Austin-area education and community leaders will assemble for a dialogue about the City of Austin’s efforts in spearheading President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative on Tuesday, March 8 at the Austin Convention Center. This event is one of many public forums the DDCE has coordinated since it launched the Longhorn Campaign for Men of Color in fall 2014.

When President Obama launched the national My Brother’s Keeper initiative two years ago, he challenged local governments, philanthropists, non-profit leaders, educators and individuals to address the significant challenges that young men of color face. This year’s community dialogue will address Austin’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, highlighting accomplishments that were made within the past year since aligning efforts with UT’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, nonprofits, schools, businesses and community leaders.

Speakers will share insight into the many factors that contribute to the achievement gap faced by young men of color and share some potential solutions for breaking down barriers, such as debilitating punitive measures in schools, lack of guidance and support from family members and administrators, and financial constraints.

Speakers include:

• Gregory J. Vincent, vice president of diversity and community engagement, UT Austin
• Mark Madrid, president and CEO, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• The Honorable Sarah Eckhardt, Travis County Judge
• The Honorable Steve Adler, City of Austin Mayor
• Michael D. Smith, special assistant to President Obama and senior director of Cabinet Affairs for My Brother’s Keeper
• Susan Dawson, president and executive director, E3 Alliance
• Paul Cruz (moderator), superintendent, Austin Independent School District

The event is invite only. Media personnel are welcome to attend. Use #MBKAustin #SXSWMBK to participate in the online conversation. Go here to read about last year’s SXSWedu event.

Sponsors:
Austin Community College, Austin Independent School District, Huston-Tillotson University, the Mayor of the City of Austin, The Judge of Travis County, and  The University of Texas at Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement

Special thanks to:
 SXSWedu, Alpheus Media, Austin Convention Center, Communities in Schools of Central Texas, Communities in Schools’ XY-Zone Program, Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy, Project MALES, the African American Research Initiative of the University of Texas, The University of Texas at Austin Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and The University of Texas at Austin School of Law Youth Court Program at Webb Middle School.