My Brother’s Keeper
President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.
In 2015, Montgomery County accepted the President’s MBK community challenge and formed the MBK committee, comprising public and private agency members as well as community and student leaders. The Collaboration Council is proud to serve as coordinator for this body.
Background
In January 2015, County Executive Isiah Leggett accepted the President’s “MBK Community Challenge.” Leggett called for citizens across various sectors to work with community partners, youth, and young adults in Montgomery County to design and implement an action plan to help youth of color. The Collaboration Council answered that call and spearheaded the movement by taking the lead for the local MBK initiative. The Collaboration Council’s Social Justice Director convened a committee of citizens from multiple sectors, both public and private.
Convening Partners
The committee boasts representation and participation from public agencies such as the County Executive’s office, the Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County Recreation Department, the Public Information Office, and the Office of Community Partnerships. Many youth-serving, community-based organizations are represented as well, including YMCA Youth and Family Services, Identity, the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), Pride Youth Services, and Lead4Life.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
The Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Committee is composed of various youth-serving system stakeholders tasked with addressing disparities in treatment and outcomes for youth of color. The committee reviews and analyzes policies, practices, and programs with a mission to ensure parity for youth of color.
The Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Reduction Committee is working to address disparities for youth of color in the juvenile justice system by looking at legislation, policies, decision-making, and resource gaps that can have negative effects on outcomes for youth.
Convening Partners:
Montgomery County Police Department, State’s Attorney’s Office, Office of the Public Defender, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Juvenile Court, Montgomery County Public Schools, Department of Health and Human Services, Youth Service Providers, Faith Community, Maryland Juvenile Justice Monitoring Office, Maryland Park Police, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Commission on Juvenile Justice, and Every Mind, Inc.
Black Breastfeeding Week
Communities across the country are working to increase breastfeeding rates among Black women. Mamatoto Village in Washington D.C., and Chocolate Milk Mommies in Birmingham, AL, are working to normalize breastfeeding for Black mothers.
Black Breastfeeding Week is held annually from August 25 – 31 to increase awareness about the racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. Due to social, cultural and historical inequities, Black women are known to have the lowest breastfeeding initiation rates and shortest breastfeeding duration.
Babies Born Healthy Montgomery County celebrated #BlackBreastfeedingWeek 2002 by hosting a free community event: “Building Our Village: Creating Continuity of Care and Creating Trust” on August 27, 2022.

Conservation Corps
- 81% Program Completion Rate- 26 of the young people initially enrolled completed program
- 3 youth earned their GED passing all 4 GED section
- 7 youth completed an additional combined 22 sections of the GED sections putting the section completion rate at 78% for those 7 young people
- 15 Corps Members earned OSHA-10 Certifications
- 4 Corps Members Earned EPA Watershed Management Certification
- 9 Corps Members Earned American Traffic Safety Associations Flagger Training Certifications
- Corps Members Maintained over 25,000 sq ft of M-NCCP and Montgomery County land through invasive species removal, weeding, and restoration.
- Corp Members loaded, planted and potted 850 trees and saplings