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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2023
For More Information Contact:

JP O'Hare

(518) 474-1201

Press@nysed.gov

www.nysed.gov

 

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State Education Department Announces Sixth Class of My Brother’s Keeper Fellows and MBK Communities Network Milestone

97 Students Identified as Leaders, Largest Fellows Class in NYS MBK History

My Brother’s Keeper Community Network Grows to 36 Member Communities

The State Education Department today inducted 97 new My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellows—the largest ever class of boys and young men of color who are leaders in their schools and communities—and announced that the MBK Community Network has now grown to 36 member communities, according to Commissioner Betty A. Rosa. The most recent Network additions are Kingston and LaFayette. MBK Fellows receive mentor relationship opportunities in government, education, and business. The My Brother’s Keeper initiative helps boys and young men of color—and all students—realize their full potential.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “My Brother’s Keeper is removing barriers, empowering our young people to affect actionable change, and creating a generation of leaders prepared for civic duty and deeply committed to social justice. We are excited to welcome our newest MBK Network Communities and this year’s class of My Brother’s Keeper Fellows to continue the growth of this movement to build a culture and society of opportunity where every student can be successful. We thank Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and their colleagues for their continued support of New York’s MBK Program and for opening doors to success for all New Yorkers.”

Commissioner Rosa said, “My Brother’s Keeper is emblematic of the Department’s commitment to doing what is right for all students. It is up to each of us to help close and eliminate the opportunity gaps these young adults face, and to guide them to reach their full potential. The remarkable young men who have been named 2023 Fellows are the voices of our future and worthy champions of our cause.”

“As a proud champion of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative here in New York, it is an honor and a privilege to see the largest class of fellows enter the program this year,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “As the first Black speaker of the Assembly, I know how important it is to foster and develop the next generation of Black leaders and ensure that we always have a seat at the table and to amplify our voices in our communities. I look forward to seeing the incredible work I know these young people will do, as well as the continued success of My Brother’s Keeper across New York as the program continues to grow.”

New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “I am a big believer in My Brother's Keeper, this program plays a crucial role in providing opportunities for young men of color to develop their leadership capabilities and support their commitment to uplift their communities. I am especially gratified that the City of Yonkers' program was honored this month by former President Barack Obama as one of four “My Brother's Keeper Model Communities.” I am also proud that in partnership with the Assembly, the Senate Majority under my leadership has secured a total of $90 million in funding since 2019 to support the great work of this initiative and continue to grow its reach to more young men in communities across New York. I am delighted to congratulate the 2023 Fellows of My Brother's Keeper. I have no doubt that this cohort of inspiring young men will have a bright future."

MBK Community Network

To join the NYSMBK Community Network, the school superintendent and local government official must sign a joint letter to the State Education Department indicating their support of, and commitment to, meeting the six MBK National milestones and the six New York State MBK goals. 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.

My Brother’s Keeper Fellows

Each of the 97 Fellows will be matched with a mentor from a NYSMBK Community Network partner and given a fellowship opportunity. Each rising senior will also be required to develop and execute a service project related to a NYSMBK initiative, such as:

  • Ensuring equitable access to high-quality schools and programs;
  • Expanding prevention, early warning, and intervention services;
  • Responding to structural and institutional racism; or
  • Engaging families and communities in a trusted and respectful way.

The approved MBK Community Networks were eligible to apply to the Fellows 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, each Community Network must secure a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with a local postsecondary education institution, local business, or community-based organization for this program.

Fellows participated in an induction ceremony today during the 2023 MBK Symposium.

The 2023 MBK Fellows are:

2023 MBK Fellows
MBK Community Fellow School

Albany

Patrick Ponza III

Albany High School

Albany

Jakiem Walden

Albany High School

Arlington

Jordan Butler

Arlington High School

Arlington

Sebastian Woods-DeLeon

Arlington High School

Brentwood

Jermaine Gardner

Brentwood High School

Brentwood

Eloy Mendez-Vargas

Brentwood High School

Brentwood

Alexander Renteria

Brentwood High School

Brentwood

Luis Velasquez

Brentwood High School

Buffalo

Edwin Cordero

McKinley High School

Buffalo

Alejandro Ortiz

Burgard High School

Buffalo

Jamari Shaw, Jr.

Research Laboratory HS for Bioinformatics & Life Sciences

Buffalo

Paul Wilson

Hutchinson Central Technical High School

Dunkirk

Octavian Porter

Dunkirk Senior High School

Dunkirk

Jordan Torres

Dunkirk Senior High School

East Ramapo

Luigui Moises Marin, Jr.

