President Barack Obama will announce a $200 million commitment from nine foundations on Thursday afternoon to bolster the lives of young men and boys of color.
The funding is part of a larger initiative from the White House to bring private businesses, nonprofits and local governments together to intervene in key moments in the lives of young black and Hispanic men to ensure they stay in school and eventually train for and get good jobs.
As Yahoo News first reported, the cause will be a major focus of Obama’s — and the first lady’s — even after he leaves office. "It’s something that's deeply personal to the president and first lady,” said Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president and the Obamas’ closest friend from Chicago. “I’m sure their commitment to this initiative will be a lifelong commitment. This is not something they simply want to do while he’s in office — it will continue.”
The president personally ordered his senior staff to come up with this new “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative in the wake of the shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin two years ago. Obama — who was criticized by civil rights leaders for avoiding race-based initiatives and conversations while in office — was deeply moved by Martin’s death, and he tasked his staff with creating a holistic, research-based approach to helping young minority boys succeed and avoid violence.
The president will create a new interagency My Brother’s Keeper Task Force headed by Broderick Johnson, the Cabinet secretary and assistant to the president. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Attorney General Eric Holder, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and other senior officials will be personally involved in “My Brother’s Keeper,” according to Jarrett.
Young black men persistently lag behind other groups in high school graduation rates and employment, and, as White House officials point out, they are six times more likely than their white peers to be murdered.
"My Brother's Keeper" is one part of Obama's larger plan to tackle issues facing the African-American community in his second term, the president told civil rights leaders in a meeting last week. Obama will also push Congress to restore the part of the Voting Rights Act struck down by the Supreme Court last term and to pass a law banning racial profiling by law enforcement. The Justice Department is also pushing through criminal justice reforms without Congress' help, such as urging prosecutors not to use mandatory minimums against nonviolent drug offenders and encouraging prisoners sentenced under old, racially discriminatory crack laws to apply for a new clemency program.
“He’s committed to being more aggressive,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who was in the meeting.....snip~
Obama launches
So what are your thoughts with this? Says to help minority men of color......as you can see Obama is looking to garner the vote for the Democrats. Thru this means here. Not much is highlighted about Hispanics and Latins. Nor does it say much about any other minorities.
This was a Chicago Program.....that Bloomberg copied off Emanuel and the city here. Emanuel was out all this morning touting how happy that Obama extended this to National Program. Yes 200 mil and Jarrett conforms they will get more. Now what do you think takes place for all those they do for?
Division.....101. Democrat Style!