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, men in particular, as they often sit at the intersection of many of the vital forces and structural components needed to enact sustainable change.
Get in touch today to learn more about how the My Brother's Keeper Alliance South Carolina is accepting the challenge to make a difference in communities throughout South Carolina.
Special Announcements & Updates
Creating Opportunities For Boys & Young People of Color!!!
Trapped In The Summer Short Film Movie
YJAM 2024
Youth Justice Action Month
Casting Call | Creative Meeting
Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM) is an annual campaign where advocates come together to organize digital and in-person events and activities to raise awareness and inspire action on behalf of young people impacted by the justice system. The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), National Youth Justice Network (NYJN) partner annually to support youth justice advocates, state advisory groups, youth-serving organizations, and young leaders across the country in planning and implementing YJAM activities. This year to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of JJDPA, we encourage YJAM events from August to November 2024.
Congratulations to MBK Alliance of South Carolina (MBK-Spartanburg) on being a recipent of a 2024 YJAM mini-grant.
#YJAM 2024 YOUth ARE WORTH IT!
The awards are in and we are happy to announce that 77 organizations representing 40 states have received grant funds to support JJDPA awareness and YJAM programming this fall!
Programs ranging from community resource and job fairs, JJDPA educational campaigns, art advocacy and mental health town halls, these programs will uplift the importance of the 50th anniversary and reauthorization of the JJDPA as well as promote actions for youth justice transformation across the country.
In honor and in celebration of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) 50th anniversary, and with support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), and National Youth Justice Network (NYJN) are administering 2024 JJDPA/YJAM mini-grants to increase public education and awareness about the JJDPA, preventing youth-legal system involvement, Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM), and related activities across the nation. These funds are made available under OJJDP’s FY 2023 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Outreach and Education Subgrants Program.
2024 Young Men of Color Celebration
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Induction Ceremony
Congratulations Class of 2024
Join us as we AMPLIFY-ELEVATE-CELEBRATE for Young Men of Color (YMOC). The evening will include reflections, awards ceremony, induction pinning, and the First Ever College & Career Draft which will feature representatives from various collegs, universities, businesses, organizations, and the community.
Congratulations to our MBKASC Founder on being selected and recognized as the 2024 recipient of the Dr. George Newby Jr. Health Equity Leadership Award
Health Equity for BYMOC
We are excited to announce Anitwan Tate as the 2024 Dr. George Newby Jr. Health Equity Leadership Award recipient. Antiwan is the Founding Mentor and Executive Director of My Brother's Keeper Alliance of South Carolina – Spartanburg.
The purpose of the award is to recognize an individual or organization working to continue Dr. George Newby’s work in health equity by ensuring that all people in Spartanburg County have access to opportunities for health and wellness regardless of who they are or where they live. The award includes an unrestricted $25,000 grant.
The Foundation is proud to recognize Antiwan "for his work to support the healthy development of young men of color in our community. [We] believe Dr. Newby would be proud of Antiwan and the work he is doing,” said Molly Talbot-Metz, Mary Black Foundation President and CEO.
2024 Smell The Roses
Community Honors Awards Ceremony
Celebrating The Past, Present, and Future
MBK + YMCA
Our recent Smell The Roses Community Honors Ceremony was an EMPOWERING intentional event HONORING 10 amazing youth and adult TRAILBLAZERS!!!
Smell The Rose's Honoree's
1. Michael Brown
2. Savion Madison - Youth
3. Jamari Means - Youth
4. Quaylen Littlejohn - Youth
5. Ernest Rice - Youth
6. Bernard Wheeler
7. Phil Forney
8. Bill McClellan
9 Isaac V. McKissick (Chief Mentor)
10. Mr. Rick Stripling (Chief Mentor)
2024 YMOC Regional Conference EMPOWER
AMPLIFY - ELEVATE - CELEBRATE
My Brother's Keeper Spartanburg in partnership with YMCA of Greater Spartanburg will be hosting the 2024 South Carolina MBK+YMCA EMPOWER Summit on March 15th-17th. The full day regional conference is planned with dynamic breakout sessions to include a community resource fair, special performances, and special guests. This event offers something for everybody. Local, State Level, and National Partners supporting initiatives for BYMOC will be in attendance and a part of this momentous event and festivities.
