President Obama Meets with Inglewood Youth Leader

INGLEWOOD URBAN SCHOLAR, FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE, RECEIVES PRAISE FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR

Brothers Sons Selves Coalition Champions Young Men of Color as Part of President’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative

(Inglewood, CA)–Dylan Gray, a local Inglewood youth leader, with the Social Justice Learning Institute’s Urban Scholars program was invited by the Brother’s, Sons, Selves Coalition (Liberty Hill Foundation) to speak with President Obama, yesterday. Gray, who will be attending California State University, Chico, next month as a business administration major, was selected for this honor because of his commitment to support the ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ Initiative.

“Dylan embodies the principles of the Urban Scholars program. He demonstrates academic success, exhibits critical consciousness, and has worked to increase the well-being of his peers,” said Social Justice Learning Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza. “Dylan has advocated for young men of color including his local work in support of the Student Climate Bill of Rights (SCBR). It’s an honor to have the President recognize the efforts of the Brother’s, Sons, Selves Coalition and youth like Dylan, under the banner of the ‘My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.'”

Gray was accompanied by 15 other Los Angeles area youth selected by the White House to meet with the President at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, yesterday, in conjunction with ongoing community sharing efforts initiated by the White House for the Presidents’ ‘My Brothers Keeper Initiative.’ According to the White House, the initiative is designed to “address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensures that all young people can reach their full potential.”

In May, 100 youth from the Social Justice Learning Institute were included in the initial California “White House Listening Session” convening with Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, Broderick Johnson. SJLI’s Urban Scholars shared their personal stories with Johnson and the White House Taskforce. Information gathered at listening sessions, which have been held across the country, are being collected by the Presidential Task Force, and will be used to inform improvements in federal policies and regulations which impact young boys and men of color. The task forces initial report findings can be found on the SJLI website.

About the Social Justice Learning Institute

The Social Justice Learning Institute works to fundamentally improve the lives of urban communities of color. To achieve this goal, SJLI helps individuals and groups build their capacity to assess injustices, and then use their own agency to advocate for, and achieve, health and educational equity. SJLI’s commitment to young men of color is rooted in the belief that when given the opportunity to succeed, young men of color will thrive, and by extension, elevate our larger communities.

For more information visit www.sjli.org.