Goldmann, Treece named 2021 MBK Fellows

Headshots of two young men

Two Albany High School students have been selected to take part in a prestigious fellowship program started by former President Barack Obama.

On Thursday, the New York State Education Department announced that it chose juniors Gideon Goldmann, left, and Marcus Treece to participate in the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellowship program for 2021. The class of 73 fellows from across the state represents 25 school districts.

MBK was created in 2014 and aims to expand opportunities and create pathways for success for young men of color through public-private partnerships. Throughout the next year, Goldmann and Treece will be connected to established mentors who will help them to engage in government, education and business activities.

In addition, Goldmann and Treece will serve on a statewide MBK Fellows Workgroup to provide input on the development and implementation of a statewide MBK Mentoring Network.

MBK Fellows also will have the opportunity to develop and execute a service project related to a New York state MBK initiative such as:

  • Ensuring equitable access to high-quality schools and programs;
  • Expanding prevention, early warning and intervention services;
  • Responding to structural and institutional racism; or
  • Engaging families and communities in a trusted and respectful way.

Also, 2021 Fellows had the opportunity to participate in the virtual Stand and Deliver program and a virtual Induction during the 2021 MBK Symposium.

The MBK Fellows Program provides leadership opportunities to rising high school seniors, with an emphasis on boys and young men of color. With this year’s class, New York state has now inducted 247 Fellows.