RHS Students Engage in a Day of Leadership and Advocacy in Albany
ROOSEVELT, NEW YORK (FEBRUARY 2026)—Roosevelt High School My Brothers Keeper fellows Christian Arthur and Josiah Lucas represented the Roosevelt School District with pride at the My Brother’s Keeper Stand and Deliver leadership workshop and speaker showcase on February 13 and 14 in Albany.
Hosted by the New York State Education Department, the event brought together over 200 participants from 40 MBK communities for a powerful day of leadership, advocacy and student voice.
The event kicked off at the University at Albany, where the Roosevelt students took a tour of the campus and heard from current students about their college experience and the many programs and resources offered to them at the university.
After the tour, students returned to the State Education Building to participate in a debate on cell phone usage in schools. The lively discussion was monitored and judged by distinguished officials, including Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young Jr., Commissioner Betty Rosa, Deputy Commissioner Angelique Johnson-Dingle, Assistant Commissioner Anael Alston, Assistant Commissioner David Frank, Director of Communications JP O’Hare and Excelsior Fellow Jaada Stewart.
The second day featured testimonies from 80 MBK fellows who shared their experiences in the program, followed by a discussion on the power of coaching from Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, and powerful speeches from keynote speakers Brian Favors and Jordan Pierre.
Roosevelt is one of 36 communities throughout New York involved in the My Brother’s Keeper program, which offers programs and resources designed to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color and help them realize their limitless potential. Since joining the program in 2021, the district has hosted several of its events and provided its students with leadership roles and mentorship opportunities.
