Brothers@Bard Hosts National Virtual Event and Panel Discussion April 22 on Closing Opportunity Gaps for Young Men of Color

In the midst of the 2020 global pandemic, waves of nationwide protests prompted urgent and frank conversations about race and social justice in this country. As COVID-19 exacerbated systemic inequalities, the opportunity gaps faced by young people across the country widened at an alarming rate—and yet, 2020 also gave rise to creative problem solving and nimble decision-making like never before. To explore the unique position of youth development and mentorship in communities of color in a post-COVID world, Brothers@ is hosting Closing Opportunity Gaps for Young Men of Color: The State of Mentorship and Youth Development Post-2020, a nationwide virtual event and panel discussion on April 22 from 5:30–6:45 p.m. EST. Panelists will explore, among other issues, how the growing movement in defense of Black lives is affecting inclusion amongst young people trying to successfully navigate and thrive in predominantly white institutions and spaces.

Moderated by Shawn Dove, founder, Corporation for Black Male Achievement, and Brothers@ Cofounder and CEO Dariel Vasquez ’17, panelists for the event include Michael Blake, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee; Brandon Micheal Hall, Activist and star of God Friended Me and HBO’s Search Party; Wes Moore, chief executive officer of Robin Hood Foundation; and Angel Obergh ’23, Brothers@ mentor and campus leader, Bard College. For more information and to register, please click HERE. 

“The opportunity gaps our young people of color face are only widening,” said Vasquez. “This conversation and Brothers@'s work—now happening on a national stage for the first time—are more important than ever.”

“It has been gratifying to see Brothers@ flourish at Bard, home to their flagship program,” said Bard College President Leon Botstein. “The group’s achievements over the past six years on the Bard campus and at neighboring Kingston High School, which include mentoring students and helping to increase graduation rates among young men of color, demonstrate an impressive sense dedication and an innovative spirit,” he said. “We look forward to helping this important program expand to campuses across the country.”

Founded in 2014 at Bard College, Brothers@ is a dual-beneficiary high school retention and college persistence organization with the mission of improving the outcomes of young men of color (YMOC) in both secondary and post-secondary education. Brothers@ improves the outcomes of men of color at Bard College by recruiting, training, and hiring them to be mentors for high schoolers in the local community. Brothers@ mentors form a support system, encouraging each other as they navigate life at Bard and pursue their scholarly, extracurricular, and professional goals. The brotherhood forged through meaningful work is used as a vehicle to provide vital social-emotional, academic and financial support for YMOC at Bard. Through comprehensive mentorship and leadership development, Brothers@ taps into the unique potential of male collegians of color, promoting their ability to provide support and guidance to each other and their high school peers. Ultimately, Brothers@ encourages male collegians of color to “pay it forward,” multiplying the impact of the College’s effort to advance the life outcomes of YMOC throughout the Hudson Valley. Today, Brothers@ works with nearly 200 YMOC annually—recruiting, training, and hiring collegiate men of color to become mentors to YMOC in high school. For information, click here.

About Bard College
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place estate, Bard’s campus consists of nearly 1,000 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; graduate degrees in 11 programs; eight early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 161-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at our main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu. (4/09/21)
 

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/closing-opportunity-gaps-for-young-men-of-color-tickets-147846987319

Download: Closing_Opportunity_Gaps_flyer.pdf

This event was last updated on 04-12-2021

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