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My Brother's Keeper Challenge is a
public–private partnership A public–private partnership (PPP, 3P, or P3) is a long-term arrangement between a government and private sectors, private sector institutions.Hodge, G. A and Greve, C. (2007), Public–Private Partnerships: An International Performance Revie ...
of the United States federal government that promotes intervention by civic leaders in the lives of young men of color. The program was initiated in 2014 with sponsorship from the
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, the
United States Department of Education The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, originating in 1980. The department began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and ...
, and the National Convening Council. The initiative obtained pledges by
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s of $200 million over five years. The program was intended to be a call to action for mayors, Native American tribal leaders, county executives, and other municipal leaders to address persistent opportunity gaps for young men of color and help them reach their potential. In 2017, the My Brother's Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) became a core initiative of the
Obama Foundation The Barack Obama Foundation is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded in 2014. It oversees the creation of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, runs the My Brother's Keeper Alliance (a program Barack Obama began while he was president) ...
, expanding upon the original My Brother's Keeper Challenge launched in 2014. The MBK Alliance focuses on addressing persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color by supporting communities in implementing evidence-based solutions to improve life outcomes. The partnership was expanded one year after program launch, with $100 million in additional funding from private entities. Private partners have included the
College Board The College Board, styled as CollegeBoard, is an American not-for-profit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an asso ...
, Citi Foundation,
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,
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, and the Emerson Collective. Youth Guidance's Becoming a Man program is an example of a recipient of funding from the My Brother's Keeper Challenge. The Boys of Color Collaboration is another example, pooling scholars from several universities. The White House issued a one-year progress report on the My Brother's Keeper Challenge in March 2015.


Mission and objectives

The MBK Alliance's mission is to build safe and supportive communities where boys and young men of color feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity. The initiative works through partnerships with local governments, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to drive
sustainable Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): env ...
, community-based change. The MBK Alliance is structured around six key milestones that are considered critical for the success of boys and young men of color: # Getting a healthy start and entering school ready to learn # Reading at grade level by third grade # Graduating from high school ready for college and career # Completing post-secondary education or training # Successfully entering the workforce with the skills needed for long-term employment # Keeping youth on track and giving them second chances


MBK Model Communities

In 2018, the MBK Alliance launched the MBK Model Communities initiative, selecting 19 organizations across 10 states and
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to serve as national models for improving outcomes for boys and young men of color. These communities focus on reducing youth violence, enhancing mentorship programs, and supporting educational achievement. As of May 2024, the MBK Alliance had recognized four MBK Model Communities for their commitment to the initiative's milestones: *
Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...
*
Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...
* Tulsa, Oklahoma *
Yonkers, New York Yonkers () is the List of municipalities in New York, third-most populous city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and the most-populous City (New York), city in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County. A centrally locate ...


Community engagement and impact

Nearly 250 MBK Communities have participated in the My Brother's Keeper Community Challenge. The alliance provides these communities with resources, tools, and opportunities to share best practices and scale effective interventions.


See also

*
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to "create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth". Adult volunteers are matched with children from ag ...
* 100 Black Men of America


References

{{Reflist Race in the United States Government programs Private aid programs 2014 establishments in the United States