2023 Mayor's Community Impact Award
Creating Opportunities for Boys and Young Men of Color
MBK - Spartanburg received the 2023 Mayor's Community Impact Award
My Brother's Keeper-Spartanburg Month
Creating Opportunities for Boys and Young Men of Color
Spartanburg City Council and the Mayor delivered a proclamation declaring the entire month of January 2023 as My Brother's Keeper Spartanburg Month.
MBK Spartanburg Community Celebration
AMPLIFY - ELEVATE - CELEBRATE
MBK-Spartanburg was selected along with fifty one amazing orgraninzations from around the country as recipients of the inaugural Obama Foundation / My Brother's Keeper Alliance Freedom Summer 2022 Fund Grant. In developing our leaders of tomorrow we AMPLIFIED their voices by learning their stories through discussions, videos, and their very own short film. We are happy to be the driving force behind the development of our BYMOC, making a difference in their lives by elevating their stories. We answered the Alliance’s call-to-action to create safe spaces for boys and young men of color during the summer/fall months with a robust plan. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our boys and young men are protected and supported in Spartanburg County and throughout the state of South Carolina.
2022 Aban Aya Kickoff
MBK-Spartanburg Mentoring Clubs
For Grades 5th - 8th
Our recent kickoff was a huge success. Future program participants and parent/guardian registered attended to learn more about our Aban Aya Youth Project Curriculum and MBK programs for students in grades fifth through eighth. The day will was filled with plenty of information, fun, food, entertainment, and fellowship. Stay tuned for more information and the upcoming picture gallery.
MBK-Spartanburg Collaborates with Enterprise Diversity Minority Council (DMC) of South Carolina & Georgia for a day of Leadership Training Day
Building a Better Future
My Brother's Keeper Spartanburg recently had the honor to host a day of leadership and training for the South Carolina Diversity Minority Council of Enterprise Corporation. The day was filled with service, team building, equine learning, and conversations to create opportunities for Boys & Young People of Color in Spartanburg and abroad South Carolina. We send a special "Thank You" to Enterprise Holding Foundation for supporting and presenting MBK with a gift to support our programs and services. We are grateful for the partnership and look forward to the opportunities that are to come.
2022 MBK Aban Aya Induction Ceremony
We are excited to expand this program into more school districts and communities.
At My Brother's Keeper Alliance South Carolina (MBK-Spartanburg), we strive to empower the lives of youth in the Spartanburg community through our variety of programs. Our mentoring program and curriculum is designed to provide youngsters with all the tools they need to be great leaders tomorrow. We are happy to be the driving force behind the development of our children, and hope to continue making a difference in their lives.
MBK in the News
Virtual Summer Camps
MBK-Spartanburg empowers youth in Spartanburg, SC to reach their fullest potential through a wide range of virtual services. We care about our young people, and provide them with a number of enrichment programs and opportunities to help shape their identity in the midst of COVID-19. Come experience MBK for yourself today!
44th President Barack Obama recently shares support and recognizes efforts of MBK-Spartanburg initiative.
#WeAreMBK | #MBKRising
We are proud to be apart of the My Brother's Keeper network through the National MBK Alliance an initiative of the Obama Foundation. We were honored to share our work being done locally and abroard along with the support garnered along the way.
Making Headlines. Mentee Xavier McKnight was featured in the Obama Foundation's The Faces of MBK Rising!
CONGRATULATIONS MBK-SPARTANBURG
Congratulations Xavier on being selected for this accompishment.
MBK-Spartanburg Featured
On WSPA Channel 7 News
"Hometown Spotlight"
***New community-based and school partnerships.***
Upcoming, Recent, Past Events
MBK Freedom Summer Events/Projects
A collection of the flyers from the Freedom Summer-Fall 2022 listing of events hosted by MBK-Spartanburg.
Pictures from 2022 EMPOWER Summer Leadership Camp
At our recent annual EMPOWER Summer Youth Leadership Camp attendees participated in creative workshops ranging from songwriting, producing, sound engineering, photography, videography, American Sign Language (ASL), S.T.E.M. Education and Careers, graphic design, vision boards, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, magician show, character education, personal development, self-care, and leadership. We also made time for outings and excursions of FUN.
They are EMPOWERED!!!
2022 MBK Countywide Induction Ceremony
Pictures from the 2022 MBK Aban Aya Induction Ceremony.
