My Brother’s Keeper

My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) is a New York State Education Department (NYSED) grant program that advances the educational, cultural, social, and mental well-being of students, with a particular emphasis on boys and young men of color. The program began with an interagency federal task force created by President Barack Obama in 2014, and New York State was the first to enact the initiative into law with the adoption of the 2016-2017 State budget. The Ellenville Central School District (ECSD) was awarded a Family & Community Engagement grant to participate in the My Brother’s Keeper program in 2016, and Deputy Superintendent Kelly White serves as the District’s administrative leader for the program.The goal of My Brother’s Keeper is to create a strong school, community, and family foundation while increasing academic achievement. National milestones set for the program include:

  • Entering school ready to learn;

  • Reading at grade level by Grade 3;

  • Graduate from High School;

  • Complete post-secondary education or training;

  • All out-of-school youth are employed; and

  • All youth remain safe from violent crime.

In addition to these, NYSED is committed to the following goals:

  • Ensuring equitable access to high-quality schools and programs;

  • Expanding prevention, early warning, and intervention services;

  • Using differentiated approaches based on need and culture;

  • Responding to structural and institutional racism;

  • Making comprehensive and coordinated support services widely available; and

  • Engaging families and communities in a trusted and respectful way.

Students listening

Highlights of the Ellenville MBK  program include a School & Community Coordinator  to bridge the gap between school and families. This includes providing information on attendance and learning, resources, and literature to parents, and offering assistance with technology needed to support learning. 

Another facet of the program is community engagement. A provision of the grant requires community organizations and local businesses to come together and serve as an external support system for students after the educational day is over. Currently, the Ellenville Public Library and Museum, the Mayor’s Office in the Village of Ellenville, Ulster BOCES, the Ulster County Youth Bureau, and the Ellenville NAACP partner to fulfill this need. 

The MBK Program and its milestones are the basis for Ellenville’s School & Community Engagement Programs, which provide connections between students, families, and the community and promote the creation of healthy opportunities for youth.

CONTACT US

Frank Mulhern
School & Community Engagement Coordinator