Join In the First-Ever MBK "What Works Showcase"

What an amazing week this has been for MBK and our shared efforts to expand opportunity for our kids! I’m writing to tell you the excitement continues next week, as we host the inaugural MBK “What Works Showcase” on Monday, October 17 from 9:30 am – 12:15 pm ET at the White House. And, you can watch live at https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/live. Spread the word!

Last Thursday, in a major event on innovation, the President said: "We've applied data and evidence to social policy, to find out what works, to scale up when it works - and stop funding things that don’t, thereby fostering a new era of social innovation."  Built into the DNA of My Brother’s Keeper is the idea of finding and scaling what works best for all youth, including boys and young men of color.  We’ve learned a lot over the last eight years, in large part thanks to courageous community organizations that are rigorously examining their work and finding the best, most effective ways to help youth in need.  All of us seeking better outcomes for boys and young men of color and more broadly advancing opportunity and justice for all youth can benefit from seeing these models and learning how they’re using data and evidence to measurably improve lives.

We encourage you to watch the livestream of the MBK “What Works Showcase,” which we will co-host with the U.S. Department of Education, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and Results for America on Monday, October 17.  In a science-fair meets demo-day style event, the MBK “What Works Showcase” will feature more than thirty of the nation’s premiere organizations and interventions with rigorous evidence of impact across MBK’s cradle-to-college-and-career-goals. We encourage you to tune in on Monday, October 17 from 9:30 am – 12:15 pm ET: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/live.

“That’s what ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ is all about. Helping more of our young people stay on track. Providing the support they need to think more broadly about their future. Building on what works – when it works, in those critical life-changing moments.”

President Barack Obama, February 27, 2014

As the President said when he launched MBK, the initiative is about “building on what works – when it works, in those critical life-changing moments.” This means a commitment to use data to inform and improve service delivery, and working to develop and scale interventions with evidence of success to ensure all young people can reach their full potential. And the Administration is committed to supporting communities find and scale what works. Through programs like Investing in Innovation Fund, and the Social Innovation Fund, and solutions like Pay for Success and outcomes-focused grant making, the Administration has evaluated, funded and to help grow many of the community organizations featured in the What Works Showcase. Today these better, more effective solutions are making a measurable difference in the lives of youth across the country and helping shape a brighter future for America.

The What Works Showcase will feature the following program models and interventions with rigorous evidence of impact across MBK’s cradle-to-college-and-career-goals:

Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn

*       Child First
*       The Nurse-Family Partnership Program
*       Triple P (Positive Parenting Program)

Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade

*       Children’s Literacy Initiative
*       Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Public Broadcasting Service’s Ready to Learn Initiative
*       Reading Partners
*       Reading Recovery
*       Success for All

Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career

*       Children's Aid Society - Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
*       City Year, Inc. Whole School, Whole Child and Diplomas Now
*       College and Career Academies Support Network
*       The Eisenhower Foundation’s Quantum Opportunities Model
*       African American Male Achievement Manhood Development Program
*       Urban Alliance
*       Urban Prep

Completing Postsecondary Education or Training

*       Bottom Line
*       City University of New York’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs
*       Year Up

Successfully Entering the Workforce

*       Homeboy Industries
*       National Fund for Workforce Solutions
*       Per Scholas
*       YouthBuild

Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances

*       Center for Employment Opportunities
*       Cure Violence Health Model
*       Reading for Life Diversion Program
*       Roca Inc.
*       U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success
*       The Yunion’s Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy
*       Youth Guidance’s Becoming a Man

Empowering Parents and Engaging Caring Adults and Mentors

*       Big Brothers Big Sisters
*       Flamboyan Foundation’s Family Engagement Program
*       iMentor
*       MBK National Success Mentor Corps

You can download the full program here.

Dave Wilkinson is Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.