|
Dear NYSMBK Community,
As we embark on a new year, we extend our deep appreciation for your unwavering commitment to the My Brother’s Keeper mission. Across New York State, your leadership continues to help young people see and reach their highest potential, and we are grateful for everything you do.
We were honored to have Commissioner Dr. Betty A. Rosa join the MBK Fellows for our statewide Mastermind Book Study on When I Was Puerto Rican. More than 100 students and adults gathered on Zoom for an inspiring evening of dialogue, reflection, vulnerability, and community learning.
Please also save the date for the NYSMBK Symposium on May 21, 2026. We look forward to gathering as a statewide family to celebrate our collective work and chart the path ahead.
We anticipate launching the Family and Community Engagement Grant Program this year. We appreciate your patience and your steadfast support of this important initiative.
In February, the Statewide MBK Fellows will take part in a series of high-impact leadership experiences:
- A debate in Albany on the ethical use of artificial intelligence, plus a visit to SUNY Albany, on February 12
- The Stand and Deliver Speaker Showcase on February 13
- A Caucus Weekend presentation on February 14
These events represent only a portion of the powerful work ahead. Stay tuned for more updates on the many activities moving the NYSMBK Movement forward.
We also want to highlight that the Lower Hudson Valley region recently held an outstanding Youth Leadership Summit, elevating student voice and leadership in a way that embodies the spirit of MBK. You can find a full update later in this newsletter.
Thank you for your dedication to ensuring that every young person in New York State has the support, belief, and opportunity needed to rise to their highest potential.
Your Partner in Education,
Dr. Anael Alston
| | January is National Mentoring Month | | Professional Development Training and Workshop Series | | |
*Please contact your program manager for registration links.*
Assessing Your Program: Collecting and Reading Data
Day & Time: Wednesday January 7th, 2026, 10am-11am
This 60-minute virtual training series, offered by the New York State Mentoring Program, provides essential logistical support for youth partners. We will provide practical examples, strategies, and tools for identifying, collecting, and interpreting key data (both quantitative and qualitative) to ensure your stated program outcomes are data-backed, directly increasing the impact and effectiveness of your mentoring initiatives.
Learning Objectives
- Identify relevant data sources for program assessment.
- Utilize appropriate data collection tools and methods.
- Interpret data to validate and enhance mentoring program outcomes.
Program Types, Formatting & Planning
Day & Time: Wednesday January 14th, 2026, 10am-11am
This 1-hour virtual training series, offered by the New York State Mentoring Program, provides essential logistical support for youth partners. We will explore various mentoring program models (including Site-Based, Group, and Virtual options), discuss best practices for formatting and scheduling, and provide a multi-step planning framework and tools (like an Action Calendar) to ensure your program goals are achieved.
Learning Objectives
- Differentiate between various mentoring program models (e.g., Site-Based, Group, Virtual).
- Determine optimal program formatting, schedules, and focus areas (including cultural competence) based on desired outcomes.
- Develop a comprehensive program action plan utilizing logistical tools and a multi-step planning framework.
A Strategic Approach to Recruitment and Engagement
Day & Time: Wednesday January 21st, 2026, 10am-11am
This one-hour training module is designed to provide you with a strategic framework for building and sustaining a mentor recruitment strategy. We will focus on a proactive volunteer recruitment approach that includes recruiting the right mentors. Our goal is to equip you with the tools to create a seamless, cohesive process that strengthens every aspect of your program, from intake to impact.
Learning Objectives
- Develop and utilize a strategic framework for building and sustaining a proactive mentor recruitment strategy.
- Identify and target the right pool of volunteers to meet specific program needs.
- Implement tools and processes to create a seamless and cohesive mentor journey, spanning from intake procedures to overall program impact.
Making the Connection: Mentoring, Mental Health, and Well-being
Day & Time: Wednesday January 28th, 2026, 10am-11am
This 60-minute interactive virtual training from the New York State Mentoring Program (NYSMP) is designed to equip mentoring coordinators with the knowledge and skills to effectively support mentees’ mental health and well-being. The training focuses on destigmatizing mental health, clarifying the mentor’s role within a Tiered System of Support, identifying early warning signs, and utilizing appropriate collaborative problem-solving strategies and NYSMP activities for early intervention.
Learning Objectives
- Distinguish between mental health and mental well-being and understand their relevance in a mentoring context.
- Identify early warning signs of changes in mentee behavior.
- Define the mentor’s appropriate role in early intervention, balancing relationship building with providing support.
