ORLANDO, Fla. – As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, Orlando shines a light on an initiative that embodies King’s vision for a better America.
The “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative seeks to make a real difference in the lives of young men of color.
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In Orlando, “My Brother’s Keeper” is more than just a program — it’s a movement.
Started by President Barack Obama in 2014, the initiative aims to address disparity gaps among boys and young men of color. Under the leadership of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and city commissioners, the city has embraced this mission with open arms.
“We want to decrease behavior, referrals, suspensions, expulsions, as well as juvenile justice involvement,” said Bobby Belton, the initiative’s program manager. “Our job is to make sure that our younger brothers, as we call them, are safe on a day-to-day basis.”
Since 2019, Belton has been at the forefront of the initiative, helping it grow from part-time staff to a team of full-time advocates working in seven schools across Orlando.
“We want to provide (these young men) with every opportunity possible for them to be able to make a decision for themselves,” said Kirk Malcolm, the program supervisor of the initiative.
The program offers individual mentoring, intervention strategies and exposure to new opportunities. From college tours to technical trades, the goal is to empower these young men to control the trajectory of their lives.
“We hope to work ourselves out of a job,” Belton explained. “Five to 10 years from now, I want to be able to successfully say we’ve contributed to a great program within the city of Orlando where that program is no longer needed.”
As MLK Day approaches, the team is preparing to march in the parade, standing shoulder to shoulder with community leaders to honor King’s legacy.
“I do think (Dr. King) would be proud,” Malcolm said.
“I think that he would be happy to walk arm in arm with us to fight the good fight,” Belton added.
“My Brother’s Keeper” is fighting for a better future for our youth. If you’d like to learn more or get involved, visit this website for details.