By Assistant Principal Darryl Mack

As part of a districtwide celebration of Black History Month, Riverside’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, Roosevelt, and Yonkers Middle high schools filled an entire theater auditorium. The film recounted the story of a team of African-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 attended and, prior to the movie screening, discussed college readiness and careers in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering 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 Program 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 financial 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 University 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’s holds regular empowerment assemblies which draw about 35 students.

Riverside High School MBK Advisor: Assistant Principal Darryl Mack