Baton Rouge, La. — April 8, 2021 — Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced Thursday the launch of the Baton Rouge chapter of My Brother’s Keeper (MBK); MBK will exist as a partnership with the Office of Community Development and Safe, Hopeful, Healthy BR.
The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance is an initiative from President Barack Obama which aims to address opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color, with the goal of ensuring all youth can reach their full potential.
“It is incumbent upon us to take the necessary actions to lay the foundation for a community of peace, prosperity, and progress for every single resident in East Baton Rouge Parish. Now, more than ever, our community is calling upon us to come together to address the systemic opportunity gaps currently facing our Black boys,” said Mayor Broome. “Addressing these issues will foster an environment in which our youth can reach their full potential; this is essential for the prosperity of Baton Rouge.”
MBK is rooted in addressing six key milestones which have been identified as predictive factors of success for young men of color.
The milestones include:
- Getting a healthy start and entering school ready to learn
- Reading at grade level by third grade
- Graduating high school ready for college or careers
- Completing post-secondary education or training
- Successfully entering the workforce
- Keeping youth on track
The Baton Rouge chapter will focus on advancement in three core sectors — workforce, education, and public safety.
“My Brother’s Keeper Baton Rouge’s work is about securing transformative outcomes for our boys and young men of color living in Baton Rouge,” said Luke St. John McKnight, Strategic Lead for My Brother’s Keeper Baton Rouge. “We’re thrilled to be supporting the Mayor’s office on this important initiative. Mayor Broome truly understands ameliorating barriers of opportunity, leads to a better Baton Rouge as a whole, for all to enjoy.”
This collaboration will work to improve opportunity and outcomes for young people by addressing persistent inequities to create and foster a more inclusive economy and community in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Residents can visit mbkbatonrouge.org to sign up for updates on My Brother’s Keeper Baton Rouge.