State Education Department Announces Seventh Class of My Brother’s Keeper Fellows

The State Education Department today inducted the seventh class of My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellows, consisting of 97 young men of color who are leaders in their schools and communities, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced. MBK Fellows gain 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, "New York State My Brother's Keeper is a movement designed to help boys and young men of color stay on track to productive, fulfilling, and civically engaged lives. It addresses the persistent opportunity gaps faced by these boys and young men by providing the opportunities necessary for building leadership and character while strengthening academic learning. I thank Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and their legislative colleagues for their continued support of New York's MBK movement and commitment to creating opportunities for success for all New Yorkers."

Commissioner Rosa said, “To truly achieve equity in education, we must work collectively to break through the barriers that limit the success of our youth. With the growth and continued success of our My Brother’s Keeper initiative, communities across the state are coming together to create and expand opportunities for young people of color. Through years of successful collaboration with the Legislature and Governor, we have been able to secure critical funding to grow our MBK programs and to support boys and young men of color in reaching their full potential.” 

MBK Community Network 

To join the NYSMBK Community Network, a 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 an 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 2024 MBK Symposium.  

The 2024 MBK Fellows are: 

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.  

The MBK Fellows Program has inducted a total of 443 Fellows to date. Each is paired with a mentor from a New York State MBK Community Network partner and participates in a fellowship in a local government office, partnering business, or educational institute. Fellows develop service projects beneficial to the schools they attend and the communities they live in. NYSED has awarded over $2.6 million in grant funds to support this program since 2016.   

Since 2016, NYSED has awarded more than $5.1 million in grant funds to 12 school districts for the MBK Indigenous Education Grant. The program’s goal is to increase the academic achievement and college/career readiness of Native American students, with an emphasis on boys and young men.   

Also, since 2016, NYSED has awarded more than $45 million in grants to school districts for the MBK Family and Community Engagement Program. These grants support programs to increase the academic achievement and college and career readiness of boys and young men of color while fostering the development of effective relationships with families to promote the success of all students. 

NYSED has awarded $49 million in MBK Challenge Grants to school districts since 2016. The MBK Challenge Grant Program encourages regions and school districts to develop and execute coherent cradle-to-career college strategies. 

More than $27 million in Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOC II) grants have been awarded to 27 colleges and universities since 2016. For the 2022-23 project year TOC II served over 500 students. TOC II projects have graduated over 900 teachers to date. Eligible applicants are New York State public and independent degree-granting colleges and universities with a teacher preparation (undergraduate or graduate) program approved by NYSED. 

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.”