(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Bowser launched DC’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative (MBK-DC) to provide programming targeting boys and young men of color in four key areas: education, justice, health, and job opportunities. Seeking to develop coalitions with public and private sector leaders, My Brother’s Keeper DC is part of President Obama’s MBK Community Challenge to implement evidence-based strategies that create equal opportunities for boys and young men of color. To represent and implement the values of the program, Mayor Bowser also designated Martin Luther King, Jr. Commissioners as My Brother’s Keeper Ambassadors.
“From establishing the Ron Brown College Preparatory High School, to creating more opportunities for summer jobs through the expansion of the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, we have seen tremendous progress in reaching our boys and young men of color” said Mayor Bowser. “We are doubling down on strategies that are making a difference in the lives of boys and young men of color, and through this initiative my Administration will continue to press forward in closing the gaps that still remain for far too many young men in our city.”
The Bowser Administration will bridge the opportunity gap in the following ways:
- Justice – Elevate efforts to foster healthy and inclusive relationships between DC youth and law enforcement officers.
- Education – Renew urgency surrounding education reform and making the needed investments to prepare the next generation of Washingtonians for today’s economy.
- Health – Shape positive health identities by targeting all life circumstances and acknowledging that mental health is a fundamental element of well-being for positive development.
- Job Opportunities – Invest in initiatives that connect the city's youth to jobs and opportunities to develop skills needed in the workplace
Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., DC Chief Medical Examiner, will serve as the Chair for My Brother’s Keeper DC.
“Partnerships will play an integral role in the success of this initiative,” said Dr. Mitchell, Jr. “We are encouraging community members, business leaders, and corporations to all get behind this urgent effort to reach our boys and young men of color and build on the successes of the Bowser Administration in improving the lives of so many District residents.”
MBK-DC will target three types of partnerships:
- Fund – My Brother’s Keeper DC leadership will contact private institutions, venture capital firms, and family philanthropists to provide capital.
- Grow – Academic institutions and non-profits will provide technical assistance, data processing, and impact evaluation.
- Support – Community leaders, advisory board members, and other key partners will offer resources that allows initial successes to advance over time.
Upcoming MBK-DC events include a series of community roundtable discussions, summer programming, and a summit. For more information on how to get involved, contact MBK-DC coordinator Kendrick Jackson at [email protected].