- Apply collaborative problem-solving themes and NYSMP resources to promote positive mentee well-being
| | College Essay Masterclass | | Last fall, Assistant Commissioner Anael Alston presented the College Essay Masterclass for high school students and their families at NYC District 31 in Staten Island. The college essay writing workshop, which drew more than 200 people, focused on guiding students through the process of crafting strong, personal essays for college admissions. The workshop was designed to help students brainstorm ideas, develop clear narratives, and refine their writing skills. At the end of the workshop, students prepared a draft of their college essay and gained a clear understanding of the revision process, along with the confidence to complete their applications. The Masterclass explored the purpose of college essays, what top-tier colleges and universities are looking for in applicants, strategies for choosing an effective writing prompt, and insider financial tips. | | Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOC II) | | The purpose of TOC II is to increase the rate of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers. TOC II programs incorporate strategies for teacher retention and best practice, such as mentors for new teachers and differentiated instructional techniques. | |
| Teacher Opportunity Corps II Summit | | |
Last fall, NYSED hosted the 2025 New York State My Brother's Keeper Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOC II) Summit at Old Westbury. Approximately 130 guests attended this intergenerational gathering of educators and students, which included college deans, superintendents, faculty, administrators, pre-service and in-service teachers, and our special guests: students from the Uniondale and Westbury School districts.
The summit opened with a powerful and moving performance from the Uniondale School Choir. As in prior years, the TOC II 2025 Summit delivered distinguished speakers and informative workshops that encapsulated the theme of "The Urgency of Now: Preparing Teacher Leaders in a Moral Moment." Dr. Timothy E. Sams, President of Old Westbury, and Dr. Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., Chancellor of the Board of Regents, provided this year’s welcoming. The keynote featured Dr. David Kirkland, a nationally recognized scholar, author, cultural critic, and one of the leading voices on equity and humanizing education for Black and Brown children.
TOC II staff, alumni, and students from Buffalo State University, CUNY City Tech, Queens College, and Teachers College joined with SUNY Old Westbury's Dr. Anissa Wicktor Lynch, Dr. Blidi Stemn, Mr. Richard Diaz, and their scholars to present an interactive presentation, "What is Working Well in TOC II."
| |
|
The summit featured two breakout sessions. During the first session, titled "Leading with Courage," Dr. Kirkland translated vision into practice, offering participants strategies for building authentic student relationships, sustaining culturally responsive practices, and guiding colleagues with equity and compassion at the center. The emphasis was on leadership as moral work, equipping participants with tools they can carry back to their schools while renewing their conviction that their work matters profoundly in this moment.
The second session featured Dr. William Murphy, Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education at NYSED. The session explored the various pathways to educator certification and the recent changes and innovations that were designed to increase and enhance the teacher talent pool. Highlights included recent changes to various subject areas and grade-level certificates, as well as innovative changes related to teaching assistants, school leaders, and alternative pathways to certification.
The summit ended with a panel discussion with Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil, Superintendent of Uniondale School District, Dr. Angela White, TOC II Program Coordinator from Pace University, and three TOC II alumni: Ms. Caitlin Ocasio- a teacher from White Plains School District and Pace University TOC II alum; Mr. Michael Thomas, a teacher from Grace Lutheran School and SUNY Old Westbury TOC II alum; and Christan Roldan, a teacher in the William Floyd School District and SUNY Old Westbury TOC II alum.
| |
| SUNY Oswego Launches MBK RISE | | |
SUNY Oswego officially launched Oswego's MBK RISE — Reach. Inspire. Support. Empower. MBK RISE is an equity-centered initiative affirming and advancing the success of Black and Brown male students across the P–20 continuum.
More than 50 people gathered for the kickoff celebration on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The event centered student voice, engaged campus leadership, and cast a shared vision for transformation rooted in mentorship, belonging, wellness, and purpose. The event was kicked off with remarks from President Nwosu and program lead Dr. Nichole Brown. Event highlights include MBK TOC II students and alumni discussing their experiences, as well as a look at the MBK RISE framework and opportunities available to students.
The kickoff marked the public launch of MBK RISE, a movement designed to affirm, elevate, and sustain the success of Black and Brown male scholars at SUNY Oswego through mentorship, wellness, and career pathways. It also celebrated cross-departmental collaboration and community partnerships, modeling how SUNY Oswego is operationalizing Vision 4040 and the strategic plan's Grow, Connect, Thrive drivers in real time.
