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VIDEO: Foster Honors Aurora Mentorship Program Boys II Men

March 6, 2014

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) spoke on the House floor about President Obama’s new initiative to build opportunity and support networks for young men of color, My Brother’s Keeper. Foster spoke about an Aurora, IL based program, Boys II Men, which has been doing this work since 2002.

Video of the speech is available here.

Full text of the speech is below:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud President Obama’s new initiative, My Brother’s Keeper, and to highlight one organization in our district doing outstanding work to mentor young men.

Boys To Men was created in November 2002, by Clayton Muhammad with the mission of bringing young black and Latino men together to build a bond of brotherhood and to redefine manhood.

The organization has been a phenomenal success.

The members of Boys To Men are graduating from high school, going to college and serving our country in the military.

Boys To Men has produced outstanding young men, like:

  • Gilberto Chaidez, a graduate of West Aurora High School and a senior at the University of Illinois majoring in Civil Engineering. Gilberto was named the National Star Student of the Year by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
  • Jamario Taylor, a graduate of East Aurora High School and a senior at Western Illinois University. Jamario is a record-holder in the high jump and a top ranked NCAA athlete.
  • And Alexander Sewell, a graduate of Roosevelt University in Chicago. Alex went on to work in the office of Leader Pelosi, for the Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu and now in the office of Senator Landrieu.

Initiatives like Boys To Men and My Brother’s Keeper are invaluable resources to help young men get their lives on the right track.

Even if, despite everyone’s best efforts, some of them end up working for the United States Congress.