New York State My Brother_s Keeper_ Changing the Narrative
February 2020
Dear Colleagues, Partners, and Friends,

Dr. Anael Alston
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
Chandon Bouyea
Albany High School
Albany
Themba Pieterse
Themba Pieterse
Albany High School
Albany
Dallas Crespo
Dallas Crespo
Brentwood High School
Brentwood
Cedric Dimanche
Cedric Dimanche
Brentwood High School
Brentwood
Eric Enman
Eric Enman
Brentwood High School
Brentwood
Jason Ortega
Jason Ortega
Brentwood High School
Brentwood
Russell Ahiamadi
Russell Ahiamadi
Bronx High School of Science
Bronx
Christopher Adrasse
Christopher Adrasse
Fordham Arts High School
Bronx
Romano Mckensie
Romano Mckensie
Eagle Academy for Young Men
Bronx
Stefan Allen
Stefan Allen
Eagle Academy for Young Men
Bronx

Daniel Fortunat
Daniel Fortunat
Abraham Lincoln High School
Brooklyn
Addiel Alvarez
Addiel Alvarez
Brooklyn High School for Law & Technology
Brooklyn
Alexander Cooper
Alexander Cooper
Brooklyn Institute of Liberal Arts
Brooklyn
Denva Nesbeth
Denva Nesbeth Jr.
Bedford Academy High School
Brooklyn
Byron Chavis
Byron Chavis
East High School
Buffalo
Shawn Collins
Shawn Collins
South Park High School
Buffalo
Jontae Griffin
Jontae Griffin
McKinley High School
Buffalo
Walter Jackson
Walter Jackson
Middle Early College High School
Buffalo
Nathanial Gaines
Nathanial Gaines
Ramapo High School
East Ramapo
Jourdain Jenkins
Jourdain Jenkins
Spring Valley High School
East Ramapo
Janiel Joseph
Janiel Joseph
Woodlands Middle/High School
Greenburgh
Tashaan Lewis
Tashaan Lewis
Woodlands Middle/High School
Greenburgh
Christopher  Fenderson
Christopher
 Fenderson
Hudson Senior High School
Hudson
Miftahul Huq
Miftahul Huq
Hudson Senior High School
Hudson

Travion Brooks
Travion Brooks
Ithaca High School
Ithaca
Karije Henderson
Karije Henderson
Ithaca High School
Ithaca
Seth DeJesus
Seth DeJesus
Lyons Middle/High School
Lyons
Benjamin Kemp
Benjamin Kemp
Lyons Middle/High School
Lyons
Memphis Buten
Memphis Buten
Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School
Manhattan
Kymali Dubidad
Kymali Dubidad Jr.
Park East High School
Manhattan

Justin Mota
Justin Mota
Park East High School
Manhattan

Quadir Oliver
Quadir Oliver
Central Park East High School
Manhattan
Michael Beharry
Michael Beharry
Thornton High School
Mt. Vernon
Dacquan Fields
Dacquan Fields
Thornton High School
Mt. Vernon
Jordan Patterson
Jordan Patterson
Newburgh Free Academy West
Newburgh
Nicholas Patterson
Nicholas Patterson
Newburgh Free Academy Main
Newburgh
Qualib Smith
Qualib Smith
Newburgh Free Academy P-TECH
Newburgh
Lonnie Spearman
Lonnie Spearman
Newburgh Free Academy North
Newburgh
Francky Charles
Francky Charles
New Rochelle High School
New Rochelle
Leroy Johnson
Leroy Johnson
New Rochelle High School
New Rochelle
Diego Antequera Torrealba
Diego Antequera Torrealba
New Rochelle High School
New Rochelle
Jesus Sanchez Caceres
Jesus Sanchez Caceres
New Rochelle High School
New Rochelle
Federico Grullo
Federico Grullon
Ossining High School
Ossining
Darlyn Tapia
Darlyn Tapia
Ossining High School
Ossining
Jaidon Buckley
Jaidon Buckley
Poughkeepsie High School
Poughkeepsie
Miguel Sanchez
Miguel Sanchez
Poughkeepsie High School
Poughkeepsie
Isaiha Almonte
Isaiha Almonte
Queens Collegiate: A College Board School
Queens
Tariq Anderson
Tariq Anderson
Mathematics, Science & Technology Magnet High School
Queens
Kymani James
Kymani James
John Bowne High School
Queens
Damion Ovalle
Damion Ovalle
William Cullen Bryant High School
Queens
Javier Aponte
Javier Aponte
Monroe High School
Rochester
Byron Bounds
Byron Bounds
Leadership Academy for Young Men
Rochester
Yabnel Coss-Torres
Yabnel Coss-Torres
Monroe High School
Rochester
Kevin Wade
Kevin Wade
Leadership Academy for Young Men
Rochester

Liguori Flanagan
Liguori Flanagan
Curtis High School
Staten Island
Jaden Kwayke
Jaden Kwayke
Susan E. Wagner High School
Staten Island

Tristen Butler
Tristen Butler
New Dorp High School
Staten Island
Malachi Williams
Malachi Williams
Tottenville High School
Staten Island
Jermaine Cooper
Jermaine Cooper
Corcoran High School
Syracuse
Camron Ruckman
Camron Ruckman
Henninger High School
Syracuse
Shaheed Baize
Shaheed Baize
White Plains High School
White Plains
Ashlen Chevalier
Ashlen Chevalier
White Plains High School
White Plains
Giovanni Almonte
Giovanni Almonte
Saunders Trades & Technical High School
Yonkers
Quamere S. Floyd
Quamere S. Floyd
Palisade Preparatory School
Yonkers
John J. Sosa Aguilar
John J. Sosa Aguilar
Yonkers Montessori Academy
Yonkers
Keymel Washington
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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