SWBOCES delegation joins daylong leadership event at County Center
More than a dozen students from Southern Westchester BOCES’ Rye Lake Campus joined hundreds of their peers for a day of inspiration, learning and connection at the My Brother’s Keeper 2026 Youth Leadership Symposium.
The April 21, 2026, event drew chapters from numerous Hudson Valley schools for a daylong series of conversations, workshops and shared experiences, under the theme of “Legacy in Action: Empowering Youth, Building Futures.”
“This was an eye-opening experience for our students,” said advisor and Rye Lake Campus Team Leader Curtis Anderson, who accompanied the SWBOCES delegation along with math teacher Monroe Anderson. “They saw firsthand that there is a system of support and brotherhood they can rely upon and be a part of themselves.”
Dr. Alexandria Connally, Assistant Director of Special Services at SWBOCES and Chair of the Westchester County Youth Board, said that having an MBK chapter at Southern Westchester BOCES is a natural extension of the organizations’ shared mission.
“This was a powerful day, one that I am sure made an impact and will benefit our students well into their future,” Dr. Connally said.
“It is a point of pride that our BOCES students have this opportunity to participate and benefit from all that My Brother’s Keeper has to offer young men,” added District Superintendent Harold Coles. “I am thankful to our team for ensuring their representation at this important symposium.”
Participating districts from the SWBOCES region included New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Port Chester, Greenburgh, Greenburgh-Graham and Mount Pleasant while delegations from Yonkers and Newburgh, among others, participated as well.
Legacy In Action
The symposium kicked off in the Little Theatre at the Westchester County Center where keynote speaker Brad Butler II brought energy and inspiration to the stage. His message: Be a living legacy.
Live life in a way that you’ll be remembered, Mr. Butler said. Integrity and values matter, not money, he added. Income is important, he explained, but it only matters only as far as it supports the influence we have and the impact we make. “What I want to know is, are you a good person?” he said.
Mr. Butler is a nationally recognized speaker and educational consultant who uses storytelling and personal insights to equip students and educators with practical strategies for purpose-driven leadership, accountability, and resilience.
He shared his own story of struggling with self-worth and internalizing beliefs about himself that others imposed upon him.
When he was placed in special education programs, he stopped believing in his intelligence. When an advisor told him he’d surely succeed but asked him to remember those who came after, a light came on—he was responsible for not only his own success but that of others.
He urged the young men on hand to believe in themselves and reject any negative self-perception.
He gave examples of living legacies from pro sports and expressed his own admiration for Frederick Douglass, a writer and orator whose words continue to cause people to take notice.
‘This day is for you’
There was no shortage of community leaders offering support, encouragement and confidence that the young men participating in the symposium would make the most of the opportunities offered to them.
“Look around and understand that you are somebody,” said Nate Adams, MBK Coordinator for New Rochelle Schools. “You were chosen today. Think about that.”
Teachers, advisors, and school counselors nominated each student to attend.
“Today I ask of you one thing,” he said, “Today I ask you to choose yourself.”
Jared Rice, New Rochelle City Court judge, urged attendees never to be afraid to ask for help.
“That’s what MBK is all about,” he said. “We are all your brothers. We are all your family.”
Ernest L. McFadden, Executive Director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau, advised participants to appreciate the adults who put this symposium together because they care about their future. Take what is offered, he said, “and run with it as far as you can.”
He also urged attendees to take advantage of the opportunity to make connections while there.
Following the keynote, the students attended workshops on topics ranging from Hip Hop Therapy and Emotional Resilience to The Value of Fraternities and My Brother’s Keeper and the Monetization of Your Brand. Mr. Butler led a workshop on Success, Accountability and Education.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, echoing others, told attendees this is a rare day, “because it’s dedicated to you.”
Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson agreed. She told attendees that too many young men like them have been overlooked, underestimated and left to navigate challenges on their own.
“This day is for you,” she said. “Your voice matters. Your presence matters. Your future matters.”
My Brother’s Keeper was launched by former President Barack Obama in 2014 to close opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and help them to reach their dreams by sparking dialogue and action. The Hudson Valley MBK Alliance includes seven local school chapters that are nationally recognized and certified.
