My Brother's Keeper: Changing the Narrative

Hello Everyone,

In the 2016-2017 budget, New York State made a $20 million investment in support of the My Brother's Keeper (MBK) initiative to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color. The MBK initiative is designed to encourage school districts, colleges and universities, and community groups to join forces in this critical mission.

Our newsletter, "Changing the Narrative," will share news related to MBK, provide information about new grant opportunities, and highlight successful programs and strategies that have come about as a result of the funding from New York State's MBK initiative. Thank you for your interest in MBK!

MBK Community Network Reaches More Than 20 Communities

The New York State My Brother's Keeper Community Network reached a significant milestone and now includes more than 20 member communities, State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia announced today. The program recently added connections with Poughkeepsie and East Ramapo, the 20th and 21st communities to join the growing initiative to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color.

NYSED Partners with College Board to Prepare Students for College Success

This week, NYSED announced a partnership with the College Board to help students identify and prepare for a postsecondary program that best fits their needs. Through this partnership, NYSED's MBK program will launch school-day and after-school programs focused on increasing the use of free, personalized Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. With Khan Academy, each student can access an SAT practice plan built just for them.

Funding Opportunity: MBK Exemplary School Models and Practices (ESMP) Grant

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for My Brother's Keeper Exemplary School Models and Practices (ESMP). NYSED will award grants to districts that will develop and/or expand exemplary high quality college and career readiness school models, programs, and practices that demonstrate cultural and linguistic responsiveness and emphasize the needs of boys and young men of color. Full proposals must be postmarked by December 18, 2017.

My Brother's Keeper Challenge Grant - $7 Million

The purpose of the My Brother's Keeper Challenge grant is to incentivize and support school districts to develop and execute coherent cradle-to-college strategies aimed at improving the life outcomes for boys and young men of color.

MBK Challenge Spotlight: Yonkers

This fall, Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa, Regent Lester Young, and Regent Judith Johnson joined a celebration at Lincoln High School in Yonkers to recognize the remarkable achievement and success of the Yonkers MBK program and to honor those who have helped make it all possible.

The event featured keynote speaker Assemblymember Michael Blake, a NYS MBK leader and a member of the White House team in 2014 that created the original MBK Task Force. Assemblymember Blake focused on the power, impact, and lasting benefits of MBK for boys and young men of color and their families, schools, and communities.

NBA legend and NBA Cares ambassador Felipe Lopez turned his NBA platform into a force for improving the lives of young men of color through education and mentorship. More than 200 high school members of the Yonkers MBK movement heard his inspirational story.

Also participating were NYS Senate Democratic Leader Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins; Mayor Mike Spano; Rev. Steve Lopez, President, Yonkers Board of Education; Dr. Edwin M. Quezada, Superintendent of Schools; Rev. Dr. Jim Bostic, Executive Director, Nepperhan Community Center; Shawn Dove, CEO, Campaign for Black Male Achievement; and state and local elected officials.

Chancellor Rosa, Regent Young, Regent Johnson, & Felipe Lopez at Yonkers MBK event

Students attend Yonkers MBK event

Bronx students speak about the transition from high school to college and their hopes to give back to the community

MBK Challenge Spotlight: Bronx

This spring marked the first MBK event in the Bronx, where Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa gave a keynote address and Regent Lester Young led a panel discussion. Participants included representatives from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz's office, Assemblyman Michael Blake's office, the Center for Educational Innovation, the Children's Aid Society, and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.


	Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash joins students at an MBK challenge event at McKinley High School

MBK Challenge Spotlight: Buffalo

Over the summer, members of the State Education Department's Family and Community Engagement team, Carlos Garcia and Hakeem Johnson, visited Buffalo City School District's Our Story Project. In addition to Our Story Project, Buffalo City School District offered a summer internship program. Students enrolled in the internship earned a stipend while working on developing professional skills they could apply to future experiences.

Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) II - $3 Million

The purpose of TOC II is to increase the participation rate of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers. TOC II programs incorporate proven strategies for teacher retention and best practice, such as mentors for new teachers and differentiated instructional techniques.


	Panelists Kate Ofikuru, Julissa Dilone, Kristin Jefferson, and Karina Malik with Teachers College faculty member Yolanda Sealey Ruiz. Photo by Desiree Halpern

TOC II Spotlight: Columbia University

Teachers College, Columbia University was one of the recipients of the five-year MBK TOC II grant. Earlier this year, Teachers College (TC) faculty and staff hosted a special reception and panel discussion. Attendees included current and former Teacher Opportunity Corps students, faculty and staff, NYSED officials, NYC school staff and district leaders, and staff from other TOC II projects. Regent Lester Young kicked off the event with a keynote address, followed by a panel of Teachers College alumni. The panel focused on preparing and supporting teachers of colors and was moderated by Dr. Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz, TOC II Faculty and Mentor.


	TOC II student Marciano Rosales conducts a lesson on subjunctives before faculty, fellow peers, and students from Schenectady High School

TOC II Spotlight: Clarkson University

Clarkson University's TOC II program provides graduate students with clinically-rich field experiences to help them transition into the field of teaching. Additionally, the program offers students ongoing professional support and training specifically focused on addressing the needs of students in high need districts.

TOC II Spotlight: Queens College

Queens College has partnered with the NYCDOE Queens South Field Support Center to provide training and support to TOC II students in formulating strategies to effectively teach diverse groups of students, particularly students with disabilities and those new to learning English. Pre-service teachers are learning to create lessons that are steeped in culturally responsive pedagogy.


Queens College's kick-off of the Teacher Opportunity Corps. The induction ceremony served as a milestone to mark the students' entry into the teaching field


	Dean of the Division of Education at Queens College Craig Michaels; New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, Regent Lester Young, and Queens College President Felix Matos Rodriguez

Family and Community Engagement Program (FCEP) - $8 Million

The purpose of the FCEP is to increase the academic achievement and college and career readiness of boys and young men of color by developing and sustaining effective relationships with families in order to achieve student success.


	Middle and high school students participate in the Community Change Project at Benjamin Cosor Elementary School in Fallsburg

FCEP Spotlight: Fallsburg

The Fallsburg Community Change Project empowers students to bring about change in their communities. These students developed an action plan to combat the issue of pollution and chose to make presentations to elementary students and at school board and parent meetings to educate the audience about pollution and ways to reduce its effects.


	BAB "big brother" mentors young men from the Kingston High School BAB program

FCEP Spotlight: Kingston

Brothers at Bard (BAB) is a character development and academic enrichment mentorship program for young men of color at Kingston High School. After receiving extensive training, active members of the BAB Forum at Bard College choose to serve as "big brothers," or mentors, to the young men in the program.


	Students in the Hudson Mentoring Program touring the Columbia County Jail as part of the program

FCEP Spotlight: Hudson

The Hudson Mentoring Program targets young men in middle school who are at risk of becoming disconnected from school. The program uses a variety of activities to teach the students discipline, perseverance, and structure while focusing on academic improvement and career exploration.

Learn More

Find out more about New York State's My Brother's Keeper initiative by visiting our MBK website, which provides details about the grants mentioned in this newsletter. The website also includes sharable videos about MBK, featuring young men of color from New York.

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