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NEWS IN THE SCHOOLS
Yonkers Public
Schools joined the national
My Brother’s Keeper movement on
September 21, 2016, after Yonkers Mayor
Mike Spano accepted President Obama’s
Community Challenge to “improve the life outcomes
of boys and young men of color.”
Upon enthusiastically accepting the challenge, Mayor
Spano tapped Yonkers Schools Superintendent Dr.
Edwin M. Quezada and the Executive Director of the
Nepperhan Community Center, Rev. Dr. Jim Bostic, as
co-chairs of Yonkers MBK. They lead Yonkers MBK
in collaboration with Yonkers Thrives.
Here is what has been happening with My
Brother’s Keeper in Yonkers Public
Schools Since September.
SI
NCE SEPTEMBER
Yonkers students created the tagline “Innovating the Youth” to
capture the spirit of the MBK movement which seeks to
transform the realities of all young people.
MBK Closet Bursts at the Seams
Yonkers students and families who face economic challenges,
including losing their homes to fire, find comfort and much-needed
clothing in Yonkers Schools’ Donation Closet. The “closet” has been
around for years.
Since Yonkers joined the My Brother’s Keeper movement nine
months ago, the amount of clothing donations has increased tenfold.
The closet is now a hub where students suit up for interviews,
prom-goers pick up dresses and families continue to find
support.
“Word-of-mouth publicity through MBK has helped. It’s taken on a
life of its own,” said Eileen Torres a longtime Roosevelt High
School social worker who runs the operation out of the school.
Yonkers MBK seeks to improve life opportunities for boys and
young men of color through mentoring and many other means of
support. For older students, job readiness -- including dressing
appropriately for interviews -- is part of the program.
Now known as the Yonkers MBK Dress for Success Closet, the
operation occupies a vast art room packed with racks, shelves and
tables full of donated garments. It has a private changing area for
those who need it. Since becoming part of Yonkers MBK, the
selection of suits, ties and dresses has expanded dramatically.
Retailers such as Epstein’s in Tuckahoe and Bari Jay in New York
City have donated new shirts and
HOW TO HELP Who manages the closet? Eileen Torres
What is needed? • New dress socks, undershirts • New or gently
used dress shoes • Gently used clean clothing, including suits,
skirts, blouses and dresses for interviews
Where do I drop off donations?
Roosevelt High School, 631 Tuckahoe Road,Yonkers, NY 10710
When?
Between 8am and 3pm. If you cannot drop off during these hours,
call the school at (914) 376-8118 and ask for Eileen Torres to
arrange a different time.
How?
Just walk up to the main entrance and say that you have
donations for the closet. Please bring your photo ID.
Why?
You’ll be helping college-bound and job-seeking students, as
well as Yonkers families in need of a helping hand.
YEAR 1 • SINCE SEPTEMBER
continued on page 6
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Just weeks after Yonkers joined the national My Brother’s Keeper
movement in September, Roosevelt High School held its first MBK
event - a visit to Baruch College in Manhattan.
About 18 Roosevelt MBK students visited New York City’s Expanded
Success Initiative, an educational branch of New York City Mayor
Bill DeBlasio’s Young Men’s Initiative which “uses new ideas and
creative solutions to tackle the educational achievement gap and
increase the number of Black and Latino young men who graduate high
school prepared to succeed in college and careers.”
Students watched the Marc Silver documentary “3 ½ Minutes, 10
Bullets” about the murder trial of Michael Dunn, a middle-aged
white man who shot and killed Jordan Davis, a 17-year-old black
teenager in Florida.
The Expanded Success Initiative facilitated discussion after the
viewing. Roosevelt’s MBK students shared their feelings and
discussed issues that resonated with them.
OCTOBER 2016
Eight Roosevelt High School students attended the African
American Men of Westchester’s Annual Youth Business Skills
Competition in October. Representing Roosevelt’s MBK leadership
team, eight brothers engaged in a collaborative group task with a
Morgan Stanley professional. MBK student leaders Barry Rowe, David
Rivera, Dwain Folkes, Sherman Bray, Daniel Santana, Tralen
O’Banner, HyNeff Dunkley and Justin Esty represented Roosevelt.
The group analyzed the Uber taxi service and created a
presentation highlighting the pros and cons of Uber’s business.
NOVEMBER 2016
Ten students from Roosevelt’s MBK lent a helping hand at the
Nepperhan Community Center, preparing, packing and distributing
more than 100 free Thanksgiving meals to needy families in Yonkers
in the days before Thanksgiving. Each meal box included a
Roosevelt MBK Reaches Beyond Yonkers By Sony Grandoit, Assistant
Principal and Christopher Lopez, Teacher
12-pound turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, bread
and gravy, and could serve up to 10 people.
The Roosevelt MBK brothers dove right into packing, handing out
and transporting packages to feed and bring support to families in
need.
The brothers also shared a few words with Rev. Dr. Jim Bostic,
Nepperhan’s Executive Director, state Senator Andrea
Stewart-Cousins and other Yonkers officials.
