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Mount Vernon To Host 'My Brother's Keeper' Local Action Summit Saturday

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. - Less than two months after becoming the second municipality in Westchester County to accept President Barack Obama's "My Brother's Keeper Challenge," Mount Vernon school and city officials are teaming up to co-host a Local Action Summit to discuss how to best improve educational opportunities for the community.

Flanked by Schools Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton and other city stakeholders, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas accepted President Barack Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" challenge.

Flanked by Schools Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton and other city stakeholders, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas accepted President Barack Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" challenge.

 Photo Credit: Contributed
Mayor Thomas was joined by a coalition of stakeholders that included: School Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton, several members of the Mount Vernon City Council, clergy members, local nonprofit groups, and other community members.

Mayor Thomas was joined by a coalition of stakeholders that included: School Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton, several members of the Mount Vernon City Council, clergy members, local nonprofit groups, and other community members.

 Photo Credit: contributed
Mayor Thomas was joined by a coalition of stakeholders that included: School Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton, several members of the Mount Vernon City Council, clergy members, local nonprofit groups, and other community members.

Mayor Thomas was joined by a coalition of stakeholders that included: School Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton, several members of the Mount Vernon City Council, clergy members, local nonprofit groups, and other community members.

 Photo Credit: Contributed
Zak Failla
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In April, Mount Vernon became one of hundreds of municipalities - including New Rochelle, which accepted last year - in the country to heed the president's call, which is aimed at increasing and improving educational opportunities for youth, specifically those of color, in the city.

As part of the challenge, the city will host a Local Action Summit next week at the Doles Center that will "bring together clergy, business owners, community stakeholders and young people to develop a comprehensive plan to improve the outcomes of young men and women in Mount Vernon." 

The summit will focus on creating action steps to address six areas of focus - the goals of the challenge - that will allow Mount Vernon students to succeed from kindergarten through graduation and their post-graduate lives.

Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and Schools Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton will issue opening remarks, with Edward Lawson providing the keynote address. Lawson, a founding member of the federally-funded Fathers Incorporated charity, serves as the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse coordinator and is credited with spearheading Obama's Fatherhood Buzz Barbershop Initiative. 

The Mount Vernon My Brother's Keeper Local Action Summit will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 11 at the Doles Community Center on South 6th Avenue. 

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