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Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson on New York State’s $20 Million Investment in My Brother’s Keeper

Washington, DC, April 6, 2016

“New York is the first state to dedicate funding to support President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative and has secured $20 million in its budget for this effort.


“As a former educator and founder of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence, an in-school mentoring and drop-out prevention program, I have dedicated over 25 years to changing the lives of thousands of at-risk boys and young men of color. Having dedicated a quarter century of my life to this cause, I applauded President Obama when he launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative in 2014.


“For this reason, I tip my hat to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York state legislature for taking this bold step to improve the social status of boys and young men of color in their state. I hope that other states, counties, and cities will follow New York’s lead and invest in the future of our youth through the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.


“I am proud that in February of this year, Miami-Dade County accepted the ‘My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge.’ Great strides have already been made since accepting the challenge, and I look forward to continued progress in the future.

“I also look forward to leading the My Brother’s Keeper Congressional Caucus to shape public policies that will increase opportunities and address barriers to success for boys and young men of color.


“These kinds of commitments will have a positive impact on our nation’s criminal justice, health care, and education systems and help bridge the opportunity gap for generations of boys and young men to come.”

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways.