistent opportunity gaps boys and young men of color face and to ensure all youth can reach their full potential. And since 2017, the MBK Alliance has continued its critical mission as a core initiative of the Obama Foundation.
Over the last five years, this work has become a national movement of young people, community leaders, elected officials, tribal nations, and others all dedicated to creating a nation where nothing stands in the way of our boys and young men of color achieving their dreams.
MBK Alliance’s mission is to change life outcomes for boys and young men of color through a national call to action to build safe and supportive communities, where they feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity.
While the infrastructure of our work is rooted in the six milestones, our current work has two major focus areas: first, reducing youth violence in the most violence ridden cities in the United States, and second, growing the mentor pipeline for evidence based mentorship programs for boys and young men of color.
We do this in three ways:
- First, MBK Alliance acts as a solutions partner, working with a few cities (selected via public competition) to implement action plans, connect resources and interventions, and achieve near-term impact focused on building safe and supportive communities, while leveraging partners to encourage continued national momentum.
- Second, we leverage our national brand and leadership to be a galvanizer, mobilizing resources and activating citizens to support impact in select communities and national campaigns.
- Lastly, we promote what works. We act as a standard setter, spotlighting top programs, policies, and people having significant measurable, impact improving life outcomes for boys and young men of color.
At the center of the MBK movement have been dynamic cities and communities. Together with the more than 250 My Brother’s Keeper Challenge Communities, in cities and states across the country, action-oriented people have adopted innovative approaches, opened doors, strengthened supports, and built ladders of opportunity for our youth.
MBK Communities are tackling tough issues and making a real difference for their youth. But the challenges faced by our young people are complex and structural and no single organization or city has a solution with all the answers.
That’s why I’ve been so proud of the work My Brother’s Keeper and the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance has done with diverse partners over the years to support those on the frontlines of change and shine a spotlight on the countless successes and lessons learned.
The future of the United States is inextricably linked to the success of all of our boys and young men of color and under-served youth.
We need them to succeed. We need their talent, their participation, and their imagination and creativity. That’s why building safe and supportive communities is so important and why we are committed to making this vision a reality.
In November 2018, MBK Alliance launched the MBK Network , a registration process for cities, towns, counties, and tribal nations to accept the My Brother’s Keeper Challenge to implement strategies and systems to accelerate positive impact for boys and young men of color. The network recognizes MBK Communities that accepted President Obama’s MBK Challenge prior to his leaving the White House and also is an invitation for new communities to join the movement.
As an MBK Community we were thrilled for the opportunity to work hand in hand with the MBK Alliance team to build on what we know works for our young people.
Being part of the MBK Network means we have access to MBK Alliance and partner resources on best practices, including exclusive access to partners, convenings, webinars, funding opportunities, and coaching.
We’re excited to be an MBK Community because…
Through these efforts, we have experienced significant results, including:
- Reaching 26,064 individuals with a campaign to address gaps in brain development within the first three years of life
- Increasing the number of third graders passing their STARR reading exam by 10 percent over on school year
- Recovering 700 school credit hours to get back on track to graduate high
- Achieving criminal record expungement, sealing, non-disclosure or identification restoration for 82% of Clean Slate Cooperative participants
- Coordinating the training of 5,300 police personnel to reduce social distance between at-risk youth and law enforcement
The success of the investment of funds, time, energy and resources in human capital by the City of Houston, partnering school districts, county agencies, corporations, philanthropy, faith-based, nonprofits and community-based organization has resulted in MBK Houston becoming a model for the country and the world to follow!
We look forward to working with the MBK Alliance team and leveraging even more partners to have success here at home and building this important national movement that will ensure all of our boys and young men of color can achieve their dreams.
Save the Date!
MBKA Online Town Hall with Geoffrey Canada
Thursday, Jul 25, 2019, 12:00 PM
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Email: info@mbkhouston.org
Website: www.mbkhouston.org
Location: 8000 North Stadium Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 832-393-5169
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Twitter: @mbkhouston