Yonkers Public Schools swelled with pride as four students were recently inducted as My Brother’s Keeper Fellows for the 2024-25 school year. 

On Thursday, May 30, students and educators from Yonkers Public Schools were in Albany to attend the 2024 My Brother’s Keeper Symposium, a daylong event hosted by the New York State Education Department. Focused on empowering young men of color, the symposium provided a platform for these students to be recognized and inducted as MBK Fellows. This prestigious honor underscores Yonkers' commitment to educational excellence and leadership among young men of color, highlighting the city as one of the four MBK Alliance Model Communities in the United States, as named by the Obama Foundation.

The newly inducted fellows are:

• Raheem O. Azeez from Barack Obama School for Social Justice, 

• Samuel A. Rodriguez from Lincoln High School, 

• Lenny A. Toribio, Jr. from Roosevelt High School-Early College Studies, and 

• Corbin J. Wright from Charles E. Gorton High School. 

These students will have unique opportunities for leadership and public speaking throughout the upcoming school year, serving as inspiring role models for their peers.

The new fellows were joined by the outgoing 2023-24 fellows: 

• Justin Lauture from Roosevelt Early College Studies High School, 

• Jason Martinez from Saunders Trades & Technical High School, 

• Juan Morales from Saunders Trades & Technical High School, and 

• Cameron Williams from Yonkers Middle High School. 

The delegation also included Yonkers Public Schools staff members, including new MBK Yonkers Executive Director Dr. Jason Baez and new Superintendent Aníbal Soler, Jr.

“We’re so proud of how our students are stepping up as leaders and representing Yonkers on the statewide stage,” Superintendent Soler said. “Educators and policymakers across New York look to Yonkers for our success in serving young men of color, and we offer a clear and powerful example of what’s possible. Under our new Executive Director for the MBK program, Dr. Jason Baez, and with support from the Obama Foundation as an MBK Model Community, we are working hard to build on our progress.” 

The symposium featured notable speakers, including Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, journalist Cheryl Wills, and author and entrepreneur Jemal King. Their speeches inspired attendees, emphasizing the critical importance of initiatives like MBK and motivating students to strive for excellence.

Dr. Baez also expressed his excitement about the opportunities these experiences present for students. 

“I’m thrilled our students had the experience to travel to our capital and represent Yonkers,” he said. “These moments represent powerful opportunities for our students to meet some of the leaders of New York’s educational system and to connect with peers from across the state.” 

These interactions not only expose students to potential role models and mentors, but also cultivate a sense of pride and possibility as they envision their own futures.

Yonkers Public Schools stands out as an MBK Model Community, one of only four selected nationwide by the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation. This selection was based on the district's impressive on-time graduation rate for young men of color, the highest in New York State. As a Model Community, Yonkers receives additional support to help its students achieve six milestones, from school readiness to post-graduate employment. This recognition and support strengthen the district's ability to continue setting a strong example for educational success and equity.

The induction of these four students as MBK Fellows not only highlights their individual achievements but also underscores Yonkers' ongoing commitment to fostering leadership and academic excellence among young men of color. This initiative is a testament to the positive impact that dedicated educators and supportive communities can have on students' lives, paving the way for future success.