President Obama unveils his “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative today. It’s goal is to find ways for “business and civic leaders to help keep young black men and other men of color on a successful course”.
The centerpiece of the effort is a presidential task force led by Broderick Johnson, the secretary of Mr. Obama’s cabinet. The task force will recommend programs that should be expanded or created to help young black men meet their potential.
Leaders from more than a dozen nonprofit groups will join the president in the East Room on Thursday afternoon as the initiative is announced, including representatives of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the California Endowment, the Ford Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Others include Magic Johnson from Magic Johnson Enterprises, Glenn Hutchins of Silver Lake Partners, Adam Silver of the National Basketball Association and Thomas Tull of Legendary Entertainment. Gen. Colin Powell, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York.
The foundations are pledging $200 million over the next five years in a search for solutions to problems such as early-childhood development, educational opportunities, school readiness and discipline, parenting, and the criminal justice system.
We’d like to suggest the following that could be done now and at very little cost: The African Americans and 12 Years a Slave for example should be required reading and viewing for every child in every school in every state in this country, as part of American History, Civics, etc.
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