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Dear Colleagues, Partners, and Friends,
Happy Holidays! I hope that you had a strong start to the school year and the momentum continues to move your community forward. We know that strong beginnings lead to better endings. With that in mind, I want to briefly remind you that we are in the eighth year of New York State My Brother’s Keeper (NYSMBK), and the energy, partnership, collaborations, and outcomes for boys and young men of color continue to impress us all at NYSED. Thank you! We appreciate your support, willingness, and engagement as we do this powerful, life-changing work. You should be proud.
With all that our young people must contend with, you are providing safe, welcoming spaces and places that are bringing the best out of our students. On behalf of our young people, I ask that you keep on, keep going, and keep doing the things that we know work. Many of them can be found on our website in the NYSMBK Guidance Document. In New York State My Brother’s Keeper, lives are being transformed positively, good is becoming better, and better is becoming the standard as we push ourselves and our young people toward personal mastery and excellence.
Finally, if you were not able to attend the 2023 MBK Symposium, you missed plenty! We had nationally recognized speakers and trainers pour into both adults and students for a remarkable experience. The student speeches and performances were nothing short of spectacular. Fortunately, the symposium was recorded and is posted on the NYSMBK website. To learn more about how we are changing the narrative and improving life outcomes for boys and young men of color, visit the NYSMBK website. You may also want to review our previous newsletters. Join us!
Your Partner in Education,
Anael Alston, Ed.D.
Assistant Commissioner
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2024 MBK Fellows Stand and Deliver
The 2024 MBK Fellows Stand and Deliver event will be February 16, 2024.
2024 New York State My Brother's Keeper Symposium
The 2024 New York State My Brother's Keeper Symposium is tentatively scheduled for May 29 and 30, 2024.
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MBK Alliance Fall Convening | |
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New York State My Brother’s Keeper participated in the MBK Alliance Fall Convening along with 27 other nationally certified MBK communities as they learned more about how the MBK Model Communities are making population-level change in the MBK Milestones. Participating New York State MBK communities included Yonkers Public Schools (recognized as a model community by the Obama Foundation), Uniondale, Ossining, and New York City Public Schools.
Thank you to our community leaders who are demonstrating their commitment to our boys and young men of color. Together, we are making a positive impact, changing the narrative, and painting a brighter future for our communities, our state, our nation, and ultimately the world.
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Dr. Adren Wilson, Executive Director of the MBK Alliance, and Dr. Anael Alston, Assistant Commissioner at NYSED, address the nationally certified communities at the MBK Alliance Fall Convening. | |
Representatives from the Obama Foundation Model Communities share lessons with the general audience about the “How” of population change. | |
Former President Barack Obama addresses the 27 nationally certified communities about the urgency of now and the importance of getting concrete, measurable results for our young men of color. | |
Featured Video: "It's Working" | |
New York State My Brother's Keeper students explain what the NYSMBK program means to them and how it has transformed their lives. | |
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. | |
New York State MBK Fellows Visit Martha's Vineyard | |
Over the summer, five of our exceptional New York State My Brother’s Keeper Fellows had an opportunity to participate in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Camp on Martha’s Vineyard. The students participated in STEM-related activities and received mentorship and counsel from prominent national leaders, including Hon. Marc Morial, former Mayor of New Orleans and President of the National Urban League; Broderick Johnson, former White House Cabinet Secretary; and Eric Holder, former United States Attorney General. While on the island, the students experienced the thrill of a lifetime when they were able to meet and have a Q and A with former President Barack Obama! | |
NYC MBK Fellow interviews Broderick Johnson, former White House Cabinet Secretary | |  |
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NYC MBK Fellows speak with
Eric Holder, former United States Attorney General
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New York State My Brother's Keeper Community Network | |
The New York State My Brother's Keeper Community Network includes more than 30 member communities that have joined the growing initiative to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color. To join the NYS MBK Community Network, the school superintendent and local government official must sign a joint letter to the Commissioner of Education indicating their support of and commitment to meeting the six MBK National Milestones and the six New York State MBK Goals. Detailed instructions for becoming a New York State MBK Community can be found here. Upon becoming a member of the statewide network, a community gains the support of NYSED's Office of Access, Equity, and Community Engagement Services to help build a community initiative and develop a local MBK action plan. | |
Greenburgh MBK Summer of YES | |
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The Greenburgh MBK Summer of YES (Youth Enrichment Series) students performed a series of skits based on the Allan Houston book, The Fundamentals of Life. The book is based on five principles of life: "Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership, and Legacy." The book was one of three books the students read as part of the "I Am My Brother's Reader" book club.
The students and mentors worked with vendors Musical Roundup and Play Patterns to create the scenes, designs, and music.
Greenburgh MBK targeted all six milestones by providing the students with opportunities to speak publicly in front of an audience, use art and music to express themselves, and practice team building. Family and community members also attended the event.
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Greenburgh MBK Summer of YES Students and Mentors | |
Find out more about New York State's My Brother's Keeper initiative by visiting our MBK website. | |
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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.
Don't forget to follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, 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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