My Brother's Keeper

“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.

CEA/MBK report

New Report: Economic Costs of Youth Disadvantage, and High-Return Opportunities for Change
A new 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.

Read the full report here.

Expanding Opportunity Works
The President discusses My Brother's Keeper and the importance of expanding opportunity, at an event hosted by the MBK Alliance, an independent nonprofit organization. Watch here:

Read more in a blog post from Broderick Johnson, Chair of the My Brother's Keeper Task Force.

My Brother's Keeper Celebrates Its First Anniversary

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:

  1. Accept the President’s Challenge
  2. Convene a “Local Action Summit” to build an MBK Community
  3. Conduct a policy review and form recommendations for action
  4. Launch a plan of action, next steps and a timetable for review

Learn More

See If Your Community Has Taken the Challenge

Sign Up to Be a Mentor

Commit to making a difference by pledging to mentor a young person in your community.
Get started at Serve.gov/mentor

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:

  • 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.

    Learn more about the My Brother's Keeper initiative.

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.

Resources

Recent Blog Posts