TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request City Manager to work with President Obama's administration on providing a report within 90 days on the My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Community Challenge and methods on how the City of Long Beach can support the initiative to improve conditions for boys and men of color in Long Beach. This report should include the following components:
· A thorough summary of the MBK Initiative, with specific focus on matters related to youth jobs and internships, living wages, violence prevention, and community-oriented policing;
· A review of which current programs and policies within the City of Long Beach support the goals of the MBK Initiative;
· An evaluation of the ability for the City to accept the MBK Community Challenge;
· A strategy of how to better connect City programs to community-based programs that align with the MBK Initiative;
· A recommendation of how the City can collaborate with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) on their similar efforts and programs; and
· Recommendations on potential next steps in accepting the MBK Community Challenge.
DISCUSSION
In February 2014, President Obama launched the My Brother's Keeper 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.
The Initiative is focused on six milestones:
1. Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn
2. Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade
3. Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career
4. Completing Post-Secondary Education or Training
5. Successfully Entering the Workforce
6. Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances
Most recently, President Obama and the My Brother's Keeper Initiative issued a "Community Challenge," tasking local communities to take action and become an MBK Community by enacting sustainable change through policy, programs, and partnerships. The MBK Community Challenge encourages communities to implement a clear strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people to ensure that they succeed, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or the circumstances into which they are born.
Long Beach is an extremely diverse city, and the needs and disparities of the large population of boys and men of color must be addressed through a collaborative process. With the recent adoption of our Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan, and many other key programs, the City of Long Beach has the momentum to better support youth and to participate in the MBK Initiative.
Data shows that young people of color, regardless of socio-economic background, are disproportionately at risk throughout the journey from their youngest years to college and career. In Long Beach, disparities continue to remain among our diverse population in many aspects relating to quality of long-term life outcomes. For example, at least a quarter of the Latino and Black population live below poverty compared to only 10% of Whites. In addition, the white population makes a significantly higher annual income than the other ethnicities, with the lowest household income being reported by Blacks.
Disparities also persist around educational attainment and employment. For those in Long Beach with at least a 4-year college degree, 56% are White compared to only 17% Asian, 15% Latino, and 9% Black. Of those in the labor force, the highest unemployed rate is among blacks at 18% while Whites and Asians are only at 8%.
By responding to the MBK Community Challenge, the City of Long Beach will be better positioned to assess, implement and collaborate with the community to create more opportunities for success for youth.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT