Today on The Breakfast Club, Dr. Steven A. Chambers Talks NYC Young Men's Initiative, Hustle Culture, Destigmatizing Mental Health Care. Listen For More!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Every day a week ago, clicks up the Breakfast Club.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You don't finish for y'all. Done morning.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Everybody is DJ Envy just hilarious, Charlamagne and the gud
We are the Breakfast Club. Law La Rose is here
as well, and we got a special guest in the building.
We sure do from Hampton University, Hampton and Mom, you
don't see many people from Delaware State up here, but
we have doctor Stephen chamber as welcome brother, Thank you man.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Good morning y'all. Morn.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
I would like to apologize just to start because you
ended up at that.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
School and I mean it was a blessing. It is.
Speaker 5 (00:35):
Delaware State University. But go ahead.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, that's all.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Is executive director of the NYC Young Men's Initiative.
Speaker 6 (00:42):
You're back again.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
So well, first of all, this is the first time
we're meeting. Yes, you just got this role or breakdown.
First of all, what the New York Young Men's Initiative is.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Why it's needed? Yeah? Absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
We are a basically a thirty million dollar mayor office
that is now housed within the Mayor's Office Equity and
Racial Justice. It's an initiative that started in twenty eleven
in the Bloomberg administration. So we're celebrating fifteen years this year,
and the goal of the initiative is to reduce disparity
(01:14):
gaps for black and brown young men, particularly ages fourteen
twenty four, but a lot of our programs and initiatives
go even beyond that, up until thirty and sometimes a
little younger. So our goal is to really increase the livelihood,
the success rates, the general health of black and brown
(01:38):
young men. But I'll also say that, even though that
is our mission right now, we are very like rooted
in data. So if the data says that we need
to emphasize or support a different demographic, then that's something
obviously we would do. But unfortunately, the data continues to
persist that black and brown young men have the highest
needs across many indicators of our social determinants of health.
Speaker 6 (02:02):
So what are some of the programs that you guys
are doing.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, so well, right now, we're celebrating ten years of
NYC Men Teach, which is one of our flagship programs.
It is basically in service to increase the pipeline of
teachers and making sure we have more black and brown
teachers in the classroom because we know that when students
see teachers that look like them, and this is not
(02:25):
even just like black and brown students. Like data shows
that if you if you see black and brown teachers,
the whole community benefits in the classroom and in the school.
And so that's a program that's near and dear to
my heart. They've made a lot of progress, Like we've
touched over three thousand black and brown teachers that are
(02:48):
men who are now in the district because of this program.
And I started my career as a teacher, So for me,
this hits close to home, and I know that in
a lot of ways, education is the foundation for a
lot of folks, especially how they show up in the
world and how they contribute to society.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So really happy about that one.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
We're also right now celebrating a new initiative that we're
about to launch, and maybe we'll talk about this a
little later, but it's called NYC Men Heal, which is, yeah,
also like a replication of the Men Teach model. So
with the same logic that when you have like black
and brown men in the classroom, the exposure for students
(03:29):
is increased and the community engagement is increased.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
We want to try that in the behavioral health space.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
So we're focused on Masters of social work black and
brown men who are pursuing masters and mental health counseling.
And so we're about to pilot this this fall where
we will actually be supporting a group of about twenty
five black and brown men who are pursuing their master's
degrees in either of those directions and providing them with
(03:56):
wrap around supports. So that means like we're going to
give them stipid because we know cost of living here
is crazy. We want to give We're want to pay
for testing and retest because statistics show that unfortunately black
and brown men struggle with with standardized tests. I can
I can personally attest to that. And we're also going
to provide mentors help them get job placement. So we're
(04:19):
really we're excited about and this is you know, June
is Men's Mental Health months.
Speaker 7 (04:22):
So yeah, I'm sorry because I'm going this early, and
everybody was.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Like, no, it's not yes, it is yeah, Selam say no, yes,
and he's met missed the mental health.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
He posted about it on his Instagram. It happened, And so.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
We're gonna because of that, We're gonna do like a
public launch of it in a couple of weeks June eighteenth,
so day before, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Exactly, And that's intentional, and we want to make.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Sure that there is like perspective students in the room,
We got stakeholders in the room. We're going to get
our deputy mayors there, our commissioner there, the commissioner from
the Mayor's Office of Equity, and a couple other commissioners
that we're partnering with. But we have about twenty programs
like across various city agencies. These are just some of
the big ones that are top of mind right now.
