The capital city on Wednesday answered President Obama's call to become "MBK Communities"
TRENTON -- The capital city on Wednesday answered President Obama's call to improve the lives of boys and young men of color by launching his "My Brother's Keeper" initiative.
"This is about doing what is smart for our youth and, I dare say, what is right for our youth," Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson said to a packed council chambers. "Anyone concerned with the economic vitality of our community, our families, our neighborhoods and our country know that empowering youth, including boys and young men of color, is an investment in our shared future and our collective prosperity."
In February 2014, Obama announced the launch of "My Brother's Keeper," which brought together private foundations and companies to support programs aimed at helping young minority men develop mentoring relationships, steer clear of violence, improve grade-level reading skills and graduation rates and become prepared for college and careers.
He later called on cities and towns across the country to become "MBK Communities" and implement a "cradle-to-college-and-career strategy" to improve the lives of youth.
"Our overarching goal is to ensure that all young people in our great city have a shot at reaching their full and complete potential," Jackson said.
The "Capital City My Brother's Keeper" will focus on three areas: childhood literacy, chronic absenteeism in Trenton's public schools and the employability of young men ages 16 to 25.
For months, a pre-launch committee has been meeting and gathering research. The group includes leaders from the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State College, the I Am Trenton community foundation, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the Latino Clergy of Trenton, the Capital City Community Coalition, the Living Hope Church and Empowerment Center and Friendship Baptist Church.
Barbara George-Johnson, executive director of the Watson Institute, called on the more than 150 people in attendance to become a part of the process.
"The more that we can collaborate, the more that we can leverage our resources in the City of Trenton, the better that we will be able to serve the young men in this city," she said. "This is not just the mayor's campaign. This is the City of Trenton's campaign.... Everyone has to come around the table and figure out how they can participate very actively in this process."
Abiezel Raices, 30, and Elijah Dixon, 23, will be the faces of the program. Raices, who was involved in gangs and drugs, turned his life around and starting ministering 13 years ago.
"The weak moments in my life are what speak most because not only did I go through them, but I was able to get up and succeed even though I fell," he said. "I had dreams that I would ... impact the community to empower themselves and do much greater."
Dixon, who dropped out of Rutgers University shortly after transferring from Mercer County Community College, now works as the community outreach coordinator at Isles, Inc. He said he set out to be a "seed" for others and urged the crowd to be each other's "brother's keeper."
"Whether it be someone you met last week, last year or someone you never met, make it a priority," he said. "Do whatever you can."
City activist Darren "Freedom" Green praised the new initiative and said it was much-needed, citing the recent homicides of 19-year-old Elvin Kimble and 30-year-old Brion Greenfield. Both were young black males and neither one had their high school diploma.
"When you have an initiative that is working on all of the critical areas that our young black and brown males are suffering from, whether it's a fatherhood figure, whether it's a mentoring component, whether it's having a value for education ... that's an outstanding initiative," he said.
Green said he liked that the success of the program was the city's collective responsibility.
"So many times in impoverished communities, we throw it on the leadership, but it's not on the leadership," he said. "It's the people who are just working as ordinary people working with the leadership to make the city better."
Among the next steps is a local action summit on Jan. 27, where the community will come together to assess needs, determine priorities and set concrete goals. Those interested in attending should contact Shoshanna Page at spage@tesc.edu or 609-777-4351, ext. 4265.
A formal action plan is expected to be publicly announced by June 24.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.