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Mariko Lockhart and Gregory Davis at the White House for My Brother's Keeper
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MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
On February 12, 2015, South Seattle community activist Gregory Davis and SYVPI Director Mariko Lockhart joined representatives from 78 communities and 32 states at the White House to attend a summit for communities across the nation that have accepted President Obama's My Brother's Keeper Challenge.
The President's Chief of Staff Valerie Jarrett and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder shared opening remarks with the historic gathering expressing their enthusiasm and pride in the important work being conducted around the country to eliminate the opportunity gaps that exist for boys and young men of color.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER
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Attorney General Eric Holder
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Eric Holder said that this administration is "firmly dedicated to supporting you in any way that we can" for communities coming together to take ownership of these unique challenges and to implement locally tailored solutions.
The MBK challenge includes cradle to college/career strategies to improve life outcomes of all young people. He said that while "Deep divides and historic inequities will not be erased overnight...by standing and working together we will continue to build trust and promote opportunity while decreasing crime and violence." Our youth "need and deserve" our efforts.
Eric Holder stated in his parting comments: Your continued involvement will be vital if we are to empower our young people to lift themselves to greater success, to bolster the ties between disparate communities and to strengthen our neighborhoods..."
TAJ ATKINSON - MY BROTHER'S KEEPER YOUTH AMBASSADOR
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MBK Youth Ambassador Taj Atkinson |
A highlight of the summit was a youth panel featuring Taj Atkinson, My Brother's Keeper Ambassador and current Newark Central High School senior. In his opening remarks, this inspiring student Taj Atkinson said:
My Brother's Keeper is important to me because it has provided me with the opportunity to adjust and reach my goals of engaging youth in my community. [...] My experience with MBK has been truly amazing and life-changing because it allows me and my peers to engage with others to help us make better life choices.
It was an especially moving moment for Mariko Lockhart as she spent many years working in Newark and specifically with Central High School students.
JOINING MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Gregory Davis identified the value of aligning community efforts to eliminate opportunity gaps with the My Brother's Keeper Initiative because it:
- Represents a next level to connect our stories to a presidential initiative
- Will expand and extend our platform
- Aligns us with a national movement
- Creates a pathway to secure a variety of resources to scale our program
- Presents a way to put infrastructure support and people in place to impact work
- Supports the identification of existing resources and connects people to them
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Tacoma Delegation including Victoria Woodards, Deputy Mayor City of Tacoma, Michael Smith, Special Assistant to the President, Gregory Davis and Mariko Lockhart
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A POWERFUL MOMENT
Mariko noted that what was most powerful to her about the experience was to witness this historic event with a room full of people of color, many of them African American men, in the White House gathered together to learn how to address these urgent issues. "The White House representatives and the incredible effort made to convene this group demonstrated a truly heartfelt and authentic commitment to this cause. We truly have support from the highest office in the land."