(05:15):
I also say we have Acunity Fatherhood Academy that I'm
really passionate about as well, where we're trying to support
fathers who either don't have their diplomas or their college degrees,
and we provide them with training to get their high
school equivalency but also their degrees and like classes and
(05:36):
workshops to help them become better fathers.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
And that's right right now. That's happening in.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Three quny three munity locations, but we're working to do
some expansion work there too, so really trying to hit
it all with a.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Limited budget, right I know you mentioned thirty million dollars. Yeah,
that seems like a lot. But for all the people
in New York City exactly needs this help, how do
you guys decide who gets to help, Who get stipend,
who gets the degree, Yeah, the actual education opposed to
who doesn't.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, that's a good that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I appreciate that question because there's a lot of complexity
of that one.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I'm always looking at data.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So I'm looking at what are the disparities that this
city has. Every five years, why am I puts out
what we call a disparity report. This year we're putting
out the next disparity report. And in that disparity report,
we look at four indicators. We're looking at education, We're
looking at health, we look at we call the justice system,
(06:34):
but I called the criminal legal system because you know,
I have issues with the justice work.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And then and then we have employment.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
So those four indicators are the big buckets for.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Us, and that's where our mission is rooted.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And so we look at those indicators and then we
look at the data connected to them, and then we
look at the city agencies that do work in those
areas and decide where we want to make an impact.
So for example, we have in the Department of Probations,
we have what's called rap sheet Cleanup, so we help
young people, young men in particular, come in. We have
(07:09):
lawyers look through their rap sheets, make sure there's no errors,
train them on how to like communicate what's on their
rap sheet when they're applying for jobs so that they
can walk in confidently for interviews and let people know like, look,
this is what happened, this is why it happens.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Give them some context and some training behind that.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
And so, like to answer your question, DJ, like, we
want to make sure that all.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Of the different buckets have coverage.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Like those four that I mentioned, we want to make
sure that we have programs making an impact in all
of those areas. I just started in January, So one
thing that I do when I hit the ground is
like I bring the team together and we do some
retreat work. And in that retreat this year, what we
did was look at those four indicators, look at our
program portfolio, and then like match it up. Where are
(07:58):
we underrepresented, where we over represent it, and that's where
we invest the money that we invest. A lot of
city agencies also reach out to us and say, hey,
we have a program right now, we're talking to the
health and hospitals and they want to do some mental
health work and they sent over a proposal. So in
(08:19):
that instance, we would look at the proposal. Sometimes we
have to do a request for proposals to keep it equitable,
to make sure anybody who is a provider can come
to the table and say I can help this agency
bring their program to life through the work that we
do in our provider's space.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
What about for jobs that are not your traditional jobs, right, yeah, teachers,
not lawyers, not attorneys, not businessman. Let's say to somebody
that's outside of the box that wants to do something,
do you.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Guys trade for that as well?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Somebody I'm just going to use a streamer, or somebody
wants to be a manager, or they want to be
in an entertainment industry, or they want to be a
sneaker design or clothes designer. Do you help with those
young because started fourteen those young kids as well.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So we do a lot of different types of employer engagement.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
So one way we.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Hit that is through the Department of Youth and Community Development.
We have a mentorship program, huge program and in the
mentorship program, they're exposed to a lot of different pieces
community service, different jobs, and different job pathways. We know
ai is is hitting as cars, and so we want
to think about careers and preparation for careers.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
In a different way a lot of times.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
I was just community the other day and we were
sitting around with the Blackmail Initiative group, and they were
some of the visitors in the room were saying like, oh,
we need to have a college fair and a career fair,
and they named the traditional ones, and I'm like, yes,
and what about these other career Like I got homies
that like get six figures a month on just streaming.
(09:52):
So I'm like, everybody's not trying to go into the courtroom.
So what are some of the ways that we can
infuse some and some exposure in some of our programs
like mentorship. We have programs at New York City public schools,
we have what's called student success centers where we actually
have other students preparing, like seniors and juniors, our partner
(10:16):
with freshmen and sophomores and like saying, look, we know
that this is something that we've experienced as upperclassmen in
terms of preparation for the career field, and they bring
that into the counseling space with the formal counselors, but
they also bring their experience there with students we also do.
(10:39):
DYCD also has some what's called Advance and Earn, which
is supporting students with high school writing, high school diploma,
so getting their diploma, getting their degrees, but also preparing
them for careers that are not always the traditional career paths.
And that's funding that's going to training. So we're trying
(11:02):
to be creative and there's so much more work that
I think we need to be doing.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So this is, like I said, this is like month
five for me.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
So I'm right now just kind of doing a landscape
analysis of like where are we making the impact we
want to make and then where can we do more?
Speaker 7 (11:17):
And then what's the biggest issue that you see young
men of color facing in New York City?
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Yeah, I'm like, my my baby right now is the
NYC Men Hell Pilot. And so my big bet in
this work is mental health just to be honest, like
it's I mean, if you look at the statistics around
suicide and depression, isolation, and this is not just men
of color. This is like like nationally, men are exceeding
(11:48):
statistics compared to women in terms of all of those indicators,
but then when you drill down more to men of color,
it's even more it's even more of a problem.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And so I want to spend more.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Of our funded support and partnership thinking of creative ways
to hit the mental health issue.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
And that's not just men heal.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Where you're bringing in professionals, but also thinking about the
informal ways that mental health can be supported, like the.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yogas, the like the outdoors.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
We're talking to a group right now who takes young
men and goes camping, and that camping is like connected
to a mental health model. We have like different schools,
colleges and high schools are implementing apps. I was just
on a call with the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene and we have a program there public health careers,
(12:47):
and half the students who presented created mental health apps.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Like they literally created mental health apps.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
And I'm like, so this is not only a problem
that we see in research, but y'all know as high
schoolers that this is something that you need to respond to.
