Changing the Narrative: Learn about each of the 2019-20 MBK Fellows!

February 2020

Dear Colleagues, Partners, and Friends,


	Dr. Anael Alston

This edition of our My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Changing the Narrative newsletter focuses on our MBK Fellows. We are proud to highlight the voices of all these intelligent young men. Included, you will find each of their names, pictures, and schools, as well as a link to a list of their profiles on our website which feature their experiences in MBK. I hope you enjoy learning about our Fellows.

This month, the Fellows have been working on professional development and civic engagement at our Stand and Deliver Workshop and the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators' (NYSABPRL) Youth Summit and Legislative Conference. We also celebrate Fellow Dallas Crespo's commitment to attending Pace University where he will play on the football team and receive a yearly scholarship!

In addition, I would like to make you aware that we are accepting applications for the 2020 Chancellor Emerita Adelaide L. Sanford Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to one MBK Fellow and one female graduating senior from a New York State Education Department recognized My Brother's Keeper Community. Scholarships awarded are limited to cover tuition, fees, and books, and range between $500 and $2,000 annually over four years of college enrollment. For more details and to download the application, visit the scholarship page on our website.

Finally, registration for the 2020 MBK Symposium is open. MBK communities and grant-funded programs won't want to miss this exciting event. If you have not already done so, register today! Please speak to your MBK Project Director for registration information. Registration closes on March 20th.

While the Symposium event registration is available for our grant-funded programs, our 25 MBK communities, and their community partners, we will stream the event live on our website. If you are unable to attend in person, I hope you take the opportunity to participate via webcast and hear from MBK students and programs across New York State as they share their success stories, challenges, and strategies.

Your Partner in Education,

Dr. Anael Alston

Assistant Commissioner

My Brother's Keeper Fellow Profiles

We are happy to highlight our 2019-2020 MBK Fellows who have been working hard these past few months. The MBK Fellows program provides high school students, with an emphasis on boys and young men of color, with opportunities to gain leadership opportunities and educational experiences.

These Fellows, who make up our second inaugural class, were inducted at the third New York State MBK Symposium held in May 2019. Check out each Fellow's profile and learn what MBK means to him!

Chandon Bouyea

Albany High School

Albany

Themba Pieterse

Albany High School

Albany

Dallas Crespo

Brentwood High School

Brentwood

Cedric Dimanche

Brentwood High School

Brentwood

Eric Enman

Brentwood High School

Brentwood

Jason Ortega

Brentwood High School

Brentwood

Russell Ahiamadi

Bronx High School of Science

Bronx

Christopher Adrasse

Fordham Arts High School

Bronx

Romano Mckensie

Eagle Academy for Young Men

Bronx

Stefan Allen

Eagle Academy for Young Men

Bronx

Daniel Fortunat

Abraham Lincoln High School

Brooklyn

Addiel Alvarez

Brooklyn High School for Law & Technology

Brooklyn

Alexander Cooper

Brooklyn Institute of Liberal Arts

Brooklyn

Denva Nesbeth Jr.

Bedford Academy High School

Brooklyn

Byron Chavis

East High School

Buffalo

Shawn Collins

South Park High School

Buffalo

Jontae Griffin

McKinley High School

Buffalo

Walter Jackson

Middle Early College High School

Buffalo

Nathanial Gaines

Ramapo High School

East Ramapo

Jourdain Jenkins

Spring Valley High School

East Ramapo

Janiel Joseph

Woodlands Middle/High School

Greenburgh

Tashaan Lewis

Woodlands Middle/High School

Greenburgh

Christopher

Fenderson

Hudson Senior High School

Hudson

Miftahul Huq

Hudson Senior High School

Hudson

Travion Brooks

Ithaca High School

Ithaca

Karije Henderson

Ithaca High School

Ithaca

Seth DeJesus

Lyons Middle/High School

Lyons

Benjamin Kemp

Lyons Middle/High School

Lyons

Memphis Buten

Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School

Manhattan

Kymali Dubidad Jr.

