My Brother's Keeper Alliance
MBK Rising!
In 2019, MBK Rising! brought together the growing network of MBK Alliance Communities, cross-sector leaders, and young men of color and the organizations working hard to help them achieve their dreams.
John Legend, Singer-songwriter
Alicia Garza, National Domestic Workers’ Alliance and Black Lives Matter
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
MJ Rodriguez, Actress and Activist
Michael B. Jordan, Actor and Producer
Ryan Coogler, Filmmaker
See the full list of speakers here
Experience MBK Rising!
MBK Rising! is a national convening of the MBK Alliance in Oakland, California, that brought together hundreds of young men of color and leaders working to break down barriers that too often leave boys and young men of color at a disadvantage.
Town Hall with President Barack Obama and Steph Curry
President Obama joins a town hall with Steph Curry and young men of color take the opportunity to ask questions about his upbringing, his advice and what he sees as necessary for young people to thrive in America.
MBK Rising! Attendees Talk About their Experience at the Event
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Michelle’s husband.” MBK Rising! kicked off with a dynamic conversation with President Obama, Golden State Warrior Steph Curry that allowed young men of color to take the opportunity to ask questions about their up
Conversation with John Legend, Sybrina Fulton, Congresswoman Lucy McBath, and Rev. Wanda Johnson
John Legend hosts a conversation with mothers whose young sons were tragically killed and are honoring their lives through advocacy and social action: Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; Reverend Wanda Johnson, mother of Oscar Grant, and Congresswom
Native Blessing from Local Tribal Nations: Ohlone, Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo
MBK Rising! kicks off with a native blessing from local tribal nations: Ohlone, Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo.
MBK Rising! Day 2 Welcome
Day 2 of MBK Rising! Kicks off with a gospel choir performance and a warm welcome from our two youth emcees, Senegal Mabry and Rory Wheeler.
Making Hope Real: How Mentorship Alters Lives
Mike Strautmanis, Chief Engagement Officer at the Obama Foundation, shares his inspiring story of how the mentorship of two young Chicago lawyers—Michelle Robinson and her fiancé Barack Obama—changed the trajectory of his life at MBK Rising!
Talking Criminal Justice Reform with Shaka Senghor
New York Times best-selling author and advocate, Shaka Senghor discusses the opportunities and challenges to fixing the criminal justice system at MBK Rising.
Started From the Bottom: Sparking Systems Change in New York and California
MBK Community leaders from New York and California share their approach to scaling and funding the work of My Brother’s Keeper, while also advancing solutions that will lead to long-term systems change.
Interrupting Violence with Zinnia Alejandro, Taller Salud
Zinnia Alejandro, the Executive Director of San Juan’s Taller Salud program talks about her organization’s crucial work to reduce youth violence at MBK Rising! Through the organization’s Acuerdo de Paz (peace accord) program, trained peacemakers are sent
Why Mentors Matter: Diverse Approaches to Mentorship that Lead to Success
In this panel discussion, actor and athlete Victor Cruz and his mentee share their perspective on what makes a successful mentoring relationship. They’re joined on stage by other mentoring pairs who enrich the conversation with the diversity of their appr
Spotlight on Violence Prevention: What’s Working to Keep Our Boys Safe
Winners of the MBK Community Competition share their strategies for keeping young men out of violence in their communities in a conversation moderated by Karol Mason, President of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Panelists include Miguel Cambray, Sam
Reflecting on What We’ve Learned: The Final Words of MBK Rising! With Karamo Brown
Queer Eye's Karamo Brown closes MBK Rising! in conversation with young men of color. He'll lead a discussion with three young men about the challenges they're facing, what it's like to be black or brown in America, and what they need from all of us and ea
The Future is Bright: A Spotlight on Future Leaders of the My Brother’s Keeper Movement
A series of quick monologues with leaders of the field, all of them taking the stage to express what they need to ensure the work for boys and young men of color carries forward.
The Best a Man Can Get: The Gillette Toxic Masculinity Commercial
Damon Jones, Vice President of Global Communications & Advocacy at Procter & Gamble – shares the insight that went into creating the commercial that sparked a national conversation on how to raise boys that respect women, each other, and themselves.
A Crucial Role in the MBK Movement: Women's Role in My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
Women from MBK Communities share how they lift up boys and young men of color fulfill their boundless potential as mothers, sisters, friends, and mentors at MBK Rising!
Elliot Kelly, Jr. at MBK Rising!
MBK Rising! participant and poet, Elliot Kelly, Jr. closed out the event with spoken word and a reminder that we all have a responsibility to lift up and respect the people around us. Elliot was one of 20 young men chosen to attend after entering an event
Our Sisters’ Keeper: The MBK Responsibility to Sisters and the LGBTQ+ Community
In a stimulating conversation moderated by Benjamin Evans of the BMe Black Male Engagement Network, artists, activists, and elected officials discuss toxic masculinity and young men’s responsibility to be their sisters’ keepers at MBK Rising! Panelists in
The Narrative of Change: The Impact of Film and Media on Boys and Young Men of Color
Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan hold a conversation about changing the narrative—combatting erasure and ensuring that people of color are represented and included in the stories we tell, moderated by Rashad Robinson of Color of Change at MBK Rising!
MBK Rising! Day of Service
MBK Rising! kicked off with a community service project at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, allowing attendees to get to know one another as they painted murals, planted gardens, and more. You can learn more about the event and tune in for the l
MBK Rising! Opening
MBK Rising! youth emcees, Noah McQueen and Malachi Hernandez, give a warm welcome in the opening session.
I have power and I can give power.
Kendrick Eagle, MBK Rising! participant
Chief Engagement Officer, Michael Strautmanis, shares his inspiring story of how the mentorship of two young Chicago lawyers—Michelle Robinson and her fiancé Barack Obama—changed the trajectory of his life.
February 18, 2019
President Obama Marks Five-Year Anniversary of My Brother’s Keeper with Reading List
Earlier today, President Obama shared a reading list in lead-up to MBK Rising!, a two-day convening that will bring together in… More
There is a movement and a collective awareness that we are tapping into. My dad set that example for me and I want to be able to give that back."
Steph Curry
MBK Rising! participants kicked off the event with a day of service at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Oakland.
Held in 2022, the MBK Alliance Leadership Forum was a virtual gathering of MBK Communities that are making notable progress to reduce barriers and expand opportunity for boys and young men of color. See the highlights
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See a list of upcoming and past My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Town Halls.
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