So now you know in this seat, I'm thinking, Okay,
what can we do leveraging city funds, leveraging city tax
levy dollars and the mayor's office to actually make a
(13:15):
greater impact, because that that's I mean, we need to
hit it from all sides. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
I love the Black Men's Health program that you speak about. Now.
The thing is like, I know that you said it
got the apps and everything, the mental health apps. But
for me, I look at it another way where it's like,
in order to get to, you know, a better mental space,
a lot of these young men have to unplug, like
(13:39):
put down your devices, you know. But I get you know,
it's the way of the world, and we are technology
kings and queens now, I mean like everything runs from technology.
Speaker 5 (13:49):
So I do love and respect the fact.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
That they're trying to find help, like with apps like that.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
But I think I like.
Speaker 7 (13:56):
That if you're going camping and outdoors and you're connecting
with each other, we need that that connectivity between human yep,
you know, because a lot of people don't know how
to speak to that's real, yeah, behind the apps and there,
you know.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
So I agree, Yeah, and I think a lot of
I think that's a great point. And I think the
example of like the camping example, that's one of them.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
But I know and I also.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Think a lot of our So we're gonna be establishing
a youth council for for why am I, and creating
and developing those leadership skills, but also those interpersonal skills
where you're stepping away from the screen and really getting
that like human to human connection because I mean, like
gen z Jen Alpha, a lot of the the data
(14:38):
behind their depression and isolation is because of what you're
just saying. Yeah, so we need to think of like
alternative ways and even acknowledging that there's sometimes in a
lot of ways, a stigma around even just getting mental
health support.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
People think there's something wrong.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
With you if you have to go or even acknowledge
that you're depressed. I have lots of friends who have
experienced depression, myself included, and others who have faced and
even sometimes committed suicide.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
So it's and these are like all ages this is like.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And also just getting people to realize like like what
depression is. I think a lot of times when from
certain places you so used to just like pushing through,
working through until you get to a peaceful state. You
don't realize like, oh, I wasn't exactly like that too.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
That's such a good point, like the grind culture of like.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I'm gonna keep going, I'm gonna go, go, go, or
push through the challenges that you have, not realizing that
you're functional. You're functioning in a space of depression, and
just because you're functioning well in that space doesn't mean
that you're not depressed and don't need the support I
was gonna ask.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
You know, another thing that's very important, especially for our community,
is I would say the education when it comes to finances, right,
all their programs that start these kids off early learning
about credit.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Right, My son is all this.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Look Jack Jackson is eleven, he has six but you
know he's already talking to me about stocks and bonds.
But yes, his classmates are talking about you know. Uh
so when we come from an area where we don't
necessarily talk about investments, we're so late. But since he
has classmates that are their parents are doing, he's already
doing it. Are their programs that dive into that early,
(16:21):
open up their accounts early?
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I love that question. We need to do more of that.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
But we do have a program now that does that,
and the reason why I say we need we need
to do more is because right now the program we
have is a very targeted program. So right now we
have a program called Jobs Plus which happens in many
Nightscha communities across the city. And Jobs Plus not only
provides job training for for targeted communities, but it also
(16:50):
provides financial literacy. I was just at a site in
Brownsville on the other day and I was talking to
the tax prepair and she was like, yeah, I didn't
really prepare. I wasn't planning to do people's axes. I
was just here to give financial advice. But I went on,
I had a couple people asking me for support. So
she took like a free class to learn how to
do it and started doing people's taxes. And so like
that part and like training people to manage their money
(17:14):
well is something that is happening in that Jobs Plus program.
And to your point, DJ Envy, like, how do we
do that more with our school age children, our college students.
And that happens like organically and informally through the mentorship models,
because different campuses kind of do different things with their workshops.
But I do think we need to be more targeted
(17:37):
in how we hit that level of support.
Speaker 6 (17:39):
What about trade schools? Are you guys connected with trade schools?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
We don't have And that's another one, like we don't
have a lot of trade school like explicit connections.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Lincoln Tech is so big, especially in the area right yeah,
in New York. But some of these students might not
want to.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Go to exactly a four year degree.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Or not even a two year degree. They might say,
you know what, I'm ready to jump into learning how
to well.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Do learning h back, learning electric electricians is very import
even you know, being a nurse.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Especially with a like when I think of like, how
is like moving through our workforce? Trade schools in my
opinion are even more important than they were before.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
And so I can't be playing can't exactly and I
don't want to a barber.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
So I'm like that's like, so I'm thinking of like,
I mean the point that you made when I think
of the gaps, that's a gap, Like we need to
do more there. I was just at HBCU prep out
in Queens and I was like, this is yeah, it's beautiful.