Park East High School
Manhattan

Justin Mota

Park East High School
Manhattan

Quadir Oliver

Central Park East High School

Manhattan

Michael Beharry

Thornton High School

Mt. Vernon

Dacquan Fields

Thornton High School

Mt. Vernon

Jordan Patterson

Newburgh Free Academy West

Newburgh

Nicholas Patterson

Newburgh Free Academy Main

Newburgh

Qualib Smith

Newburgh Free Academy P-TECH

Newburgh

Lonnie Spearman

Newburgh Free Academy North

Newburgh

Francky Charles

New Rochelle High School

New Rochelle

Leroy Johnson

New Rochelle High School

New Rochelle

Diego Antequera Torrealba

New Rochelle High School

New Rochelle

Jesus Sanchez Caceres

New Rochelle High School

New Rochelle

Federico Grullon

Ossining High School

Ossining

Darlyn Tapia

Ossining High School

Ossining

Jaidon Buckley

Poughkeepsie High School

Poughkeepsie

Miguel Sanchez

Poughkeepsie High School

Poughkeepsie

Isaiha Almonte

Queens Collegiate: A College Board School

Queens

Tariq Anderson

Mathematics, Science & Technology Magnet High School

Queens

Kymani James

John Bowne High School

Queens

Damion Ovalle

William Cullen Bryant High School

Queens

Javier Aponte

Monroe High School

Rochester

Byron Bounds

Leadership Academy for Young Men

Rochester

Yabnel Coss-Torres

Monroe High School

Rochester

Kevin Wade

Leadership Academy for Young Men

Rochester

Liguori Flanagan

Curtis High School

Staten Island

Jaden Kwayke

Susan E. Wagner High School

Staten Island

Tristen Butler

New Dorp High School

Staten Island

Malachi Williams

Tottenville High School

Staten Island

Jermaine Cooper

Corcoran High School

Syracuse

Camron Ruckman

Henninger High School

Syracuse

Shaheed Baize

White Plains High School

White Plains

Ashlen Chevalier

White Plains High School

White Plains

Giovanni Almonte

Saunders Trades & Technical High School

Yonkers

Quamere S. Floyd

Palisade Preparatory School

Yonkers

John J. Sosa Aguilar

Yonkers Montessori Academy

Yonkers

Keymel Washington

Gorton High School

Yonkers

Fellows Spotlight: Stand and Deliver Leadership Workshop


	2019-20 NYC MBK Fellows at the Stand and Deliver Workshop

On February 14th, MBK Fellows participated in an extensive day-long leadership workshop at the New York State Museum in Albany. The day began with Dr. Alston providing an introduction and establishing the day's purpose.

Speakers included Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, author of the book Madd Truth, which Fellows read as a requirement for the Mastermind Calls with Dr. Alston, and music artist and activist, MySonne, known as "The N.Y. General," who gave the keynote presentation, "They Don't Get to Define You." The workshops and speeches focused on leadership development, community building, and self-awareness.

Regent Catherine Collins and
Fellow Themba Pieterse

Chancellor Betty A. Rosa with
MBK Fellows and their mentors

Throughout the day, the Fellows stood tall and delivered their stories using public speaking skills they learned from their virtual training sessions with Principal Baruti Kafele on January 10th and 17th.

Fellows also had the chance to develop their leadership and public speaking skills during a town hall discussion on reviewing high school graduation requirements led by Dr. Wyatt. The day concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Don Applyrs and an evening Fellowship.

Fellows Spotlight: New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators' 2020 Youth Summit and Legislative Conference


	Rashaun Banjo of NYCDOE (left) and Fellows Isiah Almonte (middle) and Malachi Williams (right) during the panel discussion

On February 15th, Fellows had the opportunity to get involved in civic engagement at the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators' (NYSABPRL) 2020 Youth Summit and Legislative Conference.

The 2020 Youth Summit featured Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, Assemblywoman Kim Jean- Pierre, and Assemblyman Charles Falls. Fellows participated in sessions focused on harnessing their power and voice to make changes in their communities.

The Legislative Conference featured an MBK presentation, hosted by Assemblyman Michael Blake and Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman, and


	NYC Fellows and Mayor Bill de Blasio

included sessions from My Sister's Keeper and Dr. Alston. It culminated with a panel discussion with Fellows, Rashaun Banjo of the New York City Department of Education, Richard Diaz of the Queens College TOC II program, and Dr. Marck Abraham of Buffalo Public Schools.

Fellows from NYC even had the opportunity to meet Mayor Bill de Blasio at the NYSABPRL Legislative Conference.

Fellows Spotlight: Dallas Crespo Commits to Attending Pace University


	MBK Fellow Dallas Crespo at Pace University

MBK Fellow Dallas Crespo has committed to attending Pace University, where he will play football and receive a yearly scholarship of $46,900!

Crespo is currently a senior at Brentwood High School, and he thanks his school counselor, Mrs. Axman, and all the educators from his previous schools who have helped him with his academic and athletic career.

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 State.

Join the Conversation

If your school or community would like to share a story to include in a future edition of this newsletter, please email photos and news items to NYSMBK@nysed.gov . Similarly, if you are hosting an upcoming event, please let us know. We will add it to our calendar and help you get the word out!

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and tag us in your posts so we can follow you and share your success stories. Be sure to use the #NYSMBK hashtag!

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