Summer Updates: Summer Camp Kickoff, Our 4-Year Anniversary, The Soundtrack of My Life, and More
Dear community. We hope you’re taking care of yourself this summer and finding some time for peace and restoration. We have many new updates to report from the B.R.O. Experience world. We’ve been reflecting a lot on what it means to care for young men of color in ways that are uplifting, sustainable, and just – especially since July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
This summer newsletter has the latest on Little BRO Summer Camp, new grants we won, our 4-year anniversary event, and an amazingly creative book created by our Behind the Bars cohort. We also continue to mourn the tragic loss of Brandon Dubois, a graduate of the BRO Project who lost his life to gun violence in May.
Little BRO Summer Camp Donor Drive
As you surely know by now, we’re running a donor drive for this year’s Little BRO Summer Camp. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. The campaign ends on Monday, July 22nd and we’re less than $1000 away from our $10,000 goal! If you haven’t pitched in, consider making a $25 donation – or if you’re feeling like a hero, take us to the finish line.
The campaign page has a lot of great details and facts about the design of our Little BRO programs and the benefits this kind of work delivers. Thank you BK Reader for the recent press coverage!
This week we interviewed two of our rising Little BRO educators, Jayvon and Djibril, on why they’re passionate about working with young learners. You can read their insights here (When Mentees Become Mentors).
Djibril: “I feel like the future rests on how much change we want to see in the next generation of black children. If we show no initiative, the children definitely see that and so the next generation will have the same problem. This program is wired to have a positive change in the black community.”
Celebrating our 4th Anniversary and “The Room Where It Happens”
Four years has felt like both an eternity and the blink of an eye. To celebrate our birthday, The BRO Space was filled with the most amazing outpouring of creativity, interaction, and community solidarity. Our culminating event showcased a selection of creative works by our young men, and we debuted the latest book from the brilliant minds in our Behind the Bars program. Scroll through the amazing photos from the night here.
Soundtrack of My Life, Vol. 1
Our most recent cohort of the Behind the Bars program, conducted at Brownsville Academy High School, culminated in a book of powerful writings and images created by our young men. Browse this literary mixtape, read the reflections, and think about the lyrics that speak to your life journey. (View the full book here)
Remembering Brandon Dubois
On May 20th, 24-year-old Brandon Dubois was fatally shot in Brooklyn. Brandon was a participant in our first BRO Project cohort and he earned his certificate of completion in a ceremony at The BRO Space just three days before his death. We mourn such a tragic loss and our hearts are with Brandon’s family and loved ones.
In the aftermath, Barry wrote a reflection on this tragedy, the one-sided coverage in the press, and the need for systems that support instead of vilify young men like Brandon.
“It is essential to understand that Brandon’s run-ins with the law were part of a larger narrative of systemic failure. Our society spends billions of dollars each year to keep people incarcerated but fails to invest adequately in their rehabilitation and social-emotional support... Through our work, we have seen firsthand the incredible transformations that are possible when individuals are given a second chance and the resources they need to succeed.”
Barry also wrote a poem dedicated to Brandon, “I Wish I Could Get Mondays Back”
Funding News
Two new grants this summer will help grow and sustain the BRO Experience mission. We’re honored to be a grantee of this year’s MetLife Foundation Community Impact Grant, Empowering NYC Young Men of Color Initiative. Thank you, MetLife!
And the van Ameringen Foundation made a three-year commitment to support our work, which is especially validating given their longtime focus on mental health in underserved communities. Founded in 1950, van Ameringen funds “prevention, education, and direct care” in the name of mental health for those with limited access, along with “advocacy efforts to achieve systems change locally and nationally.” Thank you van Ameringen for believing in us and backing the vision.
Welcoming New Team Members
As the work expands so does our team, and we welcome three new BRO team members. Anecia Henry spearheads The BRO Space and BRO Project initiatives, designing curriculum, running programming, and more. Darnell Bowers first joined us as a program participant and recently began his journey as a BRO X co-facilitator. And Brian Equinda started with us interning via his Master’s in social work at Fordham and is now expanding into executive support. Congrats and welcome!
Help Us Stay Strong
None of this is possible without the support of our community members. Your donation provides essential fundings, and it’s also a vote that says: “I support positive growth and justice for young men of color.”
Become a recurring donor, or support the Little BRO Summer Camp fundraiser. Either way you’re making a difference.
Facts:
about 25% of African Americans seek mental health treatment
compared to 40% of white Americans
(source)