SULLIVAN COUNTY — On Friday, Feb. 16, Monticello’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellows, Judah Brown and Xavean Mitchell, attended the New York State My Brother’s Keeper Stand and Deliver Leadership workshop. MBK Fellows are identified as leaders in their communities and as part of the distinction, receive mentor relationship opportunities in government, education and business. 

The two joined other MBK Fellows from throughout the state, participating in a day-long experience in Albany with their mentors Naquan Holman and David Jett. Leaders from throughout the state presented to the crowd, and each Fellow delivered a speech about what the MBK program means to them and how it has impacted their lives.  

“It was an opportunity for our Fellows to stand up with pride and talk about the journey,” MCSD Director of Counseling, Social-Emotional Learning and Student Services Tokinma Killins, who accompanied the Fellows to the workshop, said. “They got to meet other people of color in leadership positions who have achieved great things, which helps to inspire them to achieve great things. It was a great reminder that excellence is the expectation of our ancestors, and we are our ancestors’ greatest hope.”  

Ms. Killins, who joined the Monticello team earlier this school year, is leading the helm of the MCSD MBK program, which initially launched in 2017. The program aims to provide young men of color with the tools they need for academic success, while fostering its core values of academic excellence, active engagement, empowerment, community responsiveness and brotherhood.  

Currently, the program offers a book club for students in grades 3-5, and academic tutoring for students in middle and high school. There is also a middle school “lunch bunch” group that meets with a staff member during lunch time to learn life skills and encourage strong school attendance.  

“The MBK program’s foundation is on academics,” Ms. Killins said. “We teach them to do what they have to do, so that later down the line they can do what they want to do. We want them to understand that education is the decision maker of whether you live a good or bad life.” 

Ms. Killins hopes to expand the program to include summer activities at local housing complexes, college tours, a winter retreat and a bi-annual picnic. She is already planning a large community event to be held on July 13 that will include workshops for students and their families covering topics such as completing the college application process, self-branding, developing family-school partnerships and advocating for services.