DECEMBER 2016
Roosevelt MBK held a canned food drive during the month of
December called “Lunch for the Cause.”
Brothers who brought in more than 20 cans were rewarded with a
Latino cuisine lunch with MBK advisors, Assistant Principal Sony
Grandoit and teacher Christopher Lopez. MBK brothers HyNeff
Dunkley, Thanoon Thabet, John Lantigua, Aaron
McCorvey, David Tinajero and Micheal Ascencio all contributed
enough cans to enjoy lunch with two of their advisors.
JANUARY 2017
January was “Style Education Month” for Roosevelt’s MBK.
Brothers learned how to tie a tie and dress appropriately for a
variety of events, such as job and college interviews.
FEBRUARY 2017
Our brothers volunteered to tutor English as a New Language
students in the Yonkers International Academy. Two brothers, Helio
Carrillo and Muneeb Baig served as after school Earth Science
tutors.
Four members Roosevelt High School’s My Brother’s Keeper
leadership team imbued the school’s Black History Month Assembly
with poise and passion.
They performed a moving spoken word reading of Daniel Beaty’s
poem “Knock Knock” which reflects the author’s childhood experience
of temporarily losing his father to incarceration. The four
students, Barry Rowe, Aaron McCovey, Justin Patterson and Helio
Carrillo “knocked down the house,” bringing the crowd of about 400
to their feet with applause.
Other groups of Roosevelt students performed during the
assembly. The student woodwind band entertained with several pieces
that were composed by African American musicians.
Students and teachers sang several soulful numbers to roaring
applause.
Guest speakers, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Andrea Coddett and
teacher Cristina
Doley, enlightened and encouraged the students on the continued
struggles and progress of African Americans.
MAY 2017 Bonding, Brotherhood, and Barbecue: Roosevelt MBK
brothers and their advisors enjoyed mountains of hamburgers at a
May MBK barbecue. Brothers also shared home-cooked food from a
variety of countries.
Roosevelt MBK Advisors: Assistant Principal Sony Grandoit and
teachers Jaime Morales and Christopher Lopez.
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The brothers of Yonkers Middle High School’s MBK put their
hearts into every detail of their May 5th Mother’s Day
Breakfast.
They invited keynote speaker State Senator Andrea
Stewart-Cousins; they chose the table decorations (black table
cloths with gold accents); they invited a few special women as
surrogate moms to sit with brothers whose mothers couldn’t attend;
and they selected the menu – scrambled eggs, sausage, pan-cakes and
French toast.
“I picked the French toast because she really likes it,” said
11th grader Na-than Collins, motioning to his mother Shannon.
“Through MBK, I’ve watched my young son blossom into a very
strong young man who has more of a sense of direc-tion and can
mentor other young men,” Ms. Collins said. “I’m very pleased with
the program.”
Developing thoughtful leadership is part of YMHS’ MBK program,
which has 37 members in grades seven through 12, according to
Assistant Principal Alexan-dria Connally, the group’s advisor.
“I often tell my students they have greatness inside of them,”
Ms. Connally said. “They can be great successes or they can be
great failures. It is up to them to choose.”
Following this theme, on April 27, the YMHS brothers visited the
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Cul-ture, a Harlem-based
branch of the New York Public Library. During their visit, students
learned about the life of the late Arthur Schomburg, the venerated
histo-rian and collector of books on Black people, culture and
history. In addition, students visited an exhibit about Black
Power.
“We learned about Malcolm X and the Civil Rights move-ment,”
said Nathan Collins, who was honored as YMHS MBK’s Leader of the
Year at the breakfast.
Earlier in April, Nathan organized a financial literacy session
with two Wells Fargo bank professionals who visited MBK brothers at
YMHS. Mortgage broker Irene Aponte and Michael Waite, a personal
banker, shared with the students the importance of creating a
budget, saving for college and manag-ing credit. Students created a
spending plan based on their allowance or part-time job pay. Ms.
Aponte also explained
the process and purpose of setting up a checking and saving
account.
Jason Hutchins, a 10th grader attend-ing the Mother’s Day
breakfast said he learned a lot from the visit including “how to
start saving and how to get a credit card under 18.”
Jason’s mother, Marlene Hutchins, said MBK helped her son
overcome shyness. “He seems more responsible and more willing and
able to do anything.”
Ms. Hutchins, whose job as a nurse’s assistant often keeps her
away from home, said she is grateful that her son has a positive
group to spend time with and learn from after school.
“They help each other out. They need some form of guidance,
especially in this society now,” she said.
During breakfast, Senator Stew-art-Cousins walked among the
brothers, explaining the importance of voting and sharing tales of
perseverance – Senator Stewart-Cousins lost her first Senate run by
18 votes. Disappointed but unde-terred, she ran again and won.
Nearly all of the MBK brothers knew the origins of the My
Brother’s Keeper movement – that it was launched by former
President Barak Obama.
Said Senator Stewart-Cousins, “Each of you is extending the
legacy of the 44th President. You are the keepers of the
flame.”
