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Hi there, Ten years ago today, I launched one of the most important initiatives of my presidency – My Brother’s Keeper – which lives on today as the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance at the Obama Foundation.  MBK began with the simple idea that every boy or young man of color in America should know that their dreams matter as much as any other child’s. A decade later, that idea still drives the MBK Alliance, which has grown to include over a hundred communities across the country.  Today, I’d like to introduce you to two of the first MBK mentees – Jerron and Noah – whose incredible stories show what’s possible when we invest in young people.

I met Jerron and Noah at the White House. You can see both of them in the photo above, which was taken as we were on our way to the basketball court on the South Lawn to play an impromptu round of HORSE.  Jerron and Noah, both DC-area high school students at the time, were at a crossroads when they joined the first group of MBK mentees. Noah was turning things around after being in the juvenile justice system for years, but didn’t see college as an option. Jerron, soon to become a first-generation high school graduate, had trouble picturing what could come next.  MBK helped them navigate a pivotal time in their lives. The program offered them workshops in the Roosevelt Room, mentors to provide guidance and encouragement, and of course some pickup basketball on the White House court. Both Jerron and Noah credit their mentors in particular with helping them get their lives on the right track. From getting into college, to securing internships, to beginning a career, Jerron and Noah’s mentors were always in their corner, pushing them and celebrating each milestone by their side.  And their involvement with MBK didn’t end when they graduated high school. Both Jerron and Noah spent time interning with or working for MBK, and they’re still involved in their own communities – helping young men like them reach their full potential.  To hear more of their own story in their own words, please check out the full feature here. Since the day I met Jerron and Noah, an entire generation of boys and young men of color have gone through this program. We've heard so many stories of young men who were about to drop out of school and now have a college degree or are leading MBK’s work in their own communities.  Young people today are facing different challenges than they did ten years ago – from the pressures of social media to the lingering effects of the pandemic. But through MBK, we’ll keep working to make sure they know somebody cares about and believes in them.  –Barack DONATE NOW ⓒ 2024 Obama Foundation