Yeah they do and the principle with to Dell State
(18:40):
and so and rightfully so, but you know what, they
got a Hampton house, so yeah, you gotta you gotta
pull up.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
We've been supposed to get out there though.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Beautiful.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
I know the day that I forget what happened, there
was something that happened that day together.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, you should go.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Doctor Johnson is great and and I know she really
wants to get more community engagement. They're doing a beautiful
work there and we want to partner with them, and
we want to partner with.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Trade schools as well.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Like we got to hit it from all sides because
every student is not going everywhere, that's right.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
Yeah you remember like job Corp. Yeah, yes, my brother
went there, he learned.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Soch my cousin's going, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
And all American trade school you go to get your CDLs,
all little things, all of those things are gone.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
They're losing funding.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
Yes, it's very important to you know, implement those things.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
That's a good point because when I was in high school,
going to a trade high school was like the thing
in Delaware just because.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
They were like the better schools.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
And now it's people mad people I know that are
actually living off of the trades that we went and
got in school.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Like yeah, like a lot of.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
My friends at home, like they're they're doing the trades
that we went to school for, which wow.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Yeah, that that's a that's a note I'm definitely taking
that we we want to push in more with trade
school supports and just the non traditional career pathways.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
That that's work we definitely have to do.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Because if if I could do it all over, I
would go to trade school for a year.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
I still him.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Let me tell you why. The other day one of
my pipes bursts. It was his forearm water.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Yeah, and I wish I didn't even know what the
crib like, and I would the water off of your house.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I figured out the other day mom My mom did
she lay hot?
Speaker 5 (20:20):
Well, not anymore, but she used to lay till she carpetry.
All that, I can turn on.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Water.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
I could do circuit breakers. I know, I know what, Queen. Yeah,
I don't know what.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
I didn't know what to do. So but but I'm saying,
if I would have just took at least a year,
I would know a little bit to survive until Monday.
And I had to pay five hundred dollars quick cold
and then the fix, and it was.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Like you could have faced time my mom, she would
have told you how to.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Love that your face time.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
His coworker's mother wow to help him on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
So now how can she be day People get involved
with Young Men's Initiative involved if they need.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
To, so you can go to all of our socials
or NYC Young Men Instagram, LinkedIn Facebook.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
But also we have events happening across the city.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
So one thing we try to do is like through
our programming hit the more longer term impact, but through
our events we try to do the more acute short term.
So we just had a college signing day celebrating all
of our students in then my Brother's Keeper, my Sister's
Keeper program and shout out to our sister agency NYC
her Future, who does the exact same work that we do,
(21:35):
but for young girls and women. And so we try
to do events like that to celebrate more of the
good things that our young people are doing. So if
people ever want to get plugged in, they can check
us out on our socials see what's happening there. We're
also under the umbrella of the Mayor's Office of Equity
and Racial Justice, so both websites Mayor's Office Equity, Why
am I, and then I would also shout out NYC
(21:57):
her future as well. So any any anyway, if you
see events, if you see programs that you're interested in,
all of the agencies that we partner with.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Have their own outreach efforts as well.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
So if you go to Department of Youth and Community Development,
you can find programs that why am I fund? Same
with public Schools, CuNi, and like about ten other city agencies.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Now, if there's one message you could personally give some
of these black and brown brothers out there, what message
would you give these younger generations?
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Yeah, I mean my message would definitely be poured into yourself.
I think if we can heal ourselves, then we can
help heal our communities.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
But I think it also starts acknowledging.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
That healing is necessary, and healing has different layers and
different levels.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
You may not need with somebody else needs, but you should.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I think we should all be reflective, we should all
be iterating, and all be like thinking about ways that
we can improve. Every day I'm reflecting on like, Okay,
how could I have done what I did yet yesterday better?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
And I know that that.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Plus surrounding myself with positive friends was like my key
to success. Like my friends, especially the ones that went
to Hampton with me my freshman year.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
We're still best friends. Yeah, and we still hold each
other down. We're still at each.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Other's weddings, funerals, like barbecues like and we push each
other and we hold each other accountable. And that healing piece,
though it's internal, I think initially, I think it also
like moves through your social groups as well.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
I love that you said poor.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
I always look at poor as a acronym. So pause,
open up, unwine and restore. Oh yeah, I love.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
That you unwind and restore.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
I like that, you know, for men and women, the youth,
young girls, and young guys, I have a foundation not
always go buy that. You know, we help young women,
older women, families, all of that. And that's what I
had a Mother's Day event recently, and that that was
an aim of it. Women who pour, I love that
you said it just pouring to yourself poor into each other.
You never know what somebody else is going through. So
(24:06):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Yeah, I love that too. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Appreciate you for joining us, doctor Stephen, Thanks for having
the New York City Young Men's Initiative, And thank you
so much.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Yeah, thank you, thanks you.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Hampton's own doctor Delaware, Delaware, Ohio.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Sorry, just leave it.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Don't put that on. I'm sorry. It's the breakfast cloaking.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Morning every day wakes up the breakfast club.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
You don't finish with, y'all done,
Every day a week ago, clicks up the Breakfast Club.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You don't finish for y'all. Done morning.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Everybody is DJ Envy just hilarious, Charlamagne and the gud
We are the Breakfast Club. Law La Rose is here
as well, and we got a special guest in the building.