Yonkers Middle High School MBK Mother’s Day Breakfast
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YMHS’s MBK members also informally mentor each other -- students
in grade 11 mentor brothers in grade 8. YMHS’s mentoring efforts
support Yonkers MBK’s Milestone 2 -- Ensure all children read at
grade level by third grade and Milestone 3 -- Ensure all youth
graduate from high school.
Separately, several MBK brothers shared their experiences as
college-bound high school students with YMHS middle school students
at the Early College Awareness Program, sponsored by the
Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Westchester, This annual District event,
supervised by Jade Sharp, Principal, Districtwide Guidance, took
place on April 22.
Older students shared the importance of academic success in
relation to college readiness and gave some practical advice about
time management, organizational skills and study habits. This
program aims to inform eighth and ninth graders about
YMHS MBK Learns Mentorship and Advocacy By Alexandria Connally,
Assistant Principal
the necessary curricular and financial requirements as well as
resources available in high school to help them finance a
post-secondary education at any college.
#Fund2Rebuild Encouraged by advisors to practice advocating for
themselves, YMHS’s MBK brothers organized a Rebuild Yonkers Schools
Rally, held on April 26. The rally, whose theme was “Civic
Responsibility,” supported a new initiative to rebuild Yonkers
school buildings, put forth by Mayor Mike Spano, the Yonkers City
Council and the Yonkers Board of Education. Yonkers is asking the
State for a partnership that’s consistent with the successful
reconstruction programs in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.
Students were encouraged to use hashtags such as #Fund2Rebuild on
social media to reach out to the New York State legislative and
executive branches.
At Yonkers Middle High School, MBK brothers are encouraged to
help others through mentorship and help themselves through
advocacy.
Yonkers Middle High School’s MBK partnered with Enrico Fermi
School (grades pre-K through 8) this year to develop a cross-age
tutoring program. Many of the 37 MBK brothers visit Enrico Fermi a
few days a week to offer homework help and mentor younger children.
This program allows elementary students to have role models and
become better informed about the high school experience. YMHS
brothers develop leadership skills and an increased sense of
accountability. When asked how the program is going, 11th grader
Lord Mintah said, “It is a pleasure to work with such creative
students. It makes me feel good about myself.”
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Fu
tu
re L
ea
der
s A
ca
dem
y
In order to get 70 students to voluntarily spend six Saturdays
in school, organizers of MBK’s Future Leaders Academy knew it had
to be seriously fun. The program for potentially at-risk young men
is designed to empower them to learn leadership, real world skills,
seed an interest in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) and,
for some, begin to beat box like a pro. Yonkers native Nick
Flammia, a young musician and instructor at Yonkers Youth Theater
Interaction, spends an hour with the students each Saturday,
talking about the music industry and teaching them vocal percussion
or how to use their throats and mouths as drums and cymbals. “They
love it,” said Darryl Mack, Riverside High School’s Assistant
Principal who oversees the Future Leaders Academy as well as his
school’s MBK program. Future Leaders Academy students (grades 7 –
11) from around the district gather at Roosevelt High School –
Early College Studies on Saturdays from April through
June from 9 am to 1pm. By design, they create bonds with MBK
students, teachers and community visitors. In the mornings,
students eat breakfast together and dive into hands-on projects
such as building solar-powered K’nex cars with Roosevelt High
School teachers Gina Garcia-Alvarez and Rachel Mercandante. In
other sessions, students prepare for PSAT tests with Laura Wilson,
owner of Chappaqua-based WilsonPrep tutoring service. Some students
take a one-credit Introduction to Statistics course with an adjunct
professor from the Bronxville-based Concordia College. Assistant
Superintendent RoseAnn Collins-Judon designed the dynamic
curriculum with teachers.At noon, students spend an hour with
empowerment speakers which have included Reverend Abdul Holmes from
the Kingdom Culture Center who talked
continued on page 15
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between literacy skills and incarceration rates.
“We don’t want them building more jail cells,” said 11th grader
Heriberto Ortiz at a Gorton MBK Empowerment Assembly in May.
In the fall, upon learning the connection between early reading
proficiency and life opportunities, students indicated that they
wanted to identify a way to interrupt the “school to prison
pipeline.” Under the guidance of administrators and advisors,
Gorton’s MBK designed a Cross-Age Tutoring Initiative that allows
high school students to improve literacy skills by reading to
students at William Boyce Thompson School and School 9. Gorton
tutors (grades 9-12) are assigned to students (grades 1-3) and
engage them with a literacy activity using culturally relevant
books for 45 minutes once a week.
Gorton MBK Cross-Age Tutoring Changes Lives Through Literacy By
Gail Joyner-White, Principal
Giggles, smiles and hugs from young protégés keep Gorton High
School’s MBK brothers tutoring elementary school students week
after week.
They have a sobering goal in mind when they help with reading
lessons however, keeping young men of color out of jail.
Research reveals a clear connection
continued on page 10
dresses.
“We still really need dress socks and shoes,” said Ms. Torres.
