“That’s what ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ is all about. Helping more of our young people stay on track. Providing the support they need to think more broadly about their future. Building on what works – when it works, in those critical life-changing moments.”
- President Barack Obama, February 27, 2014
Read President Obama's remarks on the My Brother's Keeper initiative.
President Obama Mentoring Legacy
Kevin Durant on MBK Success Mentors Initiative
Kevin Durant shares why he's proud to be part of the My Brother's Keeper Success Mentors Initiative, and how everyone can join in helping students succeed
Two Years of My Brothers Keeper
Since MBK’s first anniversary report a little more than one year ago, more than 50 additional communities have accepted the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, including those in seven new states, independent private sector support for grants and in-kind resources has more than doubled to more than $600 million, and more than 80% of the recommendations the MBK Task Force sent to the President two years ago are complete or on track.
This report tracks progress achieved in the past year on efforts to make a measurable difference in the lives of young people.
Check out the slideshow to see the progress we've made.
FACT SHEET: My Brother’s Keeper – Two Years of Expanding Opportunity & Creating Pathways for Success
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You don’t need to be an NBA star or the President of the United States to be someone’s hero. You have the power to change a young person’s life by becoming a mentor at Mentor.gov.
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Two Years of My Brother's Keeper: Building Lasting Bridges of Opportunity for Young People
Nov. 20, 2014. Fulfilling their promise, the President and First Lady have lunch with youth from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. Earlier in the day, the youth toured the White House and had meetings with the President and First Lady and other White House officials.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
On the two year anniversary of My Brother's Keeper, MBK Task Force Chair Broderick Johnson reflected on MBK's impact across the country and on the work still underway:
"MBK is about obliterating the barriers our kids face. It’s about building strong, lasting bridges to opportunity for boys and girls, young men and young women, no matter what their background or the circumstances into which they were born. It’s about investing in what works, acting with a sense of urgency, basing strategies on data and evidence, and having the courage to call-out and tear down discrimination in every system and policy where it shows up. And, in two years we could not be more excited about the momentum, energy, and enthusiasm that has been sparked all across the country."
Report: Economic Costs of Youth Disadvantage, and High-Return Opportunities for Change
A report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers explores the barriers that disadvantaged youth face, particularly young men of color, and quantifies the enormous costs this poses to the U.S. economy. In particular, this report focuses on the significant disparities in education, exposure to the criminal justice system, and employment that persist between young men of color and other Americans.
The report outlines why it's important for our nation — from business, faith, and civic leaders, to local law enforcement — to invest in the lives of our nation’s young people. In launching the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, the President and his entire Administration are doing just that.
About My Brother's Keeper
President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.
Through this initiative, the Administration is joining with cities and towns, businesses, and foundations who are taking important steps to connect young people to mentoring, support networks, and the skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way into the middle class.
My Brother’s Keeper is focused on six milestones:
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Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn
All children should have a healthy start and enter school ready – cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. -
Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade
All children should be reading at grade level by age 8 – the age at which reading to learn becomes essential. -
Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career
All youth should receive a quality high school education and graduate with the skills and tools needed to advance to postsecondary education or training. -
Completing Postsecondary Education or Training
Every American should have the option to attend postsecondary education and receive the education and training needed for the quality jobs of today and tomorrow. - Successfully Entering the Workforce
Anyone who wants a job should be able to get a job that allows them to support themselves and their families. -
Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances
All youth and young adults should be safe from violent crime; and individuals who are confined should receive the education, training, and treatment they need for a second chance.
Blog Posts
- April 1, 2016: New Announcements Helping to Achieve MBK Goals by Doing What Works
- February 29, 2016: Two Years of My Brother's Keeper: Building Lasting Bridges of Opportunity for Young People
- February 28, 2016: Engaging America’s Youth in STEM through Hands-on Experiences in Labs and Communities Across America
- February 24, 2016: Absences Add Up: New Chronic Absenteeism Campaign Works to Get Kids to Class, and to Graduation
- February 23, 2016: U.S. Department of Education Takes Action to Deliver Equity for Students with Disabilities
- February 19, 2016: The White House Launches New National Effort and Ad Council Campaign to Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism and Drive Student Success
- January 18, 2016: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By Planting the Seeds of Service and Citizenship
- November 2, 2015: FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Actions to Promote Rehabilitation and Reintegration for the Formerly- Incarcerated
- July 14, 2015: Restoring Hope and Closing Opportunity Gaps
- June 19, 2015: President Obama to Young Men of Color: "You Matter. You Count."
Recent Events
February 27, 2015: President Obama Hosts a Lunch with My Brother's Keeper Mentees
On the first anniversary of the My Brother's Keeper initiative, President Barack Obama greets Gerard Contee during a mentee lunch in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Feb. 27, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
February 12, 2015: My Brother's Keeper Community Challenge National Convening
At the Convening, representatives from communities across the country that accepted the Community Challenge, along with experts from the private and public sectors, discussed how we can make real progress to expand opportunity for all of our youth.
Watch the opening remarks below, and get more details about the event here.
Get Involved
My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge
In September 2014, President Obama issued a challenge to cities, towns, counties and tribes across the country to become “MBK Communities.” This challenge represents a call to action for all members of our communities, and mayors in particular, as they often sit at the intersection of many of the vital forces and structural components needed to enact sustainable change through policy, programs, and partnerships.
The MBK Community Challenge encourages communities (cities, rural municipalities, and tribal nations) to implement a coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people to ensure that they can reach their full potential, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or the circumstances into which they are born. Nearly 200 mayors, tribal leaders, and county executives across 43 states and the District of Columbia have accepted the MBK Community Challenge.
The six goals of the Challenge are:
- Ensuring all children enter school cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally ready
- Ensuring all children read at grade level by 3rd grade
- Ensuring all youth graduate from high school
- Ensuring all youth complete post-secondary education or training
- Ensuring all youth out of school are employed
- Ensuring all youth remain safe from violent crime
Community leaders can lay the groundwork for an MBK Community in four steps:
- Accept the President’s Challenge
- Convene a “Local Action Summit” to build an MBK Community
- Conduct a policy review and form recommendations for action
- Launch a plan of action, next steps and a timetable for review
Learn How Your Community Can Adopt the Goals of MBK
Find MBK Communities Near You
Sign Up to Be a Mentor
Resources
- Read the MBK Second Anniversary Fact Sheet
- Read steps your community can take to adopt the goals of MBK
- Read the Presidential Memorandum establishing the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force
- Read the MBK Task Force 90-Day Progress Report
- Read the MBK Task Force One-Year Progress Report
- Read the fact sheet on new commitments in support of the My Brother's Keeper Initiative
- Read the My Brother’s Keeper Blueprint for Action fact sheet
- Read the fact sheet on the My Brother's Keeper Community Challenge
- Explore datasets on critical life indicators
- Read a resource guide to help employers take action on My Brother's Keeper
- Webinar: How to create a culture of evidence in your community/organization
- Webinar: Identifying and Contributing to "What Works"
- Webinar: Evaluation and Evidence-Based Decision-Making
- Webinar: Innovative Funding Models to Advance “What Works”
Logo and Usage
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Guidelines for Logo Use
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The My Brother’s Keeper Initiative logo may not be used to endorse any commercial product or service, nor may the logo be used in advertising or in any manner that could give rise to the appearance of endorsement.
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