White House Celebrates Second anniversary of My Brother’s Keeper with “National Week at the Labs”

North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Council Member Viviana Russell, Town officials, and youth participants from North Hempstead’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Program visited Brookhaven National Labs in Upton, New York on March 2. The trip was part of “National Week at the Labs” for MBK, launched by the White House. The keynote speaker of the event was Broderick Johnson, Assistant to the President, Cabinet Secretary and Chair of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force.

The 12 mentees from the Town’s Westbury MBK initiative were joined by over 150 students from the Long Island and New York City area to participate in tours and hands-on experiences at the world-class lab, known for its research and work in nuclear and particle physics. Those in attendance were also mentored by several of the Lab’s stellar staff. The event, part of “National Week at the Labs,” was designed to encourage students to pursue studies in the S.T.E.M. fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“It is exciting to be able to offer this once in a lifetime opportunity to our My Brother’s Keeper participants, who heard directly from some of the world’s leading researchers and scientists and were exposed to the many different career paths that can be taken,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “I am sure that this was an eye-opening experience for all of the students and we are so grateful to the staff at the Brookhaven National Lab.”

On September 27, 2014, President Barack Obama named over 100 municipalities across the nation as “early acceptors” of the White House MBK Challenge, including the Town of North Hempstead. MBK focuses on efforts to eliminate opportunity gaps, barriers, and challenges facing youth in our community and to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. The Town’s Action Plan intends to address the Town’s goals of ensuring all youth graduate from high school, complete post-secondary education or training and are employed.

The Action Plan includes a strong mentoring program that will start in ninth grade and will allow students to explore different careers throughout high school, participate in a speakers’ series about careers and engage in internships. Currently, the Town has two mentoring program

If you have any questions on the MBK program, please call 311 or (516) 869-6311, or log on to www.northhempsteadny.gov/mbk.

Town of North Hempstead Council Member Viviana Russell; Dr. Calvin O. Butts, President SUNY at Old Westbury; Broderick Johnson Assistant to the President, Cabinet Secretary, Chair of My Brother’s Keeper Task Force; Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth; Town of North Hempstead Director of Operations Robert Troiano, Jr.

Supervisor Judi Bosworth greets the MBK students during their visit to the Brookhaven National Lab.