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The State Education Department today named the inaugural class of My Brother鈥檚 Keeper (MBK) Fellows Program who will be provided with authentic leadership opportunities in government, education and business, Commissioner MaryEllen Elia announced. The 36 Fellows represent 18 New York State school districts who attended the Second Annual NYS MBK Statewide Symposium held in Albany today with their mentors.

鈥淏y embracing My Brother鈥檚 Keeper, communities across the state are coming together to create opportunities for boys and young men of color,鈥� Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. 鈥淲e must work collectively to break through barriers that limit the success of our youth, so we can truly achieve equity in education. With the MBK movement鈥檚 continued growth, we are showing more and more boys and young men of color the path to success in life.鈥�

鈥淭he Fellow program complements all of our work over the past two years to establish the My Brother鈥檚 Keeper program as a valuable resource for boys and young men of color,鈥� Commissioner Elia said. 鈥淭oday, more than 20 communities are part of the MBK network, improving the future for thousands of children. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie made the Fellows program possible by championing MBK and working with the Legislature and the Executive to secure funding to support boys and young men of color. We thank Speaker Heastie and his colleagues for their continued support of MBK.鈥澨�

"The MBK Fellows initiative is designed听to ensure that the next generation of New York State leaders听are well prepared, civic minded, and committed to听social justice values," Regent Lester Young said. 鈥淭he MBK challenge must be embraced by an entire community, so we can build equitable听ladders of access and opportunity to enable听all of New York鈥檚 students to reach their full potential.鈥澨�

鈥淭he Assembly Majority is proud to have led the way on this unprecedented effort to eliminate academic and societal barriers for boys and young men of color,鈥� Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. 鈥淭his inaugural class of My Brother鈥檚 Keeper fellows is a testament to the life-changing opportunities that are possible when all hands come together to change the narrative and improve outcomes for some of our most vulnerable students. Through their collective achievement, we will strengthen families, build thriving communities and secure the future success of our state. I am thankful to have the partnership of Commissioner Elia and Chancellor Rosa in bringing this long-held vision to life here in New York.鈥�

Approved MBK Community Networks were eligible to apply to the program and consist of a partnership between the Office of the Mayor and the School District Superintendent (or the Chancellor in New York City). Additionally, for this grant opportunity, each Community Network must secure a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with a local postsecondary education institution, local business or community-based organization.

The Fellows will also be a part of a statewide MBK Fellows Workgroup, which will give them the chance to offer input on the creation and implementation of a statewide MBK Mentoring Network.

The 2018 MBK Fellows are:

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In 2014, former President Barack Obama established the My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Task Force at the federal level. The Task Force was an interagency effort focused on closing and eliminating the opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color so that all young people have the chance to reach their full potential. With the adoption of the 2016鈥�17 New York State budget, New York became the first state to accept the President鈥檚 challenge and enacted the My Brother鈥檚 Keeper initiative into law. The budget included a $20 million investment in support of the initiative to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color.听

Visit the Department鈥檚 My Brother鈥檚 Keeper website for details on the initiative.