Hoyer Hosts "My Brother's Keeper Event" With Senator Ben Cardin
BOWIE, MD – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) and Senator Ben Cardin (MD), in conjunction with President Mickey Burnim of Bowie State University, the BSU Male Initiative, and the Maryland Center, hosted an event today at Bowie State University on President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to help put boys and young men of color on a pathway to success by connecting them with mentoring, support networks, and skills training.
“It was an honor to host today’s ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ program with my friend, Senator Cardin who understands, as I do, the importance of empowering young people to pursue opportunities and to pursue their dreams,” said Congressman Hoyer. “The ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative that President Obama launched in February is founded on the idea – that if we direct our energy and resources toward helping boys and young men of color today, we can enable them to avoid the all-too-common pathways into poverty and despair. This initiative aims to help them get onto pathways to college and careers – pathways toward achieving the American dream that should be within reach of all of our citizens.”
“America is the land of opportunity, but for far too many, skin color dictates which opportunities are available. I believe deeply in President Obama’s ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative. It will not only benefit young men of color, it will benefit all Americans by engaging the success of community leaders to greater improve our county,” Senator Cardin said.
Guest speakers at the event included Roy Austin, White House Domestic Policy Council, Director of Urban Affairs, Justice and Opportunity; Michael Smith, Corporation for National and Community Service, Director of Social Innovation; Daryl Graham, J.P. Morgan Chase Office of Corporate Responsibility and Global Philanthropy, Vice President; and Brandee Mchale, Citi, Foundation COO.