Niiobli Armah IV, The Obama Foundation:Catch up on our most recent efforts to build safe and supportive communities

 

Hi there, It’s hard to believe it’s almost the end of the year! This fall season, we’re continuing our work to expand pathways to opportunity for our boys and young men of color. Below you’ll find news from the MBK Network, including how local governments and nonprofits have sprung into action to reassess their outreach programs and policy priorities in response to the pandemic. You’ll also hear from dynamic leaders about innovative approaches to create systems change from our Reimagine Policing Workshop and find opportunities to get involved and take action. — Niiobli   MBK COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT MBK Communities are Filling the Gaps During the COVID-19 Pandemic The impact of the pandemic has hit us hard, but MBK Communities have met the moment by stepping up their work and implementing proactive solutions to meet the needs of boys and young men of color. Using local funding and assistance from MBK, individuals and organizations are urgently making a difference   LEARN MORE What Works: The Center at Sierra Health Foundation New Financial Assistance Program Jumpstarts Higher Learning for Students in California MBK Impact Community partner, The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, recently launched the “Improve Your Tomorrow College for All” initiative. Upon enrollment to the University of California, Davis or California State University, Sacramento, students who opt into this program will be eligible to receive a $3,000 scholarship, paid fellowship opportunities, and potential educational awards to supplement the costs of college tuition. 170 young men of color will make up the first cohort of this campaign starting this fall.   LEARN MORE CNN Feature on My Brother’s Keeper President Obama Chats with Five Young Men President Barack Obama and CNN's Anderson Cooper joined a group of young men in Chicago to discuss their experience with our Becoming A Man program. Watch their full conversation and learn more about the potential we’re seeing through programs like these.   LEARN MORE MBK YOUTH SPOTLIGHT MBK Young Leader Spotlight: Thaddeus Jones Jr. Finding Restoration and Brotherhood in Big Sky Thaddeus Jones Jr., a C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring program participant and incoming sophomore at Columbia College in Chicago, traveled to Big Sky, Montana with four other young men from MBK Chicago partner organizations to participate in Capital One’s The Match, a premier live golf event. Watch Thaddeus speak with Good Day Chicago about how the opportunity provided a chance for him to learn new skills and gain new mentors from an extended network.   LEARN MORE MBK Alliance Curated Funding Opportunities Visit this new page for MBK Community leaders or anyone seeking funding for their work. Funding opportunities are from a diverse array of funders from across sectors, as well as tools, grant maker profiles and tips that can help enhance your work. Opportunities are updated monthly, so check back often.    LEARN MORE “We often say people closest to the problem should be closest to the solution, but imagine if you're trying to solve something with the same tool, over and over again. What we need to do is equip our communities with more tools, and then give the money to actually solve the problem.”   —James Brodick Director of Community Development and Crime Prevention at the Center for Court Innovation Our recent Reimagine Policing Workshop, “Money for Change,” provided a forum for mayors offices and partners to hear from leading practitioners on how they can find dollars to support all aspects of policing and public safety reform—from planning and data collection, to pilots and staffing. This virtual event was part of our ongoing series hosted in partnership with Cities United and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to provide educational tools and analysis on the spectrum of policing and public safety options, alternative public safety models, and community-centered review processes.   LEARN MORE

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT     MUST READ: The 2020 Obama Foundation Annual Report is here.  Enterprise supports MBK Alliance and nearly 700 other like-minded organizations with $20M as part of their commitment to young people of color in underserved communities.  We Are Hiring! Learn more about MBK Alliances’s open roles and apply today to join our team. Educators open the doors of possibility to our children. Check out this inspiring video about Chicago Public Schools teacher Monique Thorpe, who got a surprise call from President Obama. ​Explore how you can help build the Obama Presidential Center, including construction job and training opportunities.   If You Want to Stand for Something, Stand for Someone Sign up to become a mentor.   BECOME A MENTOR