“But the kids are all excited. They know it’s there for them for
interview clothes.”
At least 10 students a day come by to “shop,” another 10, mostly
seniors, work there as volunteers. One particularly active Yonkers
MBK student, a junior named Barry, makes himself available for
whatever is needed. And about 10 students from Roosevelt’s autistic
program spend time each day,
MBK Closet Bursts at the Seamscontinued from page 1
sorting, hanging and “learning life skills.”
The “closet”, which is open to the entire Yonkers community, has
expanded so much, it is now moving some of its offerings (those
designated specifically for fire victims) into an actual closet in
another classroom.
During Spring Break, Simone Carcer, a 16-year-old from West
Harrison, spent hours cleaning and lining the shelves of the new
storage space as part of her efforts to earn a Gold Award, Girl
Scouts’ highest honor.
“I really wanted to do something to help the community,” said
Simone, who had her mother Paty and younger brother, George, in
tow.
She is in good company. A diverse and growing group of
volunteers from outside the school district are beginning to pitch
in at the Yonkers MBK Dress for Success closet.
Said Torres, “One woman from the neighborhood saw a flyer and
just came by to help out.”
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Gorton High School’s MBK students took to the highways to learn
about post-high school possibilities this spring. A group of 36
Gorton students, many of them MBK brothers, visited four
historically black colleges (HBCUs) in Baltimore and Washington
D.C. the weekend of April 28.
Accompanied by Gorton MBK advisors Assistant Principal Ryan
James, teachers Rafael Martinez, Daniel Wilson and Tyrone Glover
and MBK facilitator Gregory Joyner, the group visited Coppin State
University, an HBCU that is part of the University of Maryland
system. Coppin is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College
Fund, which offers students attending public HBCUs scholarships and
other support. Gorton also visited the largest public HBCU in
Maryland, Morgan State University. In Washington D.C., the group
toured Howard University, a private HBCU, and George Washington
University, a private research university.
Students gained insight into a variety of college experiences
and considered the pros and cons of living on campus or off;
attending a private college or public one; and how they might fund
their post-secondary studies.
Many MBK brothers said the tour broadened their horizons and
strengthened their resolve to maintain good grades and move ahead
in life.
“This trip and the interaction with the tour guides solidified
the idea that we should never give up on our goals,” said Jayden
Hernandez.
Khalid Alsaidi said, “I left with more choices and a greater
outlook on college life and an idea of its cost.”
They also gained a renewed sense of brotherhood.
Said Markeith Norman, “Bonding with my peers was amazing.
Interacting with students I would normally not associate with, made
me appreciate my brothers more than I knew.”
Mr. Martinez the MBK advisor said he was proud of the students’
mature behavior and received compliments from a manager at the
hotel where the group stayed the night.
MBK advisor Tyrone Glover said, “Trips like this are doing our
students a true service and benefit.”
Gorton MBK Advisors: Assistant Principal Ryan James, Teachers
Rafael Martinez, Tyrone Glover and Daniel Wilson.
Gorton MBK Tours Colleges in the Nation’s Capital By Tyrone
Glover, Teacher
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Thriving in the face of adversity is what Saunders’ MBK does
best.
Just ask one of Saunders’ MBK’s most active members, Sair
Duran.
“I love the MBK program because it’s where I can help others,”
said the 10th grader. “And I’ve been through a lot.”
Sair was born with a cleft palate. He has had 17 surgeries in
his 16 years, the last one in August during which he couldn’t speak
or eat solid food for two weeks. He said it can be challenging to
speak clearly,
especially when he is tired, but he makes himself
understood.
As he passes through the gymnasium, student after student
high-fives Duran or offers him a hearty handshake. This is a far
cry from the days when he was bullied as a fourth-grader. Today he
finds camaraderie in MBK activities such as a tie collection drive
designed to help Saunders’ students suit up for interviews and
Yonkers Clean-Up Day, when he helped beautify city parks. Duran
found inspiration in April during Yonkers MBK’s Take
a Student to Work Day. He ate lunch with Yonkers Public Schools
Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada and Deputy Superintendent Dr.
Andrea Coddett, both immigrants who impressed him with their
personal accounts of achieving success through hard work.
Sair also participated in Saunders’ “Birthday in a Box” project
in which MBK students collected birthday party supplies for
children in need.
Saunders MBK: True Grit
As part of a districtwide celebration of Black History Month,
Riverside High School for Engineering and Design’s MBK attended a
February movie day to see “Hidden Figures” at the Cross County
Multiplex Cinema in Yonkers. More than 200 students from Riverside,
Saunders Trades and Technical, Yonkers Middle and Roosevelt high
schools filled an entire theater auditorium. The film recounted the
story of a team of Afri-can-American women mathematicians who
served vital roles at NASA during the early years of the United
States’ space program. Representatives from Mercy College’s STEM
program attend-
ed and, prior to the movie screening, discussed college
readiness and careers in STEM – Science, Technology, Engi-neering
and Math. The event was well received by the students with great
admiration.
