CLEVELAND — The Urban League of Greater Cleveland announced today that former President Barack Obama's national initiative, My Brother's Keeper, is expanding to the Cleveland area.
The Urban League has been working closely with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office to find the exact combination of tools and resources to launch the program, which was introduced by The White House in February 2014.
The purpose of this project is to address the continual opportunity gaps that boys and young men of color face and assure that all youth reach their full potential. Joining this initiative as funding partners are the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Foundation.
In a press video, Marsha A. Mockabee, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland said the effort "wouldn’t be possible without our funding partners, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have committed five years of funding, significant funding for this project, joining the Cleveland Foundation who thus far has committed for two years.”
Serving as managing partner for the project is the Urban League, which has a long history of assisting people with gaining access to community resources and tools. The organzation was established in 1917 to help families moving from the South to urban cities in the North. Some of the issues that the Urban League of Greater Cleveland helps to address are housing discrimination, limited access to jobs, quality education and more. And the My Brother’s Keeper Greater Cleveland Chapter is now another avenue to help our community and its young people reach success.
“We know there is a great need for our young people today with COVID-19 impacting the way in which they are going to school and experiencing interaction with their peers," Mockabee said. "Reverend Stanley Miller and I are happy to be in this partnership to bring vital additional programming to our area.”
Cleveland participants will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of careers including Construction, Healthcare, Information Technology, Financial Services and Cosmetology. The new program will build on the Urban League's existing efforts to create career pathways for youths and help them stay in engaged in their education.
“We know the need is great for our young people today. They are disconnected. They are working virtually. They are missing their friends. We know that the kind of services that we will be bringing in the first quarter of 2021 will be just the kind of projects that will help them get reengaged, reinvigorated and connected to our community," Mockabee said.
There are currently 11 My Brother’s Keeper chapters in Ohio. Each one has its own focus, while providing weekly instruction and events for students.
For more information on My Brother's Keeper Greater Cleveland Chapter, call 216-706-2230.