We sure do from Hampton University, Hampton and Mom, you
don't see many people from Delaware State up here, but
we have doctor Stephen chamber as welcome brother, Thank you man.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Good morning y'all. Morn.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
I would like to apologize just to start because you
ended up at that.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
School and I mean it was a blessing. It is.
Speaker 5 (00:35):
Delaware State University. But go ahead.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, that's all.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Is executive director of the NYC Young Men's Initiative.
Speaker 6 (00:42):
You're back again.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
So well, first of all, this is the first time
we're meeting. Yes, you just got this role or breakdown.
First of all, what the New York Young Men's Initiative is.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Why it's needed? Yeah? Absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
We are a basically a thirty million dollar mayor office
that is now housed within the Mayor's Office Equity and
Racial Justice. It's an initiative that started in twenty eleven
in the Bloomberg administration. So we're celebrating fifteen years this year,
and the goal of the initiative is to reduce disparity
(01:14):
gaps for black and brown young men, particularly ages fourteen
twenty four, but a lot of our programs and initiatives
go even beyond that, up until thirty and sometimes a
little younger. So our goal is to really increase the livelihood,
the success rates, the general health of black and brown
(01:38):
young men. But I'll also say that, even though that
is our mission right now, we are very like rooted
in data. So if the data says that we need
to emphasize or support a different demographic, then that's something
obviously we would do. But unfortunately, the data continues to
persist that black and brown young men have the highest
needs across many indicators of our social determinants of health.
Speaker 6 (02:02):
So what are some of the programs that you guys
are doing.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, so well, right now, we're celebrating ten years of
NYC Men Teach, which is one of our flagship programs.
It is basically in service to increase the pipeline of
teachers and making sure we have more black and brown
teachers in the classroom because we know that when students
see teachers that look like them, and this is not
(02:25):
even just like black and brown students. Like data shows
that if you if you see black and brown teachers,
the whole community benefits in the classroom and in the school.
And so that's a program that's near and dear to
my heart. They've made a lot of progress, Like we've
touched over three thousand black and brown teachers that are
(02:48):
men who are now in the district because of this program.
And I started my career as a teacher, So for me,
this hits close to home, and I know that in
a lot of ways, education is the foundation for a
lot of folks, especially how they show up in the
world and how they contribute to society.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So really happy about that one.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
We're also right now celebrating a new initiative that we're
about to launch, and maybe we'll talk about this a
little later, but it's called NYC Men Heal, which is, yeah,
also like a replication of the Men Teach model. So
with the same logic that when you have like black
and brown men in the classroom, the exposure for students
(03:29):
is increased and the community engagement is increased.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
We want to try that in the behavioral health space.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
So we're focused on Masters of social work black and
brown men who are pursuing masters and mental health counseling.
And so we're about to pilot this this fall where
we will actually be supporting a group of about twenty
five black and brown men who are pursuing their master's
degrees in either of those directions and providing them with
(03:56):
wrap around supports. So that means like we're going to
give them stipid because we know cost of living here
is crazy. We want to give We're want to pay
for testing and retest because statistics show that unfortunately black
and brown men struggle with with standardized tests. I can
I can personally attest to that. And we're also going
to provide mentors help them get job placement. So we're
(04:19):
really we're excited about and this is you know, June
is Men's Mental Health months.
Speaker 7 (04:22):
So yeah, I'm sorry because I'm going this early, and
everybody was.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Like, no, it's not yes, it is yeah, Selam say no, yes,
and he's met missed the mental health.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
He posted about it on his Instagram. It happened, And so.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
We're gonna because of that, We're gonna do like a
public launch of it in a couple of weeks June eighteenth,
so day before, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Exactly, And that's intentional, and we want to make.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Sure that there is like perspective students in the room,
We got stakeholders in the room. We're going to get
our deputy mayors there, our commissioner there, the commissioner from
the Mayor's Office of Equity, and a couple other commissioners
that we're partnering with. But we have about twenty programs
like across various city agencies. These are just some of
the big ones that are top of mind right now.