Also in February, New York Yankees Vice President/Chief
Financial Officer Robert Brown visited Riverside High School’s MBK
to share his personal “rags to riches” story. Brown serves on the
boards of the Youth Shelter Pro-gram of Westchester, Madison Square
Boys & Girls Club and the One Hundred Black Men of New York. He
was raised by a single mother with limited finan-
cial resources and started his career in accounting. Brown
encouraged the brothers to pursue a college education after high
school.
Also from the world of sports, Yonkers native Tarique Thompson,
23, who played basketball for High Point Uni-versity in North
Carolina and now is playing basketball internationally, talked to
the brothers about the importance of being a student athlete.
In additional to special programs, Riverside’s MBK holds regular
empower-ment assemblies which draw about 35 students.
Riverside High School MBK Advisor: Assistant Principal Darryl
Mack
Riverside MBK Reaches for the Stars By Darryl Mack, Assistant
Principal
continued on page 15
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YMA Alumni Offer Post-High School Perspective By Monica Lewis,
Teacher
Yonkers Montessori Academy alumni from the school’s first three
graduating classes returned on January 6th to meet with current YMA
students and talk about their experiences transi-tioning to college
life. Represent-ing a wide variety of colleges including Syracuse
University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Albany, the
20 alumni panelists, answered questions and offered advice to
students who will be transitioning to college themselves over the
next few years. YMA students’ questions related to college
admissions such as “What made you stand out when you applied to
college?” and “Who helped you with the college admission and
application process?” YMA students were also interested in college
life. They asked panelists the cost of one year of college and how
they financed those expenses. They also asked about class size,
weekly schedules, and the benefits and challenges of living on
campus or commuting. Following the pre-sentation. students met with
the college alumni individually to ask additional questions.
MBK Advisors: Assistant Principal Donald DeMatteo, Teachers
Monica Lewis, Dijon Lindsey, and Donna Bayliff
Palisade Preparatory School aspires to turn its MBK brothers
into Yonkers’ next generation of hometown heroes. Based on the
program’s busy first year, they are well on their way. Reflecting
the school’s motto, “Developing Hometown Heroes,” Palisade
Preparatory School’s MBK convened an event called “My Hero’s Walk”
earlier this year to reflect on real life heroes and to explore how
students might emulate them. MBK brothers discussed the definition
and characteristics of heroes, analyzing whether they are defined
by their situations or whether there are universal heroic
qualities. Students finalized their perspectives, relating them to
people in their lives. They recorded their thoughts on sentence
strips to be hung in classrooms or in the
boys’ rooms at home to keep the topic fresh in their minds.
Leading the hero exercise was special education teacher Carl
Jenkins who many consider a hometown hero, said Assistant Principal
Will Barrow, who advises MBK with Mr. Jenkins. A graduate of
Yonkers High School, Jenkins played football for Syracuse
University before returning to Yonkers as an educator, a football
and baseball coach earlier in his career at Lincoln High School and
now at Pal Prep. The school’s principal, Dr. Michelle Yazurlo, also
graduated from a Yonkers’ high school, Saunders Trades and
Technical High School. “We want to inspire MBK members to become
hometown heroes and give back to the community,” said Mr. Barrow,
adding that about 20 active high school members are working to
bring new brothers and
Pal Prep MBK Next Generation of Hometown Heroes By Carl Jenkins,
Teacher
continued on page 14
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Yonkers Pathways to Success Adult Education Program has
partnered with Yonkers MBK this spring to host the Family & Me
Program. The goal of the program, held on Saturdays from March
through June, is to increase parents’ engagement in their
children’s education. Adults can take courses in English as a
Second Language, high school equivalency diploma studies and
Microsoft Office while children play,
enjoy parent/child activities, and learn early reading and math
skills.
Collaboration with Yonkers MBK is a natural progression for
Pathways to Success, which, for the last 10 years, has been a vital
resource for the residents of Yonkers, serving out-of-school youth,
17 and older. Pathways serves a large minority population, which
includes young men of color. The
program provides vocational instruction, high school equivalency
diploma classes, citizenship preparation, parenting skills, and
employment assistance. The Vive School on Riverdale Avenue, is the
main campus for Pathways to Success, which serves as a welcoming
hub for immigrants coming to the city. In addition, evening classes
are offered at PEARLS Hawthorne School, Enrico Fermi School and
Saunders Trades and Technical High School. All classes and programs
are provided free of charge.
Pathways to Success Family Welcome Centers, located at various
schools throughout the district, assist parents/guardians by
offering a wide range of services, including referrals to community
resources, assistance in completing important documents, navigating
complex systems (such as health care and education), workshops on
topics of importance (Immigration, Obtaining a Tax ID, Employment,
Tax Preparation), and many more. Our Family Welcome Center partners
include Cluster, Westhab, My Sister’s Place, St. John’s and St.
Joseph’s Hospitals, ANDRUS, Westchester Jewish Community Services,
Hudson Valley Justice Center, and Sisters of Charity.