MBK Community Service Day at Halter
MBK - Spartanburg is proud to partner with HALTER in establishing the Common Ground Youth Equine Assisted Learning and Leadership Program. Recently MBK hosted a community service volunteer day at HALTER.
MBK Anthem Video Shoot
Together the POWER is ours. MBK-Spartanburg collaborates with Spartanburg Police Department to inspire change in our community reform movement. The purpose of this project was to inspire unity with our young men of color, law enforcement, and BIPOC communities.
New Equine Therapy Partnership with HALTER
MBK - Spartanburg is proud to partner with HALTER in establishing the Common Ground Youth Equine Assisted Learning and Leadership Program. This program is offered year-around through a series.
Halter = Healing & Learning Through Equine Relationships. Recently MBK hosted a community service volunteer day at HALTER.
"Our Voices Make Black History"
Girls Empowerment Event
We are excited to announce that Taylor Richardson, who is known as Astronaut StarBright will be our Special Guest joining a host of OSK Ambassador panelist. Taylor is an advocate, activist, philanthropist, and speaker. She is an internationally known advocate for girls in STEM. Taylor is featured in the documentary about advocacy work titled “ASTRONAUT STARBRIGHT: Story of a STEM advocate”, which has won multiple awards. Taylor has been a pacesetter for youth philanthropy and STEM advocacy with the help of big-time names like Oprah Winfrey, film/tv producer JJ Abrams, actor Chris Pine, and a host of others. Taylor has raised over $200,000 to help girls interested in STEM including sponsoring movie screenings across the US for movies Hidden Figures, A Wrinkle in Time, and Captain Marvel. She has graced covers of Scholastic Science Magazines, written op-ed’s for Teen Vogue, New Moon Girls, Florida Times-Union, featured on Good Morning America, and in several books promoting STEM and girls empowerment. She has received a host of awards and honors from the Jason Taylor Foundation, Jacksonville NAACP Image Award, The Bowles School Presidential Award, Teen Vogue 21u21, GoFundMe Hero, Ebony Power 100 Finalist, and many more. #WeAreMBSK #OSK #MBK
The MBSK Youth Talk Series
Due to the impact and uncertainty brought on by the Coronavirus Pandemic in March of 2020 life as we know it has been altered. MBK-Spartanburg of South Carolina is pleased to bring to you the MBK Youth Talk Series which will feature candid talks from our young leaders from abroad the state of SC sharing their thoughts. Their Voices Matter!!!
MBK-Spartanburg Recipients of the 2020 Humanitarian Award by the City of Spartanburg.
At the recent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 33rd Annual Unity Celebration MBK-Spartanburg was nominated and recipients of the Humanitarian Award. We are thankful to our community and local leadership for taking notice of our impact and supporting our work in creating opportunites for boys and young men of color. #WeaAreMBK
Raise The Age S.C. Law Passage
We are proud of our MBK Leaders & Young Ambassadors that traveled and advocated throughout the state in support of this issue. Special thanks to the leading efforts of the National Campaign For Youth Justice and Annie E Casey Foundation. MBK served as a leading member on the Raise The Age SC coalition of allies.
2019 Tywanza Sanders Legacy Foundation
Tywanza Sanders, 26-year-old victim of the 2015 massacre at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church, pursued his passion for entrepreneurship from an early age. Building on his success as the proprietor of a conventional lemonade stand outside his mother Felicia’s beauty salon, Sanders embraced a business mindset and continued to seek out new opportunities through his adolescent years into adulthood. Within his family, Sanders was also known for organizing summer camps and activities for his younger cousins. Creating a annual YEScarolina summer camp focused on entrepreneurship symbolizes an ideal memorial to his legacy. Our MBK Director served as a YEScarolina judge for the shark tank closing event.
Previous In The News...
Young People In Action.
Since 2015, My Brother's Keeper Alliance South Carolina has been making a difference in the lives of youth through a wide range of enrichment programs. Over the years, we have grown to be recognized as one of the leading Youth Organizations in South Carolina. Our programs have been featured in the media, and we’re proud to share all of our latest news with you. Check out what the press had to say about our previous achievements.
March 27, 2018
Carver Middle School Students learn to Lead.
June | 2017
Youth United Teen Camp 2017
Contact Us
Interested in our programs, supporting our work, or getting involved with My Brother's Keeper Alliance of South Carolina? Contact us today and see what we have to offer!
Spartanburg, SC, USA
864.266.3157