Peekskill MBK Program

Our My Brother’s Keeper Story – “Lifting as We Climb”

My Brother’s Keeper has become an important part of the Peekskill story.

The New York State My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative seeks to “Change the Narrative” for boys and young men of color, and for all students, by addressing opportunity gaps and creating pathways that help young people reach their full potential.

Our MBK journey officially began in the Peekskill City School District during the 2018–2019 school year, with our official acceptance and Mayoral Proclamation in December 2018. While MBK work was happening in Peekskill before 2018, under the leadership of Dr. Mauricio, we felt strongly that our students and community had a story that deserved to be heard.

Since then, that story has continued to grow...

Today, MBK is part of the experience of students at Hillcrest Elementary School, Peekskill Middle School, and Peekskill High School. Our work across all three schools helps create connections, opportunities, and support for students as they continue their educational journey.

Our work is guided by the six foundational My Brother’s Keeper milestones, which provide a framework for supporting young people from school readiness through graduation, post secondary education, employment, and safety. These milestones remind us that supporting students is about more than what happens in the classroom. It is about belonging, relationships, leadership, opportunity, and helping young people see a future for themselves.

This work is deeply connected to Peekskill Pride. We are proud of our students, our community, and the people who continue to invest in our young people. It is also connected to the Peekskill Promise, our commitment to making sure every student is seen, supported, encouraged, and given opportunities to discover their own path.

In 2024, Peekskill MBK became an Obama Foundation Certified Community, an important milestone that reflects the work of our students, families, educators, community members, and partners.

But this is not the end of our story. Our goal is to continue growing our MBK community and, through our work with the Obama Foundation, become a model community that demonstrates what is possible when a community comes together for its young people.

Our story is still being written every day by our students. Their voices, experiences, accomplishments, and dreams are what make this work meaningful.

This is our story. This is Peekskill Pride. This is the Peekskill Promise. This is My Brother’s Keeper.

Click here to read about the MBK 6 Milestones.