LOUISVILLE, Ky., – Mayor Greg Fischer was the lead sponsor of a resolution approved this week by the nation’s mayors pledging continued support for a national initiative to help young men and boys of color stay on track with education and community engagement.
The resolution, approved by mayors attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting in San Francisco, aims to bolster nationwide support for the “My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Challenge,” launched by President Obama in 2014.
“We know the critical importance of ensuring that every child, regardless of color, neighborhood or family situation has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Fischer said. “Through this resolution we hope to encourage communities nationwide to fully embrace the MBK Challenge as we have in Louisville, so our nation and all its children can achieve maximum potential.”
In September 2014, Louisville was one of the first cities to accept the MBK Challenge and Fischer noted that the milestones of the challenge overlap with work already occurring in Louisville led by the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and the Cradle to Career lifelong learning initiative.
The challenge is a call to action for communities to enact sustainable change regarding education and career readiness, ensuring all young people can reach their full potential.
Louisville’s initiatives and partnerships to meet the MBK Challenge include:
- 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
- Cultural Passes for children and families
- Out of School Time Coordinating Council
- Street Academy
- Kentucky Youth Career Center.
- Coding at the Beech
- Financial Aid workshop for boys of color
- Mayor’s SummerWorks program
- Right Turn
- Metro Mentors/Be the One Mentor Challenge
- PAL Coalition – Youth Mental Health First Aid.
