Regent Lester Young, Regent Christine Cea, and NYSED MBK Associate Carlos Garcia participated in the Staten Island MBK convening last month. At the convening, Regent Cea joined  MBK students to listen to a panel of educators of color, and Regent Young moderated a large panel discussion of young men of color . Participants at the convening also discussed MBK  Best Practice Strategies and MBK Action Planning.

Regent Lester Young, Regent Kathleen Cashin, and NYSED MBK Associate Carlos Garcia participated in the Brooklyn MBK convening last month. The event was keynoted by NYSED Assistant Commissioner Dr. Anael Alston, whose speech titled "Master of my Fate, Captain of My Soul" riveted the audience. At the convening, Natalia Diaz joined  MBK students to discuss racial and economic disparities, and Carlos Garcia facilitated a student panel discussion with young men of color . Students and parents were also able to learn about  MBK Action Planning.

NYC District 19 held its MBK convening in May, focusing on the core value of pride and emphasizing self-respect and character development. The convening began with a mindfulness exercise to prepare the young men to enter into the day with clarity and calmness in order to receive the information being provided.

District 19 Superintendent Dr. Thomas McBryde Jr. shared stories about how his alma mater, Morehouse College, along with his family, instilled pride within him that drives the work he does today. Participants heard from guests including Paul Forbes of the Expanded Success Initiative and NYSED's Carlos Garcia, a District 19 native. Students spent the convening in sessions covering topics such as mindfulness, professional environments, and how to tie a tie.

TOC II Scholars lifted their voices to tell why representation matters during the SUNY Oswego's Quest Symposium in April 2018. This campus-wide all-day event provided opportunities for students, faculty and staff to share their research and/or present on a specific topic. The TOC II students led a panel discussion on the importance of representation and shared insights on how the TOC II program is shaping and developing them as future teachers and change agents. The students shared their personal stories of why they want to teach in urban areas as well as some of their successes and challenges in their journey to become teachers. The panel was moderated by Amanda Ebrahim, a TOC II Scholar. 

After being inspired by her experience at the New York State My Brother's Keeper Symposium this spring, SUNY Cortland TOC II Project Director and CURE Coordinator Anne Burns Thomas shared her thoughts with SUNY Cortland alumni and students:

"I was fortunate to travel to Albany for the MBK Symposium meeting. The conference was informative and inspiring as we learned about initiatives in communities across the state, were introduced to the first round of MBK Fellows and listened to presentations from Principal Baruti Kafele. One of the rallying cries for the conference was that our work should not only change the narrative about young men of color but should write a new narrative highlighting the strength and potential of all students. I came away from this conference renewed in my commitment to create a teacher education program that supports and prepares teachers who are ready to write this new narrative."