ORLANDO, Fla. — Nearly a year after the city of Orlando announced the expansion of My Brother’s Keeper from five middle schools into two high schools, we’re getting a better idea about the impact it is making.

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly a year after the city of Orlando announced the expansion of My Brother’s Keeper from five middle schools into two high schools, we’re getting a better idea about the impact it is making

  • Aaron Ford, a sophomore at Jones High School, is confident in his basketball skills. He says activities like it occupy his mind, and help keep him out of trouble

  • Two lead advocates now handle 50 students at both Jones and Edgewater High Schools who are at the greatest risk of suspension, expulsion or low attendance

Two lead advocates now handle 50 students at both Jones and Edgewater high schools who are at the greatest risk of suspension, expulsion or low attendance.

Advocates work on future plans that push them out of that cycle.

Aaron Ford, a sophomore at Jones High School, is confident in his basketball skills.

He says activities like it occupy his mind, and help keep him out of trouble.

“I lost my father last summer due to gun violence and it just, it’s been hard,” said Ford.

Austin Long, lead advocate at Jones High, is in charge of 25 male students, including Ford.

He often pulls him out of class to see how he’s doing.

“When I first met Aaron, he had just been released from juvenile,” said Long.

Long says Ford was looking for motivation.

He said engaging in activities at the downtown recreation center is often their safe haven, where they’re most comfortable.

That is among the program's goals, which also include decreasing juvenile justice involvement, behavior referrals, suspension and expulsions among young boys. 

“We are our brothers’ keeper. Where they go, we go, what they know, we know. We keep them out of trouble,” said Bobby Belton, program manager at My Brother’s Keeper, who oversees the program. 

Ford said he has been in trouble at school, and it has been hard to trust adults.

“When My Brother’s Keeper showed up, I started knowing I can trust some of the guys around MBK like Mr. Bobby, Mr. Austin and Mr. Curtis,” said Ford.

“These young men want someone that they can just talk to, they want to talk,” said Belton. “A lot of times these young men have been counted out by society, counted out by schools, counted out by the community and they don’t trust.”

Belton said it can take time, but lead advocates sit back, keep showing up on a consistent basis, letting students know they’re not leaving their sides.

“As you continue to keep doing that, at some point they soften up, and they say, “Bro, why are you here? And we simply say: “Because we want to be here.”

MBK also includes financial literacy, mental health services, entrepreneurial education and weekly mentoring sessions.

It started in 2014 by former President Barack Obama to address disparity gaps among boys and young men of color.

The Florida Department of Children and Families gave the city Of Orlando’s My Brother’s Keeper $750,000, making the expansion possible.