By Assistant Principal Sony Grandoit and Teacher Chris Lopez

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 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.

Each group analyzed a business and created a presentation highlighting the pros and cons of the Uber taxi company.  

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 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 others 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.

Roosevelt MBK Advisors: Assistant Principal Sony Grandoit and teachers Jaime Morales and Chris Lopez.