11/20/20 @yonkersmbk mentors and mentees attended our weekly zoom conferences, but this one was indeed special.
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Some of our mentees presented personal essays regarding an intimate topic of there choice. Their insights and profound words, imbued with ethos and pathos, were riveting, evoking emotion within everyone on the call.
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One thing I love about mentoring is the lessons each one teaches me. The essence of mentor-ship is not to simply pour life into the youth, but to allow them to pour life into you. It’s a mutual gain, a two-way service that benefits both mentor and mentee equally.
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These zoom calls serve as a reminder that me and the team are the right people for the jobs.
I love working behind the scenes in which lies the heart of the mission.
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S/O to Greg Joyner for his role in MBK. S/O to @dmackeducator @visiona1re @jcabrera221 for their gifted presence to the youth. S/O @blonde.dee_xo @el_capitan_xx @seanb11 for being the force behind the movement.
#914united will be bringing new services to the @cityofyonkers with the aim to support and uplift our young men and women of color.
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Brick by brick the foundation is being built
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Stay tuned!! 💥✨🌟🚀 ...

Quality time between @yonkersmbk Mentors and Mentees @visiona1re @jcabrera221 @moneybagg.gio
Demetrius and MBK Program Coordinator Greg Joyner convene @yonkersymca entertainment room to bond and build over chess and pool.
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Mentors Versus Mentees was a healthy bonding experience!
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As 914UNITED & MBK pledges, an investment into our youth is an investment into the future.
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#communityleadership #mbk #914united #mentorsnmentees ...

The team was in attendance for The Magnificent Men For Shako event ( @shakocampaign ). As a symbol of change, Verris Shako is the soon-to-be 1st African American woman Yonkers City Court Judge. Our team supports and stands behind Verris for she’s the change our city needs. Her hard work and compassion for the people is why we stand in solidarity with her movement.
S/o to everyone who attended and made the event possible. Our team is honored to attend the historical event—for her movement is Her-story—as County Legislator Candidate @tyraews eloquently stated.
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PSA: while Yonkers has been a landmark of systemic inequality, many movements and key agents of change are working to change the narrative. A s/o to them:
@yyung_woe @blonde.dee_xo @stylesp @el_capitan_xx @the_michael_nolan_foundation @jcabrera221 @visiona1re @seanb11 @dewnation @cr3ativetouch @hoodmillionaireclothing @yonkersymca @justcria @milklife914 @shanaeforyonkers @tashadiaz4yonkers @legislator_ruth_walter @yonkersmbk @yonkerspubliclibrary ...

Jonathan Alvarez and John Cabrera, alongside @dj_op & @stylesp, shared their voices at the Yonkers Police Reform Committee. Each individual bravely spoke out against the systemic inequality perpetuated by law enforcement. Each person stood together to demand change!!
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@stylesp highlighted the lack of officers presence as a key part of the problem; it deepens the sentiment of mistrust the community already has toward law enforcement.
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@dj_op related his turbulent and hostile experience with law enforcement and the fear behind him stepping up tonight. Him speaking his truth was out of courage.
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Alvarez called for better community representation on behalf of the committee and for a more effective strategy to galvanize the community’s involvement.
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Cabrera didn’t have questions, but demands, calling for action rather than simply conversation!!
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S/o to @jamaal_bowman_for_ny16 for being present and willing to take action on behalf of the people. S/o to everyone who attended and stepped up for change in our city ...

Is excited to announce that Founder and Director Jonathan Alvarez is contracted by the Westchester County Department of Corrections to be an Academic Outreach Coordinator for the incarcerated learners in the Youth Offender Program (YOP). While assisting in facilitating the new tablet education program for the YOP, he’s bringing the #914united youth development mentorship services to the young men of color in the criminal justice system. The hope is to be the agent of change that inspires these young men to change their thinking and pursue a positive path in life!! S/o to First Deputy Commissioner Louis Molina ( @louismolinanyc ) for working hard to change corrections from a retributive/punitive system to a reformative/rehabilitative one. I’m very grateful that he made this opportunity available to me!!
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Change is coming!!!
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914united promotes the philosophy that “Change Agents, Change Narratives”, and is working hard to demonstrate its beliefs!!
.FYI our young men need us to support and educate them. They need to see that change is possible and that they’re not alone in making that change!!
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My presence is showing them that! ...