Find an MBK Community
Learn more about our existing MBK communities by hovering over each location below. You can get involved locally by using the contact information provided. Can’t find your MBK community on the community directory? Submit your information here and we will follow up.
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By using the directory below, you can search for an MBK Community by one of the six MBK milestones or one of the seven elements of success. The six milestones are important stages in a young person’s journey from cradle-to-career and the main focuses of MBK’s work. The elements of success listed are systemic actions, processes, people, resources, systems, infrastructure, and policies necessary to deliver high quality equity work in communities.
MBK Augusta accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color (BYMOC) in 2015. MBK Augusta is made up of mostly underserved young men in the public school system, as well as a younger community through their Power Lunch program. MBK Augusta is focused on the following three MBK milestones: (2) ensuring that BYMOC are reading at grade level by the third grade, (3) increasing high school graduation rates and college preparedness, and (6) reducing violence and providing second chances.
MBK Austin accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2015. MBK Austin is a collective comprised of various sectors within the Greater Austin Area, including government, higher education, ISDs, nonprofit, faith-based, businesses, and grassroots. MBK Austin is focused on all six MBK milestones.
MBK Baltimore accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2014. MBK Baltimore emphasizes collective impact, bridging gaps, capacity building, and youth violence prevention through mentoring and employment development. They have partners in the Mayor’s Office of African Male Engagement, local business and philanthropic communities, and the Department of Juvenile Services for the State of Maryland. In 2018, MBK Baltimore was selected as an MBK Community to Watch and is focused on the following three MBK milestones: (3), (5) (6).
MBK Baton Rouge accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color (BYMOC) in 2016. Their Urban Congress on African-American Males is a coalition to help people and organizations leverage the city’s assets and transform under-performing systems impacting BYMOC into high-performing pathways to success. Their collaborations between individuals and organizational representatives are leading to a coordinated approach that addresses systemic barriers to the success of BYMOC. MBK Baton Rouge is focused on the following five MBK milestones: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5).
MBK Benton Harbor accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2014. MBK Benton Harbor is a community of youth and dedicated adult mentors, and they are focused on the following MBK milestone: (6) reducing violence and providing second chances.
MBK Boston accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color (BYMOC) in 2014. MBK Boston wants to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential, and they are building an engaged community around strengthening those outcomes. They are working together across government and academia, the private and public sectors, and clergy, families, and neighborhoods. In 2018, MBK Boston was selected as an MBK Impact Community, and they are focused on the following three MBK milestones: (3), (5), (6).
MBK Brentwood accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2018. MBK Brentwood is a group of committed residents and stakeholders who are focused on creating youth-centered solutions. They are working on examining challenges in their community, developing strategies to address them, and are committed to overcoming obstacles to ensure coordinated services on behalf of their youth and families. MBK Brentwood is focused on the following two MBK milestones: (3), (6).
MBK Brooklyn Park accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2014. MBK Brooklyn Park is anchored in the Brooklyn Park United Initiative and utilizes the multi-sector collaborative approach as it works to identify the needs of the community, cultivate partnerships to meet those needs, and collectively work toward a healthy and safe community. MBK Brooklyn Park is focused on the following four MBK milestones: (3), (4), (5), (6).
MBK Buffalo accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2014. MBK Buffalo utilizes a three-prong approach across their city focused on programing at the school-level, the nonprofit area, and in the Mayor's Office. Their work includes after school programming, Saturday programming and embedded day time experiences. MBK Buffalo is focused on all six MBK milestones.
MBK Charlotte-Mecklenburg accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color (BYMOC) in 2018. MBK Charlotte-Mecklenburg is committed to improving outcomes for BYMOC by serving as the backbone organization of a collective impact effort. MBK Charlotte-Mecklenburg works to support policies and organizations that address persistent opportunity gaps and help ensure that all BYMOC have the opportunity to achieve, with an emphasis on boys from 5th grade to 12th grade. MBK Charlotte-Mecklenburg is focused on the following four MBK milestones: (3), (4), (5), (6).
MBK Charlottesville accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2014. MBK Charlottesville has strong support from local leaders and has hired a full-time staff member with the City of Charlottesville to focus on Black Male Achievement. MBK Charlottesville is focused on the following four MBK milestones: (2), (3), (4), (5).
MBK Chattanooga accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color (BYMOC) in 2014. MBK Chattanooga began with more than 100 entities at the table exploring pathways and alliances to foster better outcomes for BYMOC. As a result of raising awareness of the issues and challenges, many of the entities invested or reinvested in unique initiatives. MBK Chattanooga’s work has been a difference-maker in the lives of Chattanooga's youth, and they are focused on the following four MBK milestones: (3), (4), (5), (6).
MBK Chicago accepted the MBK Community Challenge in 2014 and launched various mentorship, violence prevention, summer jobs and workforce training initiatives to improve the lives of boys and young men of color. In 2018, various Chicago nonprofits were awarded Impact and Seed Grants as part of the MBK Community Challenge Competition. In 2019, under the leadership of Thrive Chicago and various nonprofits, MBK Chicago released its Action Plan, centered on the voices of hundreds of youth, culled from focus groups and conversations. Chicago is focused on continuing to support organizations and implement recommendations from the Action Plan within systems and institutions that serve boys and young men of color.
MBK Cleveland accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2017. MBK Cleveland holds summer camps revolving around manufacturing to expose children to different possible career paths, and they will be merging these efforts with similar efforts being done by MBK Ohio. MBK Cleveland is focused on all six MBK milestones.
MBK Columbia accepted the MBK Community Challenge to improve the lives of boys and young men of color in 2014. MBK Columbia’s goal is to create the most educated and entrepreneurial city in the southeast, by ensuring all children enter school ready and that all children read at grade level by 3rd grade. They strive to show their youth that their city is actively seeking ways to help them succeed now and for their future. MBK Columbia is focused on the following four MBK milestones: (1), (2), (3), (5).