(05:15):
I also say we have Acunity Fatherhood Academy that I'm
really passionate about as well, where we're trying to support
fathers who either don't have their diplomas or their college degrees,
and we provide them with training to get their high
school equivalency but also their degrees and like classes and
(05:36):
workshops to help them become better fathers.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
And that's right right now. That's happening in.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Three quny three munity locations, but we're working to do
some expansion work there too, so really trying to hit
it all with a.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Limited budget, right I know you mentioned thirty million dollars. Yeah,
that seems like a lot. But for all the people
in New York City exactly needs this help, how do
you guys decide who gets to help, Who get stipend,
who gets the degree, Yeah, the actual education opposed to
who doesn't.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, that's a good that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I appreciate that question because there's a lot of complexity
of that one.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I'm always looking at data.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So I'm looking at what are the disparities that this
city has. Every five years, why am I puts out
what we call a disparity report. This year we're putting
out the next disparity report. And in that disparity report,
we look at four indicators. We're looking at education, We're
looking at health, we look at we call the justice system,
(06:34):
but I called the criminal legal system because you know,
I have issues with the justice work.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And then and then we have employment.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
So those four indicators are the big buckets for.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Us, and that's where our mission is rooted.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And so we look at those indicators and then we
look at the data connected to them, and then we
look at the city agencies that do work in those
areas and decide where we want to make an impact.
So for example, we have in the Department of Probations,
we have what's called rap sheet Cleanup, so we help
young people, young men in particular, come in. We have
(07:09):
lawyers look through their rap sheets, make sure there's no errors,
train them on how to like communicate what's on their
rap sheet when they're applying for jobs so that they
can walk in confidently for interviews and let people know like, look,
this is what happened, this is why it happens.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Give them some context and some training behind that.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
And so, like to answer your question, DJ, like, we
want to make sure that all.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Of the different buckets have coverage.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Like those four that I mentioned, we want to make
sure that we have programs making an impact in all
of those areas. I just started in January, So one
thing that I do when I hit the ground is
like I bring the team together and we do some
retreat work. And in that retreat this year, what we
did was look at those four indicators, look at our
program portfolio, and then like match it up. Where are
(07:58):
we underrepresented, where we over represent it, and that's where
we invest the money that we invest. A lot of
city agencies also reach out to us and say, hey,
we have a program right now, we're talking to the
health and hospitals and they want to do some mental
health work and they sent over a proposal. So in
(08:19):
that instance, we would look at the proposal. Sometimes we
have to do a request for proposals to keep it equitable,
to make sure anybody who is a provider can come
to the table and say I can help this agency
bring their program to life through the work that we
do in our provider's space.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
What about for jobs that are not your traditional jobs, right, yeah, teachers,
not lawyers, not attorneys, not businessman. Let's say to somebody
that's outside of the box that wants to do something,
do you.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Guys trade for that as well?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Somebody I'm just going to use a streamer, or somebody
wants to be a manager, or they want to be
in an entertainment industry, or they want to be a
sneaker design or clothes designer. Do you help with those
young because started fourteen those young kids as well.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So we do a lot of different types of employer engagement.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
So one way we.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Hit that is through the Department of Youth and Community Development.
We have a mentorship program, huge program and in the
mentorship program, they're exposed to a lot of different pieces
community service, different jobs, and different job pathways. We know
ai is is hitting as cars, and so we want
to think about careers and preparation for careers.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
In a different way a lot of times.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
I was just community the other day and we were
sitting around with the Blackmail Initiative group, and they were
some of the visitors in the room were saying like, oh,
we need to have a college fair and a career fair,
and they named the traditional ones, and I'm like, yes,
and what about these other career Like I got homies
that like get six figures a month on just streaming.
(09:52):
So I'm like, everybody's not trying to go into the courtroom.
So what are some of the ways that we can
infuse some and some exposure in some of our programs
like mentorship. We have programs at New York City public schools,
we have what's called student success centers where we actually
have other students preparing, like seniors and juniors, our partner
(10:16):
with freshmen and sophomores and like saying, look, we know
that this is something that we've experienced as upperclassmen in
terms of preparation for the career field, and they bring
that into the counseling space with the formal counselors, but
they also bring their experience there with students we also do.
(10:39):
DYCD also has some what's called Advance and Earn, which
is supporting students with high school writing, high school diploma,
so getting their diploma, getting their degrees, but also preparing
them for careers that are not always the traditional career paths.
And that's funding that's going to training. So we're trying
(11:02):
to be creative and there's so much more work that
I think we need to be doing.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So this is, like I said, this is like month
five for me.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
So I'm right now just kind of doing a landscape
analysis of like where are we making the impact we
want to make and then where can we do more?
Speaker 7 (11:17):
And then what's the biggest issue that you see young
men of color facing in New York City?
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Yeah, I'm like, my my baby right now is the
NYC Men Hell Pilot. And so my big bet in
this work is mental health just to be honest, like
it's I mean, if you look at the statistics around
suicide and depression, isolation, and this is not just men
of color. This is like like nationally, men are exceeding
(11:48):
statistics compared to women in terms of all of those indicators,
but then when you drill down more to men of color,
it's even more it's even more of a problem.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And so I want to spend more.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Of our funded support and partnership thinking of creative ways
to hit the mental health issue.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
And that's not just men heal.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Where you're bringing in professionals, but also thinking about the
informal ways that mental health can be supported, like the.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yogas, the like the outdoors.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
We're talking to a group right now who takes young
men and goes camping, and that camping is like connected
to a mental health model. We have like different schools,
colleges and high schools are implementing apps. I was just
on a call with the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene and we have a program there public health careers,
(12:47):
and half the students who presented created mental health apps.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Like they literally created mental health apps.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
And I'm like, so this is not only a problem
that we see in research, but y'all know as high
schoolers that this is something that you need to respond to.
