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Next week, Hamilton will host a dinner with staff, dignitaries, students and members of the community, where they will discuss ways to create a better climate for “young men and women of color to live and learn in.”
Last year, Mount Vernon became the second Westchester County municipality - behind its neighbors in New Rochelle - to accept former President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” challenge, which is designed to increase and improve opportunities for youth, specifically minorities, in cities throughout the country.
Under the challenge, all children will be emotionally, socially and physically prepared to attend classes, with all children literate by the third grade. Other specific goals include ensuring that every youth graduates high school, completes post-secondary education and come out prepared for gainful employment.
Hamilton will host his summit, which is scheduled to include more than 100 students of color, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9 at the Mount Vernon High School.
“This will be a memorable evening of critical thinking that I hope will spark action towards the improvement of the city’s schools and the community,” Hamilton said. “These young men ill provide valuable input for this critical conversation.”
“My Brother’s Keeper is a pledge for all of us to look at one another as brothers and sisters and recommit to try to keep them out of harm’s way. It's very easy for young people in Mount Vernon to become a statistic, " Thomas said. “I was fortunate enough to have loving people and a united community reach out to me at a young age. I want to extend that same hope and helping hand to the young people in our community.”
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