Supporting Adults and Children Together By Susan Naber,
Principal
Gorton High School launched the Cross-Age Tutoring Program in
February. Donning t-shirts labeled S.W.A.G. – Strong With Amazing
Gifts -- 28 MBK brothers and sisters from the school’s My Sister’s
Keeper show up ready to teach. Every week, before visiting their
young students – about 200 in all -- MBK tutors spend time training
and planning their lessons with school advisors. For example, they
learn
Gorton MBK Cross-Age Tutoring Changes Lives Through Literacy BY
Gail Joyner-White, Principal
continued from page 6
how to communicate effective reading strategies to their
students.
The literacy program is designed to support Yonkers MBK’s
Milestone 2 -- To ensure that children are reading at grade level
by third grade and Milestone 3 -- Ensure all youth graduate from
high school ready for college and career.
Older students benefit as much as the younger ones, gaining a
strong sense of personal responsibility and impact.
“I go home feeling like I actually helped someone,” said Deisha
Santiago, grade 10. “It makes me feel like a better person.”
Tenth grader Mahari Wills takes the long view. “As we teach our
children we are actually bettering our future,” he said.
Gorton MBK Advisors: Assistant Principal Ryan James, Teachers
Rafael Martinez, Tyrone Glover and Daniel Wilson.
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Mentorship is the foundation of Lincoln High School’s MBK
program.
Lincoln’s MBK Committee is dedicated to supporting students as
they prepare themselves for life after high school. The mentors,
including a school safety officer, grade level administrators, and
guidance counselors, meet with students in small group settings.
Students work closely with their mentors to ensure that they are on
the right track to graduate and know how to seek out the resources
necessary to achieve their goals.
This winter, in order to better understand what classes they
would need for potential post-graduate studies, students were
involved in a mini lesson on transcript analysis. During the
session, those students who were interested in a particular
profession informed committee members so that advisors could later
seek out guest speakers in their area of interest.
The students also completed a survey to inform the MBK Committee
of some of their academic and other needs. One key piece of
information gleaned from the survey was that many students were
afraid to ask teachers for letters
of recommendation. The Committee encouraged students to do so
and helped them build the confidence and skills to make this
possible.
Lincoln’s MBK collaborated with the student government for
community-based initiatives such as a can drive for Thanksgiving
and a coat drive for December. In February, for Black History
Month, members attended various assemblies coordinated by the
school’s Black Culture Club. The group also attended a viewing of
“Hidden Figures” at Cinema du Lux at Ridge Hill.
Lincoln High School MBK Committee: Teachers Palma Riti, Jason
Wilson, School Safety Officer Robert Bannister and Assistant
Principal Sandy Hattar.
Lincoln MBK Is Based on Mentorship By Sandy Hattar, Assistant
Principal
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Lincoln High School’s My Brother’s Keeper has more than 130
active members -- that’s more than 20 percent of the school’s male
students.
Most of those young men joined the group last month after
attending a wildly popular March Madness “3 on 3” basketball
tournament organized by Lincoln’s MBK and held on three days
starting on a Saturday. Two college basketball players and Kenneth
Stevens, the founder of the famed Dyckman
Basketball Tournament, coached the players and held mentoring
sessions during game breaks.
“We didn’t expect that many students to show up, but next thing
we knew, the gym was flooded with at least 100 people,” said Robert
Bannister, Lincoln’s Safety Officer and MBK Liaison.
MBK students conceived of, advertised, and set up the event. A
few weeks earlier, the group hosted three NFL
players who shared personal stories of overcoming family and
financial obstacles to achieve success. The trio included Douglas
Hogue, a Roosevelt High School graduate who played for the Detroit
Lions and the Carolina Panthers, Jayson Bromley of the New York
Giants, and Derrell Smith, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and Houston Texans. More than 300 people, including Pop Warner
youth football players from around the city,
Lincoln MBK Adds 80 Members in One (Jump) Shot
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13
attended the inspirational event.
“If you want to have successful activities, the students have to
come up with the ideas,” said Lincoln’s Principal Ian Sherman.
Ideas are plentiful among Lincoln’s MBK brothers.
In March alone, in addition to the basketball event, the school
district hosted a Summer Job Fair at Lincoln with more than 25
employers, and another Career Fair during which Lincoln students
had one-on-one interviews with professionals including a lawyer,
judge, firefighter, police officer and personal trainer, most of
them Yonkers natives. Students, professionally dressed and with
resumes in hand, were encouraged to ask questions to learn about
various fields of work.
Lincoln’s MBK held a meeting in March called “Straight Talk”
during which about 40 MBK brothers shared some of their personal
challenges, ultimately becoming aware the similarities among
them.
The group also hosted a staff appreciation luncheon in March,
inviting teachers and other staff members personally, as well as
planning and cooking the meal.
Mr. Bannister, a former chef, taught students to cook Chicken
Marsala, Lemon Chicken, Southern Roast Pork, Macaroni and Cheese
and other dishes. The most popular among guests was a dish the
students invented themselves, shrimp in a small glass filled with a
horseradish, lime, curry sauce, tomato and red onion mixture.
