My Brother's Keeper
Overview.
My Brother's Keeper is a cross-sector initiative led by the Obama Foundation, and responds to the challenge then-President Barack Obama issued in 2014 to local communities to address opportunity gaps and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. My Brother's Keeper has chapters in more than 250 communities across America, and seeks to build consensus around interventions that address systemic challenges and build brighter futures.
The Treasurer's Office has a role to play in ensuring stronger futures for all Portage County residents, and is serving as the convener for My Brother's Keeper Portage County. You can find additional information below about the issues My Brother's Keeper seeks to address, the framework the program uses to tackle them, and how you can get involved.
Why MBK - Economic Costs of Youth Disadvantage.
A 2015 Report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers lays out very clearly the toll opportunity gaps for young people in America take on our communities and the economy. Disadvantaged youth, and particularly young men of color, face significant disparities in educational attainment, exposure to the criminal justice system, and employment that persist long into adulthood. In addition to their human cost, these disparities hold back the U.S. economy, lowering aggregate earnings, shrinking the labor market, and slowing economic growth.
Portage County is not immune from these gaps. Data from the United Way of Portage County on the so-called "working poor" demonstrate that financial hardship is disproportionally felt in single-parent minority households, and demographic data compiled by the Community Action Council of Portage County show that poverty, unemployment, and negative health impacts fall on the minority community at a more than two-to-one ratio.
The 2015 Report suggests closing these opportunity gaps would result in substantial economic gains:
- Closing the educational attainment gap would result in as much as $170 billion annually in additional wages and an increase in Gross Domestic Product ("GDP") of 1.8 percent.
- Closing the labor participation rate gap would result in an increase in GDP of 2 percent.
- Investing in high-performing youth programs can generate economic returns of more than three times their costs.
By addressing the challenges faced by disadvantaged youth, our community can move toward a future that is more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous for all Portage County residents.
How MBK Works.
My Brother's Keeper utilizes a cross-sector approach to ensure collaborative action engages all parts of our communities.
Local elected leaders champion efforts across departments to shift policies and improve outcomes.
Nonprofit organizations increase the scale of high-quality service offerings from cradle to career.
Business organizations commit resources to support youth and create targeted hiring strategies.
Philanthropy provides sustained financial support.
Residents are engaged and commit time and their voices to shape priorities and initiatives.
My Brother's Keeper roots efforts in six key milestones that research shows are especially predictive of later success, and where interventions have the greatest impact.
Milestone 1: Entering school ready to learn. All children enter school cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally ready.
Milestone 2: Reading at grade level by 3rd Grade. By age 8, all children should be reading at grade level.
Milestone 3: Graduate from high school. All youth should receive a high school education and graduate with skills and tools needed to advance to post-secondary education or a trade school training program.
Milestone 4: Complete post-secondary education or training. Every young person should have the option to pursue postsecondary education and receive a college degree or career training needed to obtain and excel in the jobs of tomorrow.
Milestone 5: Successfully entering the workforce. Anyone who wants a job should be able to get a job that allows them to support themselves and their families.
Milestone 6: Keeping kids safe - and providing second chances. All young people should be safe from violent crime, and individuals who are confined should receive the education, training and treatment needed to prepare them for a second chance.
Although the factors that influence success at each stage of life are complex and interdependent, by focusing on these milestones, doing what works, and removing or avoiding roadblocks communities can provide young people the tools they need to get ahead. My Brother's Keeper supports those efforts by providing models for successful interventions, mentorship programming, convening opportunities and training resources to empower local communities to build brighter futures.
MBK Portage County Partners.
My Brother's Keeper is a collaborative community effort. We are proud to partner with the following organizations who have accepted the "My Brother's Keeper Challenge" and committed to joining us in this work.
Community Action Council of Portage County
Mental Health & Recovery Board
Minority Community Services, Family & Community Services
Portage County Domestic Relations Court
Portage County Juvenile Court Probation Services
Portage County Treasurer's Office
Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority
Windham Exempted Village School District
This list is in formation, and all are welcome to sign up to be a part of this project. See below to learn more about how you can get involved!
How to Get Involved.
To take the "My Brother's Keeper Challenge" and commit to the work of building a brighter future for young people in Portage County, please complete the survey and intent form below.
My Brother's Keeper Portage County Feedback Survey and Intent Form
If you are a young person age 8 - 21, or work with youth, please consider completing our youth engagement survey! This survey helps us identify how youth experience youth programs in our community, and gives them a chance to tell us what sort of change they wish to see.
My Brother's Keeper Portage County Youth Engagement Survey (Printable)
My Brothers Keeper Portage County Youth Engagement Survey (Online)
Completed forms and surveys should be printed and returned to the Treasurer's Office by mail, 449 S. Meridian St. 1st Floor, Ravenna, OH 44266. Additional options for returning completed forms are available - please call the office at 330-297-3586 for details.
Additional Resources.
To learn more about My Brother's Keeper efforts nationally and elsewhere in the state of Ohio, please use the links below.
MBK Ohio - Statewide coalition of MBK chapters.
My Brother's Keeper Alliance - Resources for MBK chapters nationally, courtesy of the Obama Foundation.