So now you know in this seat, I'm thinking, Okay,
what can we do leveraging city funds, leveraging city tax
levy dollars and the mayor's office to actually make a
(13:15):
greater impact, because that that's I mean, we need to
hit it from all sides. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
I love the Black Men's Health program that you speak about. Now.
The thing is like, I know that you said it
got the apps and everything, the mental health apps. But
for me, I look at it another way where it's like,
in order to get to, you know, a better mental space,
a lot of these young men have to unplug, like
(13:39):
put down your devices, you know. But I get you know,
it's the way of the world, and we are technology
kings and queens now, I mean like everything runs from technology.
Speaker 5 (13:49):
So I do love and respect the fact.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
That they're trying to find help, like with apps like that.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
But I think I like.
Speaker 7 (13:56):
That if you're going camping and outdoors and you're connecting
with each other, we need that that connectivity between human yep,
you know, because a lot of people don't know how
to speak to that's real, yeah, behind the apps and there,
you know.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
So I agree, Yeah, and I think a lot of
I think that's a great point. And I think the
example of like the camping example, that's one of them.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
But I know and I also.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Think a lot of our So we're gonna be establishing
a youth council for for why am I, and creating
and developing those leadership skills, but also those interpersonal skills
where you're stepping away from the screen and really getting
that like human to human connection because I mean, like
gen z Jen Alpha, a lot of the the data
(14:38):
behind their depression and isolation is because of what you're
just saying. Yeah, so we need to think of like
alternative ways and even acknowledging that there's sometimes in a
lot of ways, a stigma around even just getting mental
health support.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
People think there's something wrong.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
With you if you have to go or even acknowledge
that you're depressed. I have lots of friends who have
experienced depression, myself included, and others who have faced and
even sometimes committed suicide.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
So it's and these are like all ages this is like.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And also just getting people to realize like like what
depression is. I think a lot of times when from
certain places you so used to just like pushing through,
working through until you get to a peaceful state. You
don't realize like, oh, I wasn't exactly like that too.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
That's such a good point, like the grind culture of like.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I'm gonna keep going, I'm gonna go, go, go, or
push through the challenges that you have, not realizing that
you're functional. You're functioning in a space of depression, and
just because you're functioning well in that space doesn't mean
that you're not depressed and don't need the support I
was gonna ask.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
You know, another thing that's very important, especially for our community,
is I would say the education when it comes to finances, right,
all their programs that start these kids off early learning
about credit.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Right, My son is all this.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Look Jack Jackson is eleven, he has six but you
know he's already talking to me about stocks and bonds.
But yes, his classmates are talking about you know. Uh
so when we come from an area where we don't
necessarily talk about investments, we're so late. But since he
has classmates that are their parents are doing, he's already
doing it. Are their programs that dive into that early,
(16:21):
open up their accounts early?
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I love that question. We need to do more of that.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
But we do have a program now that does that,
and the reason why I say we need we need
to do more is because right now the program we
have is a very targeted program. So right now we
have a program called Jobs Plus which happens in many
Nightscha communities across the city. And Jobs Plus not only
provides job training for for targeted communities, but it also
(16:50):
provides financial literacy. I was just at a site in
Brownsville on the other day and I was talking to
the tax prepair and she was like, yeah, I didn't
really prepare. I wasn't planning to do people's axes. I
was just here to give financial advice. But I went on,
I had a couple people asking me for support. So
she took like a free class to learn how to
do it and started doing people's taxes. And so like
that part and like training people to manage their money
(17:14):
well is something that is happening in that Jobs Plus program.
And to your point, DJ Envy, like, how do we
do that more with our school age children, our college students.
And that happens like organically and informally through the mentorship models,
because different campuses kind of do different things with their workshops.
But I do think we need to be more targeted
(17:37):
in how we hit that level of support.
Speaker 6 (17:39):
What about trade schools? Are you guys connected with trade schools?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
We don't have And that's another one, like we don't
have a lot of trade school like explicit connections.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Lincoln Tech is so big, especially in the area right yeah,
in New York. But some of these students might not
want to.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Go to exactly a four year degree.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Or not even a two year degree. They might say,
you know what, I'm ready to jump into learning how
to well.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Do learning h back, learning electric electricians is very import
even you know, being a nurse.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Especially with a like when I think of like, how
is like moving through our workforce? Trade schools in my
opinion are even more important than they were before.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
And so I can't be playing can't exactly and I
don't want to a barber.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
So I'm like that's like, so I'm thinking of like,
I mean the point that you made when I think
of the gaps, that's a gap, Like we need to
do more there. I was just at HBCU prep out
in Queens and I was like, this is yeah, it's beautiful.
