We here at Urban Youth have spent the past six years with our WHAT IT TAKES SYMPOSIUMS & E-MENTORING Lessons Learned Guide for mentoring black men and boys. We are extremely excited that the President is taking action and launching MY BROTHERS KEEPER. Read on to find out more about this initiative.
The announcement will be streamed live on the links below at 3:25 PM EST.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper
VIA The White House
“There are a lot of kids out there who need help, who are getting a lot of negative reinforcement. And is there more that we can do to give them the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them?”
– President Obama, July 19, 2013
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
The data proves it: Boys and young men of color — regardless of where they come from — are disproportionately at risk from their youngest years through college and the early stages of their professional lives.
- By the time they hit fourth grade, 86 percent of African American boys and 82 percent Hispanic boys are reading below proficiency levels — compared to 54 percent of white fourth graders reading below proficiency levels.
- African American and Hispanic young men are more than six times as likely to be victims of murder than their white peers — and account for almost half of the country’s murder victims each year.
HOW THE PRESIDENT IS TAKING ACTION
He’s announced a new initiative with leading foundations and businesses that will take a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to build ladders of opportunity and unlock the full potential of boys and young men of color — and they’re getting to work immediately.
He signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force to help determine which public and private efforts are working, how the Federal government can support those efforts, and how we can get more folks involved in those efforts across the board.
That doesn’t only benefit our kids facing tough circumstances — it benefits all Americans.
Click for MY BROTHERS KEEPER FACT SHEET
