President Obama established My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) in February 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure all youth can reach their full potential. The MBK Alliance was launched as an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) entity in 2015 to scale and sustain this critical mission.
Since launching, a national movement has grown resulting in nearly 250 cities, counties, and Tribal Nations accepting the MBK Community Challenge, scores of new policy initiatives being implemented and an exponential increase in aligned private sector commitments, all helping to reduce barriers and expand opportunity from cradle to career.
Today, the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, along with cross-sector partners, works to accelerate impact in targeted communities, mobilize citizens and resources, and promote what works — all with the goal of encouraging mentorship, reducing youth violence, and improving life outcomes for boys and young men of color.
In the fall of 2017, MBK Alliance will cease to exist as an independent nonprofit organization, but will continue its critical mission as a core initiative of the Obama Foundation. President Obama has stated repeatedly that the mission of MBK would be part of his life’s work. This exciting transition demonstrates his continued commitment, and by joining forces better equips both organizations to meet our shared goal of an America where every child can reach their full potential no matter who they are or where they come from.
“One of my top priorities as Mayor is to create pathways away from violence and towards opportunities for our young people in Buffalo and our city is proud to be a part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper. My administration has programs underway that deeply share the spirit and the imperative of MBK, such as Say Yes Buffalo, my Summer Youth Employment Program, and Game Changers. By taking the President’s MBK Challenge, the City of Buffalo pledges to continue our public investments and maintain a data-driven approach to tracking outcomes in order to provide our young people with the opportunities they deserve to reach their potential.”
- Mayor Byron W. Brown, October 2015
For Buffalo, the MBK Alliance provides a unique opportunity to align current best practices under a strategic umbrella to transform systems ensuring that young men of color and all young people have the opportunities and supports to reach their full potential. Specically, MBK Buffalo will sharpen the community lens to focus on young men of color within an existing city-wide collective impact model, Say Yes Buffalo.
For more information about the MBK Alliance visit, www.mbkalliance.org