Ramapo High School

East Ramapo

Jayvienn Martin

Spring Valley High School

Elmont

Blessing Olawoye

Elmont Memorial High School

Elmont

Quincy Velez

Elmont Memorial High School

Greenburgh

Isaiah Tufouh

Woodlands Middle/High School

Greenburgh

Eric Woodberry

Woodlands Middle/High School

Hudson

Dejuan Bailey

Hudson High School

Hudson

Besham Burgess

Hudson High School

Ithaca

Allen Simms

Ithaca High School

Ithaca

Nicholas Talbot

Ithaca High School

Kingston

Aiden Charlot

Kingston High School

Kingston

Kenyon Greaves

Kingston High School

LaFayette

Bruce Benedict

LaFayette Middle High School

LaFayette

John-Lou Moreno

LaFayette Middle High School

Lyons

Devyn Williams

Lyons Middle/High School

Lyons

Darius Wood-Asberry

Lyons Middle/High School

Middletown

Jairus Cody

Middletown High School

Middletown

Michael Culver

Middletown High School

Monticello

Judah Brown

Monticello High School

Monticello

Xavean Mitchell

Monticello High School

Mount Pleasant

Aden Delvalle

Mount Pleasant Cottage School

Mount Pleasant

Messiah Serrano

Edenwald School

Mt. Vernon

Levonn Latham

Mount Vernon STEAM Academy

Mt. Vernon

Kevon Palmer

Mount Vernon STEAM Academy

New Rochelle

Luis Ayala

New Rochelle High School

New Rochelle

Shawndel Gilchrist

New Rochelle High School

New Rochelle

Biery Guevara

New Rochelle High School

New Rochelle

Justin Lloyd

New Rochelle High School

Newburgh

Dyonne Cameron

Newburgh Free Academy West Campus

Newburgh

Hanif Inman

Newburgh Free Academy West Campus

Newburgh

Matthew Patterson

Newburgh Free Academy North Campus

Newburgh

Jamari Robertson

Newburgh Free Academy Main Campus

NYC Bronx

Giandel Hernandez 

Fordham High School for the Arts

NYC Bronx

Meki Qualls  

Bronx Studio for Writers and Artists

NYC Bronx

Eric Silverio, Jr.  

Bronx Studio for Writers and Artists

NYC Bronx

Amadou Tall  

Eagle Academy for Young Men

NYC Brooklyn

James Baker 

Medgar Evers College Preparatory School

NYC Brooklyn

Elijah Chapman  

Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School

NYC Brooklyn

Caleb Fernandez 

Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School

NYC Brooklyn

Seth Shaheed-Myrthil 

Midwood High School

NYC Manhattan

Moussa Konde  

The High School for Mathematics, Science & Engineering at City College  

NYC Manhattan

Adrian Neequaye  

The Frederick Douglass Academy  

NYC Manhattan

Joshua Nicolas  

Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem  

NYC Manhattan

Eliezer Talavara  

Esperanza Preparatory Academy  

NYC Queens

Aaron Olton 

Scholars Academy 

NYC Queens

Jemal Thornhill 

High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety 

NYC Queens

Mamadou Traore 

Channel View School for Research 

NYC Queens

Devonte Walker 

Richmond Hill High School 

NYC Staten Island

Shawn Dhurup 

Eagle Academy for Young Men of Staten Island 

NYC Staten Island

Nana Hermans 

College of Staten Island High School for International Studies 

NYC Staten Island

Gio Lopez 

Eagle Academy for Young Men of Staten Island 

NYC Staten Island

Mubaraqs Olayokun 

Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High School 

Ossining

Jayden Correa

Ossining High School

Ossining

Gavin Thomas-Walters

Ossining High School

Peekskill

Ruben A. Gray

Peekskill High School

Peekskill

Dylan Diaz Santos

Peekskill High School

Poughkeepsie

Abass Ana-aata

Poughkeepsie High School

Poughkeepsie

Peter Sealy

Poughkeepsie High School

Rochester

Cameron McClaney

Wilson Magnet High School

Rochester

El-Amin Ortiz-Price

Early College International High School

Rochester

James Preston

Wilson Magnet High School

Rochester

Michael Stroughter, Jr.

Early College International High School

Roosevelt

Angel Eduardo Chevalier

Roosevelt High School

Roosevelt

Justin Deron McDonald

Roosevelt High School

Schenectady

Samer Abudalla

Schenectady High School

Schenectady

Khasier Morton

Schenectady High School

Sewanhaka

Lovell Cannon IV

Sewanhaka High School

Sewanhaka

Raymar Duncan

Sewanhaka High School

Sodus

Angel Padilla-Sequeira

Sodus High School

Sodus

Marquez Wigent

Sodus High School

Syracuse

Daniel Alabi

Henninger High School

Syracuse

Michael Johnson

Public Service Leadership Academy at Fowler

Syracuse

Kenneth Lanterman

Henninger High School

Syracuse

Azariah Yemma, Jr.

Public Service Leadership Academy at Fowler

Uniondale

Jayden Prophete

Uniondale High School

Uniondale

David Reid, Jr.

Uniondale High School

White Plains

Endry Guichardo Sanchez

White Plains High School

White Plains

Brandon Patoir

White Plains High School

Yonkers

Justin Lauture

Roosevelt High School Early College Studies

Yonkers

Jason Martinez

Saunders Trades & Technical High School

Yonkers

Juan Morales

Saunders Trades & Technical High School

Yonkers

Cameron Williams

Yonkers Middle High School

Manhattan

*Samuel MacKay

MBK Fellows Operations Assistant Intern

Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology

In 2014, former President Barack Obama established the My Brother’s 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 2016–17 New York State budget, New York became the first state to accept the President’s challenge and enacted the My Brother’s Keeper initiative into law. The budget included a $20 million investment supporting the initiative to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color. 

Visit the Department’s My Brother’s Keeper website for details on this movement and information on how to subscribe to the MBK Newsletter, “Changing the Narrative.”