Mayor Walsh announces newly appointed My Brother's Keeper Advisory Board

The Solutions Session brought together leaders and individuals to advance My Brother's Keeper while celebrating leaders supporting the work of MBK.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday joined leadership from My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Boston and the national My Brother's Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) for a Solution Session to introduce MBK Boston's newly appointed advisory board and celebrate leaders who support the work of MBK. The Solution Session marked a milestone in MBK Boston's work by inviting members of the public to take an active role in supporting its efforts in recruiting mentors and promoting Implicit Bias Training, while promoting solutions that address persistent opportunity gaps faced by young men of color.

"My Brother's Keeper is a powerful engine that aligns all of our work, partnerships and policies toward tearing down barriers that exist for young men of color and unlocking their potential," said Mayor Walsh. "I congratulate all the new members of the board who are joining this movement that is paving the way for more opportunities for our young people, and look forward to continuing this work full-steam ahead."

As part of the Solution Session, three awards were presented to leaders who embody the mission of MBK, and who are active members in promoting and advancing the work of MBK.

The awardees included:

Mel King, My Brother's Keeper Award, for personifying the mission and values of My Brother's Keeper -- dedication to education, social justice, second chances, mentorship and community empowerment.
Greg Hill, Bruce Bolling Emerging Leader Award, for his commitment to elevating young men and boys of color through education, advocacy and leading by example.
Felix D. Arroyo, Felix D. Arroyo Trailblazer Award, for his tireless advocacy and work on behalf of our communities of color and for transforming the City of Boston for future generations of leaders.

"President Obama said during the launch of My Brother's Keeper in May of 2015, "There's nothing, not a single thing, that's more important to the future of America than whether or not...young people all across this country can achieve their dreams." Driven by the exemplary leadership of Mayor Marty Walsh and others , My Brother's Keeper Boston is truly impacting the next generation of leaders," said MBK Alliance Board Chair Broderick Johnson. "Together we must continue to raise our voices - regardless of race, ideology, geography, or socio-economic status - to expand opportunities for boys and young men of color all across the United States."

In addition, Mayor Walsh announced the establishment of the MBK Boston Advisory Board to support and implement activities and initiatives of MBK Boston, and named 16 members to serve on the board. Members of the Advisory Board will serve an initial term of two years, and can be reappointed after the initial term at the discretion of the MBK Boston Director. The newly appointed members include:

Mo Barbosa, Director of Community Engagement Training and Capacity Building - Health Resource In Action
Devin Edwards, Legislative Aid
Joseph Feaster, McKenzie & Associates PC
William Gross, Chief of the Boston Police Department
Malachi Hernandez, Northeastern Student
Marty Martinez, Executive Director at Mass Mentoring
Makeeba McCreary, Schools Managing Director & Sr. Advisor of External Affair at Boston Public Schools
Joel Mora, Education Programs Manager of the Hyde Square Task Force
James Morton, President & CEO YMCA of Greater Boston
Thaddeus Miles, Director of Community Services, MassHousing
Dan Mulhern, Director of The Mayor's Office of Public Safety
Edward Powell, Executive Director of STRIVE /Vice President of Programs - Justice Resource Institute
Marta Rivera, Greater Boston Latino Network
Freddie Velez, Executive Director Youth Options Unlimited (YOU) Boston
Rev. Liz Walker, Minister/The Walker Group
David Wright, Executive Director of the Black Ministerial Alliance

Earlier in the day, a Youth Pre-Solution Session was hosted at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School involving Broderick Johnson, MBK Boston Director Conan Harris and 20 students from the Burke School in a facilitated discussion for participants to share progress, accomplishments and the future direction of MBK.

Mayor Walsh launched MBK Boston in September 2014, accepting President Barack Obama's MBK Community Challenge as part of the White House My Brother's Keeper (MBK) initiative to create positive pathways for youth, especially boys and young men of color. The focus on MBK Boston, as identified through its local action plan, is to support young men of color in graduating from high school ready for college and career; successfully enter the workforce; and reduce youth violence, including providing second chances.

Since it was first established, MBK Boston has:

Partnered with RootCause to release a report, 'Mapping Momentum', that outlines recommended strategic priorities to improve life outcomes for Black and Latino boys and young men based on a scan of 142 surveyed nonprofits in the city.
Launched a mini grant program to support mentorship, creative discussions, and activities by nonprofits and organizations who will direct their efforts toward helping young people of color
Been involved in conversations at a national level regarding MBK Boston, most recently during a visit to the National Museum of African American History in Washington and during President Obama's final MBK White House Summit in December 2016.
Scaled up up Operation Exit by expanding it to include opportunities in the technology industry through a a partnership with Resilient Coders;
Recruited new mentors through the Mayor's mentoring movement,
Continued support of youth summer jobs and meaningful employment

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