Legacy in Action: Empowering Youth, Building Futures
(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Youth Bureau, in collaboration with the Lower Hudson Valley My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the New York State My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, organized a Youth Leadership Symposium on Tuesday, April 21st, aimed at empowering young men of color and helping them overcome hurdles. Over 350 students, superintendents, and elected officials from Westchester County and Hudson Valley school districts came to the County Center in White Plains for the first in-person MBK symposium since 2019.
The symposium, part of the national My Brother’s Keeper initiative launched under former President Barack Obama, is designed to uplift young men of color while creating pathways to success through education, career exposure, and community engagement. Westchester’s collaboration with MBK reflects a growing local investment in youth-centered programming aimed at closing opportunity gaps and building stronger futures.
The event kicked off with inspirational messages from educational and community leaders and featured a keynote address by speaker, motivator, and author Brad Butler, II, entitled “From IEPs to Degrees.” Attendees then attended expert- and student-led panel discussions on a wide range of relevant topics, including the value of education in achieving lifelong success, teen dating and emotional resilience, and the impacts of social media and violence on youth culture.
During the Superintendents Fireside Chat segment, school district leaders from across the Hudson Valley didn’t just answer questions; they were challenged to name commitments, close gaps, and show up differently for the students who need them most. The conversations moved beyond acknowledgment and into action, with a challenge to make specific, measurable outcomes for the students and community partners who were present.
County officials say the initiative will bring together students, educators, community leaders, and mentors for a day of workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Topics are expected to include career readiness, mental health awareness, civic engagement, and leadership skills, all tailored to meet the evolving needs of today’s youth.
“The MBK Youth Leadership Symposium and events like it are invaluable to creating the confidence and skills needed for our young men of color to have a seat at the table. In a world that often defines people by what they lack, we can be inspired by the narratives shared today about how adversity can be the catalyst to success. I want them to understand that excellence is a habit to be practiced every day, and that they have the power to shape their own reality and make this community a better place,” said Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
The Youth Bureau’s involvement underscores its broader mission to advocate for, coordinate, and strengthen services for young people and families throughout the county. By aligning with the MBK Alliance, Westchester is reinforcing its role in a national movement dedicated to ensuring that all young people—especially those from underserved communities—have the tools and opportunities to succeed.
“At the Youth Bureau, our mission is to ensure every young person has access to the guidance, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Seeing hundreds of students come together with educators and community leaders reminds us that empowerment happens when young people are surrounded by support, inspiration, and opportunity,” said Westchester County Youth Bureau Executive Director Ernest McFadden.
“I was granted the opportunity to present in one of the breakout sessions on something I truly see myself doing in the future. The MBK event gave me the opportunity to build on what already exists within me. I wish we could be poured into like this more often. The statement that stuck with me is that ‘gems can be given freely, but their value depends on the hands that use them,’” said MBK New Rochelle student Quincy Fosu.
“The 2026 MBK Symposium was proof that when educators, policymakers, and young people occupy the same space with intention, something transformative happens. Those conversations don’t stay in the room; they travel home, into classrooms, into policy, and into the lives of young men across the Hudson Valley,” said Right NOW Leaders Host André G. Early.
More than a dozen students from Southern Westchester BOCES’ Rye Lake Campus joined hundreds of their peers for a day of inspiration, learning, and connection at the My Brother’s Keeper 2026 Youth Leadership Symposium.
“This was an eye-opening experience for our students,” said advisor and Rye Lake Campus Team Leader Curtis Anderson, who accompanied the SWBOCES delegation along with math teacher Monroe Anderson. “They saw firsthand that there is a system of support and brotherhood they can rely upon and be a part of themselves.”
Dr. Alexandria Connally, Assistant Director of Special Services at SWBOCES and Chair of the Westchester County Youth Board, said that having an MBK chapter at Southern Westchester BOCES is a natural extension of the organization’s shared mission.
“This was a powerful day, one that I am sure made an impact and will benefit our students well into their future,” Dr. Connally said.
For the thirty-two students from White Plains High School and Rochambeau Alternative High School, the experience resonated well beyond the sessions.
“We are so proud of the way our students showed up, and I truly believe it meant a great deal to them to have Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca there with them — and to have been chosen to participate in this event in the first place,” said House Administrator Monique Adams. “They left the summit feeling empowered, seen, and inspired, and their excitement and growth were evident.”
At a time when young people are navigating unprecedented challenges, initiatives like the 2026 Youth Leadership Symposium are more than timely—they are necessary. By joining forces with the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the Westchester County Youth Bureau is not just hosting an event—it’s investing in a generation, empowering voices, and helping shape the leaders of tomorrow.
