Sheil KapadiaESPN Writer
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril led a trip last week to improve conditions for some children in Haiti.
Avril, whose parents came to America from Haiti in the 1980s, was joined by Marshawn Lynch, Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus.
Lynch has been retired for a little more than two months. During that time, he has ridden on camels in Egypt, dunked on a student and hung out with Bill Clinton, in addition to the Haiti trip.
"It’s awesome to have their support, it’s awesome to be in a situation where guys are willing to take that step with you," Avril told the Seahawks' web site. "Marshawn wants to help actually build the school out there. There’s a lot of good guys in the NFL ... It’s cool to have these guys’ support."
In addition to building the school, Avril and the players were scheduled to host a mobile medical clinic and a youth football camp.
Back in November, Avril spoke at length about passing on to his children the lessons he learned from his dad. The 30-year-old pass-rusher has spent the past three seasons with the Seahawks after beginning his career with the Lions.
P
resident Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.
Through this initiative, the Administration is joining with cities and towns, businesses, and foundations who are taking important steps to connect young people to mentoring, support networks, and the skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way into the middle class.
My Brother’s Keeper is focused on six milestones:
1. Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn:
All children should have a healthy start and enter school ready – cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally.
2. Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade:
All children should be reading at grade level by age 8 – the age at which reading to learn becomes essential.
3. Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career:
All youth should receive a quality high school education and graduate with the skills and tools needed to advance to postsecondary education or training.
4. Completing Postsecondary Education or Training:
Every American should have the option to attend postsecondary education and receive the education and training needed for the quality jobs of today and tomorrow.
5. Successfully Entering the Workforce:
Anyone who wants a job should be able to get a job that allows them to support themselves and their families.
6. Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances:
All youth and young adults should be safe from violent crime; and individuals who are confined should receive the education, training, and treatment they need for a second chance.
Learn more about the My Brother's Keeper initiative.
Get Involved
My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge
In September 2014, President Obama issued a challenge to cities, towns, counties and tribes across the country to become “MBK Communities.” This challenge represents a call to action for all members of our communities, and mayors in particular, as they often sit at the intersection of many of the vital forces and structural components needed to enact sustainable change through policy, programs, and partnerships.
The MBK Community Challenge encourages communities (cities, rural municipalities, and tribal nations) to implement a coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people to ensure that they can reach their full potential, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or the circumstances into which they are born. Nearly 200 mayors, tribal leaders, and county executives across 43 states and the District of Columbia have accepted the MBK Community Challenge.
The six goals of the Challenge are:
- Ensuring all children enter school cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally ready
- Ensuring all children read at grade level by 3rd grade
- Ensuring all youth graduate from high school
- Ensuring all youth complete post-secondary education or training
- Ensuring all youth out of school are employed
- Ensuring all youth remain safe from violent crime
Community leaders can lay the groundwork for an MBK Community in four steps:
- Accept the President’s Challenge
- Convene a “Local Action Summit” to build an MBK Community
- Conduct a policy review and form recommendations for action
- Launch a plan of action, next steps and a timetable for review
Two Years of My Brothers Keeper
Since MBK’s first anniversary report a little more than one year ago, more than 50 additional communities have accepted the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, including those in seven new states, independent private sector support for grants and in-kind resources has more than doubled to more than $600 million, and more than 80% of the recommendations the MBK Task Force sent to the President two years ago are complete or on track.
This report tracks progress achieved in the past year on efforts to make a measurable difference in the lives of young people.
This report is available at: www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper
Sign Up to Be a Mentor.
Commit to making a difference by pledging to mentor a young person in your community.
Get started at Serve.gov/mentor
