“Originally I needed Brothers at Bard because I felt out of place, I felt like I didn't belong at Bard. BAB provided me with that kind of space and security.”

- BAB Mentor

Three years ago, Brothers at Bard (BAB) was a mere idea. Thanks to hard work and a three-year NYS Department of Education grant called “My Brother's Keeper,” it has become a transformative project for young men of color at Kingston High School and at Bard College. BAB founder, Dariel Vasquez, graduated in spring and is now a Project Coordinator at the Center for Civic Engagement. About the program, Vasquez says, “In just a couple of months, BAB has expanded in ways I never could've imagined. Now that I'm running BAB full-time, I'm getting to know each of my students and their community on a deeper level. I have a great feeling about where we're at right now and the deeply profound impact we're having. My main focus this year will be on digging deeper.”

During the past three years, BAB has grown from a student initiative to an institutional commitment at Bard in partnership with the Kingston School District to fill the gap left by a lack of minority teachers and staff. Through My Brother’s Keeper, BAB and Kingston High School are working collaboratively to promote academic excellence, college readiness, and overall positive life choices for the students. BAB has the unique ability to empower young students by building relationships with high achieving men of color. The students relate to the BAB mentors as men of color and are able to express themselves and speak openly about issues without being judged.

Currently, BAB mentors provide:

tutoring sessions twice a week throughout the academic school year;

mentoring sessions to build a secure and supportive community among high school and college members; and

group trips to colleges, conferences, cultural events, and volunteer opportunities.