Lincoln’s MBK program began in the fall with about 20 seniors.
Administrators chose to focus on upperclassmen -- students who
could benefit from learning more college, job and life skills
before graduating.
“This relates to MBK milestones three and four,” said Lincoln’s
Assistant Principal Sandy Hattar, a member of Yonkers MBK’s
Steering Committee. Milestone 3: Ensure all youth graduate from
high school. Milestone 4: Ensure all youth complete post-secondary
education or training.
Mr. Bannister, who is also the school’s football coach said he
encouraged his players to join MBK, which added another 20 or so.
Then the basketball tournament provided a welcome jump in
membership.
Thomas Gibson, a member of MBK,
sense of leadership and self-confidence, said Mr. Bannister,
that he has become like an assistant coach, leading his teammates
in stretches and running laps.
“I haven’t seen anything quite like it in my entire coaching
career,” said Mr. Bannister, who has been coaching young men for
more than 30 years.
Juan Miqui, a Lincoln senior who moved to Yonkers from Harlem
three years ago, says he has also gained a sense of leadership from
his involvement with MBK. For example, Juan said he was able to
help a younger student with a personal issue by sharing his own
similar experiences. He credits the program with inspiring him to
make better decisions. “I used to smoke and then I began to stop
and replaced it with football. It’s like a new person came into my
body.”
Juan, Thomas and other MBK members painted the school’s weight
room on a recent weekend. They bought the paint with money they
raised through candy sales and other school-sponsored
fundraisers.
When the shade of purple they used for part of the walls didn’t
match the school’s, Principal Sherman asked them if they would redo
it. “They came back and repainted it, no complaints.”
Being a man means you don’t always do what’s comfortable, Thomas
said.
Both Thomas and Juan said they prefer to wear sweatpants and
t-shirts. But they’ve learned that making a good first impression
is important. They agreed that they enjoy being recognized by
teachers and other adults when they look sharp.
Said Juan, “MBK taught us how to brand ourselves.”
said the school’s program has led him to befriend students from
other social groups and grades with whom he might not otherwise
interact. “MBK helps us come together as brothers,” he said.
Thomas, an 11th grader who moved to Yonkers last year from North
Carolina credits the program’s support and mentorship with helping
him improve his grades.
He is also the Lancer football’s team quarterback.
“I want to be a leader in MBK, on and off the field,” he
said.
Thomas has developed such a strong
“If you want to have successful activities, the students have to
come up with the ideas.” – Ian Sherman
Principal Lincoln High School
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14
younger students into the group. Pal Prep’s MBK aspiring heroes
this spring collected more than 300 new and gently used books, from
students, teachers, community members and staff from other schools.
They donated the books to the Nepperhan Community Center’s
after-school program. In collaboration with Nepperhan, a Yonkers
MBK partner, the group ran the book drive to support Yonkers MBK
Milestone 2 -- Ensure all children read at grade level by third
grade. Pal Prep’s MBK brothers were invited to peek into the
professional lives of city leaders during Yonkers MBK’s Take a
Student to Work Day. Justin Brodwith, grade 12, and Louis Anazco
Smaine, grade 11, shared lunch with Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. Tenth
grader Nuryel Benitez, 10, learned the value of using
education to pursue one’s dreams during his lunch with Yonkers
Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Edwin M. Quezada. As part of
their efforts to help MBK brothers secure summer jobs and prepare
for college interviews, Pal Prep high school students attended a
session with Mary Ann DeSalvo, a High School and Community
Relations Manager from the College of Westchester. Ms. DeSalvo
reviewed “soft skills” such as clear communication and maintaining
a professional appearance for job interviews. In addition to
attending the Summer Job Fair at Lincoln High School this Spring,
10 students from Pal Prep’s MBK spent a day at the Latino College
Expo and Leadership Summit at New York University. They attended
workshops on writing
college essays, taking the SATs and learned what types of
support organizations and individuals exist on college campuses to
support new students. More than 50 colleges participated in the
Expo including Adelphi University, Fordham University, Ithaca
College, Monroe College, College of Mount Saint Vincent and the
City University of New York. Pal Prep’s MBK also held a High School
Transcript Seminar. With advisors’ assistance, students checked
their transcripts to understand how many credits they had earned,
how many Regent exams they passed and what subjects they needed to
pass to stay on track for graduation. MBK Advisors: Assistant
Principal Will Barrow and Teacher Carl Jenkins
Pal Prep MBK Next Generation of Hometown Heroes By Carl Jenkins,
Teacher
continued from page 9
Yonkers MBK Focuses on 6 Milestones for Boys & Young Men of
Color
1. Ensure all children enter school cognitively, physically,
socially, and emotionally ready.
2. Ensure all children read at grade level by third grade.
3. Ensure all youth graduate from high school.
4. Ensure all youth complete post-secondary education or
training.
5. Ensure all youth out of school are employed.
6. Ensure all youth remain safe from violent crime and have a
second chance.
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15
Fu
tu
re L
ea
der
s A
ca
dem
yA February fire damaged the school’s main office, taking many
of their collected items with it. The fire also displaced school
staff. Guidance counselors relocated to the library, and the
clerical staff and administrators, including Principal Steve
Mazzola and Assistant Principal/MBK Coordinator Dr. Robert Vicuña
moved into a converted classroom together.
School secretary, Eneida Alvarado, Saunders’ MBK’s Events
Coordinator said, “Despite the fire, MBK is functioning very well.
We all have come together as one to ensure everyone feels safe and
that everything runs the same as it would prior to the fire.”
Saunders’ MBK is always mindful that no matter their challenges,
there are always those more in need.
Continuing its series of collection drives, Saunders’ MBK, in
partnership with Lions International, set up boxes around the
school for people to donate gently used eyeglasses for recycling.
Saunders MBK collaborated with the Red Cross and Yonkers Middle
High School to manage a MBK clothing drive for victims of a March
fire on Odell Avenue.
One of those teachers, Keasha Bodrick, said it’s crucial that
the brothers “learn to give.” She sees community service as a
fundamental character-builder for MBK brothers, in addition to
being a resume-booster for college applications.
To connect them to history and the world outside of Yonkers, Ms.
Bodrick and Dr. Katrina Sparks, a Special Education and English
teacher in May took students to the African
Burial ground in lower Manhattan, a national monument where an
estimated 15,000 free and enslaved Africans were buried in the 17th
and 18th centuries.
Sparks worked as an intern in then-State Senator’s David
Patterson’s campaign to preserve the landmark in the 1990s and was
able to add her own contributions to the tour guide’s tales.
Inspired by their MBK students’ interest and abilities, teachers
said they look forward to adding programs to Saunders’ MBK next
year, possibly having Saunders students mentor elementary school
students.
Sair, who has two years left at Saunders, welcomes it all.
“I would like to be involved as much as I can,” he said.
Saunders: True Gritcontinued from page 8
with students about the importance of making good life choices.
Gregory Hambric, a Human Resources Manager at Modell’s Sporting
Goods shared tips on how to dress and speak appropriately for job
interviews and prepare resumes and job applications. Yonkers MBK
Facilitator Gregory Joyner reinforced the importance of setting
goals and developing plans to meet them. He also spoke about how
blessed the students are to be part of MBK and encouraged them to
take advantage of opportunities presented to them.While students
were engaged with their program, some parents attended a course
taught by Guidance Counselor Zoe Charitos on college readiness,
career development and parental involvement. Elaine Shine,
Executive Director of School Improvement, said the Future Leaders
Academy is structured to support two of Yonkers MBK’s milestones.
Milestone 3:
Ensure all youth graduate from high school. Milestone 4: Ensure
all youth complete post-secondary education or training.Ms. Shine
also said students’ interests were built into the program from the
start. None of the teachers or organizers “wanted it to be like a
normal school day.” Future Leaders Academy Administrator-in-Charge:
Riverside High School Assistant Principal Darryl Mack. Future
Leaders Academy Staff: MBK Coordinator Gregory Joyner; Palisade
Preparatory School teachers Carl Jenkins, Ibrahim Nasser, Nicholas
Cacciola and Secretary Camille Wieland; Riverside High School
teachers Gregg Redmon, Lawton Huggins, and Lia Council; MLK Academy
teacher Vincent Accardi; Lincoln High School teacher Kristina Nilaj
and Guidance Counselor Zoe Charitos; Roosevelt High School teachers
Melba Fawcett-Sands, Gina Garcia-Alvarez and Rachel Mercandante;
Casimir Pulaski School teacher Kavita Sapra.
continued from page 5
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Publisher Elaine Shine Executive Director, School
Improvement
Editor Adrienne Sanders MBK Communications Facilitator
Design & LayoutJoe Panella Senior Graphic Designer, City of
Yonkers
ONE LARKIN CENTER • YONKERS, NY 10701
NON PROFITU.S. POSTAGE
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P A I D
MBK School Administrative Team Will Barrow, Assistant
Principal
Alexandria Connally, Assistant Principal
Donald DeMatteo, Assistant Principal
Sony Grandoit, Assistant Principal
Sandy Hattar, Assistant Principal
Ryan James, Assistant Principal
Darryl Mack, Assistant Principal
Dr. Robert Vicuna, Assistant Principal
Additional Contributors Carl Jenkins, Teacher
Gregory Joyner, MBK Program Coordinator
Gail Joyner-White, Principal
Monica Lewis, Teacher
Christopher Lopez, Teacher
Susan Naber, Principal
Jade Sharp, Principal
Yonkers Board of Education Rev. Steve Lopez, President
Judith Ramos Meier, Vice President
Andrea Brown
Kevin Cacace
James Cavanaugh
John Jacono
Pasquale Mondesando
Edgar Santana
Dr. Nader J. Sayegh
Dr. Edwin M. Quezada Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Andrea Coddett Deputy Superintendent
RoseAnne Collins-Judon Assistant Superintendent
SPREAD THE WORD@Yonkers MBK