Yeah they do and the principle with to Dell State
(18:40):
and so and rightfully so, but you know what, they
got a Hampton house, so yeah, you gotta you gotta
pull up.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
We've been supposed to get out there though.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Beautiful.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
I know the day that I forget what happened, there
was something that happened that day together.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, you should go.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Doctor Johnson is great and and I know she really
wants to get more community engagement. They're doing a beautiful
work there and we want to partner with them, and
we want to partner with.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Trade schools as well.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Like we got to hit it from all sides because
every student is not going everywhere, that's right.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
Yeah you remember like job Corp. Yeah, yes, my brother
went there, he learned.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Soch my cousin's going, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
And all American trade school you go to get your CDLs,
all little things, all of those things are gone.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
They're losing funding.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
Yes, it's very important to you know, implement those things.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
That's a good point because when I was in high school,
going to a trade high school was like the thing
in Delaware just because.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
They were like the better schools.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
And now it's people mad people I know that are
actually living off of the trades that we went and
got in school.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Like yeah, like a lot of.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
My friends at home, like they're they're doing the trades
that we went to school for, which wow.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Yeah, that that's a that's a note I'm definitely taking
that we we want to push in more with trade
school supports and just the non traditional career pathways.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
That that's work we definitely have to do.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Because if if I could do it all over, I
would go to trade school for a year.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
I still him.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Let me tell you why. The other day one of
my pipes bursts. It was his forearm water.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Yeah, and I wish I didn't even know what the
crib like, and I would the water off of your house.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I figured out the other day mom My mom did
she lay hot?
Speaker 5 (20:20):
Well, not anymore, but she used to lay till she carpetry.
All that, I can turn on.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Water.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
I could do circuit breakers. I know, I know what, Queen. Yeah,
I don't know what.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
I didn't know what to do. So but but I'm saying,
if I would have just took at least a year,
I would know a little bit to survive until Monday.
And I had to pay five hundred dollars quick cold
and then the fix, and it was.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Like you could have faced time my mom, she would
have told you how to.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Love that your face time.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
His coworker's mother wow to help him on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
So now how can she be day People get involved
with Young Men's Initiative involved if they need.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
To, so you can go to all of our socials
or NYC Young Men Instagram, LinkedIn Facebook.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
But also we have events happening across the city.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
So one thing we try to do is like through
our programming hit the more longer term impact, but through
our events we try to do the more acute short term.
So we just had a college signing day celebrating all
of our students in then my Brother's Keeper, my Sister's
Keeper program and shout out to our sister agency NYC
her Future, who does the exact same work that we do,
(21:35):
but for young girls and women. And so we try
to do events like that to celebrate more of the
good things that our young people are doing. So if
people ever want to get plugged in, they can check
us out on our socials see what's happening there. We're
also under the umbrella of the Mayor's Office of Equity
and Racial Justice, so both websites Mayor's Office Equity, Why
am I, and then I would also shout out NYC
(21:57):
her future as well. So any any anyway, if you
see events, if you see programs that you're interested in,
all of the agencies that we partner with.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Have their own outreach efforts as well.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
So if you go to Department of Youth and Community Development,
you can find programs that why am I fund? Same
with public Schools, CuNi, and like about ten other city agencies.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Now, if there's one message you could personally give some
of these black and brown brothers out there, what message
would you give these younger generations?
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Yeah, I mean my message would definitely be poured into yourself.
I think if we can heal ourselves, then we can
help heal our communities.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
But I think it also starts acknowledging.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
That healing is necessary, and healing has different layers and
different levels.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
You may not need with somebody else needs, but you should.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I think we should all be reflective, we should all
be iterating, and all be like thinking about ways that
we can improve. Every day I'm reflecting on like, Okay,
how could I have done what I did yet yesterday better?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
And I know that that.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Plus surrounding myself with positive friends was like my key
to success. Like my friends, especially the ones that went
to Hampton with me my freshman year.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
We're still best friends. Yeah, and we still hold each
other down. We're still at each.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Other's weddings, funerals, like barbecues like and we push each
other and we hold each other accountable. And that healing piece,
though it's internal, I think initially, I think it also
like moves through your social groups as well.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
I love that you said poor.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
I always look at poor as a acronym. So pause,
open up, unwine and restore. Oh yeah, I love.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
That you unwind and restore.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
I like that, you know, for men and women, the youth,
young girls, and young guys, I have a foundation not
always go buy that. You know, we help young women,
older women, families, all of that. And that's what I
had a Mother's Day event recently, and that that was
an aim of it. Women who pour, I love that
you said it just pouring to yourself poor into each other.
You never know what somebody else is going through. So
(24:06):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Yeah, I love that too. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Appreciate you for joining us, doctor Stephen, Thanks for having
the New York City Young Men's Initiative, And thank you
so much.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Yeah, thank you, thanks you.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Hampton's own doctor Delaware, Delaware, Ohio.
Speaker 5 (24:26):
Sorry, just leave it.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Don't put that on. I'm sorry. It's the breakfast cloaking.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Morning every day wakes up the breakfast club.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
You don't finish with, y'all done,
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