Bronx, NY – Fulfilling a promise from her State of the Borough address to make gender equity a priority, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson welcomed over 100 girls from middle schools and high schools in districts 7-12 at Borough Hall to convene a meeting in partnership with Bronx School Districts and the My Brother`s Keeper/My Sister`s Keeper District Leads to announce efforts under the My Sister’s Keeper umbrella to anchor the initiative in the borough.
“We have witnessed the tremendous benefits that “My Brother’s Keeper”, has had on countless communities across the nation,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Today we want to make the community aware of the many Bronx-based community organizations that are partnering with us to provide that same level of investment to see our young girls and teens strive and thrive.”
The goal of the Bronx Borough President`s partnership with the Bronx “My Sister`s Keeper” Initiative is to:
- Convene current girls’ empowerment efforts in our schools and throughout the borough under the My Sister’s Keeper umbrella to anchor the initiative in the borough.
- Create spaces for middle school and high school girls to connect with each other to support mentorship and continuity as students move from middle to high school.
- Connect Districts leads and Educators leading this work to resources including women holding leadership positions in various industries and ties to The Bronx.
- Promote BRONX MSK branding to highlight this historic administration’s commitment to girls’ empowerment.
In 2014, President Obama founded the “My Brother’s Keeper,” Initiative to help boys and young men of color reach their full potential. With New York State the first to adopt the program, Borough President Gibson, during her State of the Borough Address, announced her plans to build on the success of the program by seeing young women from the Bronx and citywide benefit as well.
The event featured a career panel featuring women in leadership positions moderated by the Deputy BP with time for Q&A and networking with panelists.