Brothers On The Rise

Brothers on the Rise (BOTR) is a dual direct service-systems change organization addressing the multiple challenges which disproportionately affect low-income male youth of color, including exposure to violence, high school dropout, unemployment, incarceration, and death by homicide. BOTR directly serves over one hundred youth annually at Oakland public schools and parks, and impacts thousands more through training and technical assistance provided to Bay Area schools and agencies. BOTR’s mission is to responsibly empower male youth of color to achieve individual success, develop healthy relationships and contribute to a more just and equitable society. Together with parents, teachers, and providers we help to develop boys into responsible, peaceful, caring and productive young men. Two of BOTR’s core programs are Brothers, UNITE!, providing 4-8th graders with literacy, life skills and leadership development, and Lift a Brother Up, providing job training and paid internship to 9th-12th graders interested in health and human services careers. Taken together these initiatives form a powerful cascading mentorship model which serves as a pipeline to success. For male youth served by these programs, we also offer Trail Brothers environmental education and Brothers Helping Brothers counseling, case management and parent engagement. To multiply impact, our training and technical assistance empowers Bay Area institutions to better serve male youth of color. Towards this end, we offer workshops, curricula, coaching, consultation, convening, research and writing for youth-serving professionals. Recognized as a 2010 model prevention program by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency and with a 2013 Bay Area National Philanthropy Day Vineyards Award for our impact, innovation and high level of volunteer and community partnerships, BOTR continues to develop as a field leader within the growing boys and young men of color movement.