The program features:
- Framework for Excellence: Develop a SUNY Oswego MBK-aligned model that affirms, elevates, and sustains Black and Brown male scholars from high school through graduation and into their careers.
- Mentorship, Leadership, Wellness: Expand Oswego's Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOC II) beyond the College of Education, Health and Human Services to provide holistic mentorship, culturally responsive leadership development, and wellness-centered supports campus-wide.
- Regional Pathways & Partnerships: Build MBK-community partnerships that open pathways to college and strengthen P–20 educator and leadership pipelines across education, STEM, and other high-impact disciplines where Black and Brown male scholars can lead, innovate, and thrive.
Interested in learning more, becoming a partner, or connecting MBK scholars with SUNY Oswego? Reach out to Dr. Nichole J. Brown at Nichole.Brown@oswego.edu to arrange introductions, schedule virtual info sessions, or explore how to plan a campus visit through Oswego MBK RISE.
| |
| My Brother’s Keeper Lower Hudson Valley Youth Leadership Summit Elevates Voices, Leadership, and Brotherhood | | |
Last fall, the SUNY Brockport Teacher Opportunity Corps II program, in collaboration with the Department of Education, Languages, and Instructional Design, hosted its first-ever Educator of Color Conference. The theme for the conference was EDpowered: Building Solidarity with Educators of Color.
We were able to invite educators and teacher candidates of Color, as well as allies, to participate in this event. Students listened to a panel of active educators who offered advice and shared their experiences in the field of education. There were also several workshops on topics related to sense of belonging, representation, and community building among students, faculty, education stakeholders, and the broader community, as well as class organization, culturally relevant and responsive teaching, and anti-racist pedagogy and teaching practices.
The conference ended with a local guest speaker from the Rochester area, Henry Padrón Morales, a former kindergarten teacher and co-owner of Hipocampo Books in Rochester.
| | New York State My Brother's Keeper Fellows Program | | The purpose of the MBK Fellows Grant is to provide rising 12th grade high school students, with an emphasis on boys and young men of color, with opportunities to gain authentic leadership experience(s) and develop service projects beneficial to the schools they attend and the communities they live in. | My Brother’s Keeper Lower Hudson Valley Youth Leadership Summit Elevates Voices, Leadership, and Brotherhood | | |
The Lower Hudson Valley MBK Alliance, in partnership with the Westchester County Youth Bureau and Westchester Community College, recently hosted the 1st Annual MBK Youth Leadership Summit in Valhalla, New York. Students from Ossining, Peekskill, Newburgh, New Rochelle, Yonkers, White Plains, and Greenburgh participated, all representing the NYS MBK Fellows program.
The Summit served as an inspiring platform for young men to amplify their voices, strengthen their networks, and celebrate the Brotherhood at the heart of the MBK movement. Designed around youth-led engagement, the event placed student leadership at the forefront. Twelfth-grade MBK Fellows facilitated panel discussions, addressing timely topics such as the impact of social media on mental health and the importance of defining one's personal brand. Their poise, confidence, and thoughtful dialogue reflected the leadership skills they have been developing under the guidance of renowned educator and leadership coach Dr. Baruti Kafele.
The energy throughout the day was vibrant and uplifting, underscoring the strength of community partnerships across Westchester and Orange counties. The Summit brought together nine participating school districts united in their commitment to supporting young men of color and expanding pathways to success. Creating a space where these young men could learn, lead, and build community reaffirmed MBK’s mission and fulfilled the Summit’s central purpose: elevating youth voice.
A standout moment of the event was the return of MBK alumni Cameron Williams (Yonkers) and Hanif Inman (Newburgh), whose stories of perseverance, growth, and achievement inspired current Fellows. Their testimonials highlighted the long-term impact of MBK and the powerful legacy today’s students are continuing to shape. Dr. Anael Alston, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Equity and Inclusion at NYSED, also addressed the Fellows, encouraging them to understand their “Why” and focus on the “Legacy” they will leave behind.
State and county officials were also present, signaling broad support for the work of MBK and its continued expansion across New York State.
The 2025 MBK Youth Leadership Summit not only celebrated the accomplishments of the present but also set the bar for the future. With the passion and leadership demonstrated by the Fellows, the momentum is undeniable—and the best is yet to come for MBK New York.
The Summit also served as the official launch toward the Lower Hudson Valley MBK Symposium, scheduled for April 21, 2026. Please mark your calendars.
| | |
Would you like to receive future editions of the
New York State My Brother's Keeper newsletter, Changing the Narrative?
Use the Subscribe button below.
| | | | |
