The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Launches Freedom Summer 2022 Fund to Create Safe Spaces for Boys and Young Men of Color
July 15, 2022 at 9:00 AM CDT
The program will disperse $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide
CHICAGO – Today, the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, launched a new grant program as part of its Freedom Summer 2022 initiative to empower communities across the country to create safe spaces for boys and young men of color. The Freedom Summer 2022 Fund aims to address the nationwide uptick in violence during the summer months by allocating $1 million in grants to 501(c)(3) organizations to create opportunities for engagement, learning, and mentoring.
“The summer surge of youth violence nationwide has left our communities, our families, and most of all, our children hurting,” said Adren Wilson, MBK Alliance Executive Director. “That’s why I’m proud to announce the creation of our Freedom Summer 2022 Fund, which will empower grant recipients to pour resources, opportunity, hope, and love into our young boys during a time when they need it most. I hope that these community grants will serve as the seed from which our young boys will grow and evolve into passionate, driven, and successful men.”
The MBK Alliance is committed to ensuring youth in every community have safe spaces to play, engage, convene, and learn over the summer months. As of this month, nearly three dozen boys and young men of color under the age of 19 have been murdered (Opens in a new tab) this year in Chicago. As is the case for many cities nationwide, this number is expected to surge during the summer. According to the University of Chicago Crime Lab (Opens in a new tab), in the city of Chicago, there are about twice as many shootings on days over 85 degrees as there are on days under 50 degrees. The same is true for many cities across the country. These acts of violence are devastating to the lives of each victim, their family, their friends, and their community.
“Our work at the Foundation proves time and again that the most powerful and sustainable change begins on the ground. Protecting and supporting our most vulnerable youth is critical to our nation’s future,” said Valerie Jarrett, Obama Foundation CEO. “Today, the Obama Foundation continues its commitment to supporting community led initiatives that improve and ensure the safety, engagement, and protection of our boys and young men of color.”
Beginning July 15, 2022, community-based 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for a $15,000, $20,000, or $25,000 Freedom Summer 2022 Fund grant. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and grants will be approved each week until all funding is in the hands of those committed to creating safe and engaging spaces for youth.
To learn more and to apply visit: https://www.obama.org/my-brothers-keeper-alliance/news/freedomsummer22/.
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Contact: Gloria Nlewedim, [email protected]