The first annual Teach Brother Teach induction ceremony and workshop was held at Albany’s Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday, April 20. S. Neal Currie Jr, founder of Teach Brother Teach, presided over the event, which welcomed seven new fellows into the program.
Teach Brother Teach was created by Currie, a long-time Albany educator and executive director of the Fundisha Center, to address the scarcity and lack of support for Black male teachers in the Greater Capital Region of New York.
“Having at least one Black teacher in elementary school cuts the high school dropout rates of low-income Black boys by 39 percent,” said Currie. “Our goal with Teach Brother Teach is two-fold: encourage and support Black men considering education as a profession, and create a more equitable education system where Black boys feel a greater sense of connection and inclusion at school.”
In addition to the induction of new fellows to Teach Brother Teach, the event featured guest speakers that included: Daryl Williams, CEO of Teach Like A Champion; Dana Brown, senior director of enrichment and opportunity programs at SUNY Empire State University; Dr. Darryl White, principal of KIPP Tech Valley Middle School; and Dr. Kewsi Burgess, Albany City School District. The new fellows were led in a workshop presented by Andrea Ellis from E2Serve Education Consulting.
Teach Brother Teach has a mission to build a cadre of outstanding Black male educators that will serve as a professional support group to those who are committed to improving their communities by making a direct and positive impact on the lives of students in the city of Albany and beyond.
Teach Brother Teach is a recent recipient of a marketing grant from Business for Good.
The Teach Brother Teach! Fellowship is a multi-year program designed to inspire, recruit, and support Black men to become elementary and secondary school teachers. Teach Brother Teach! (TBT) will provide financial, academic social, and professional development support to men for their education, training, and transition into their teaching careers. TBT is committed to removing barriers that typically inhibit Black men from entering the field of education and becoming schoolteachers. They are supported by a grant from the Carl E. Touhey Foundation. For more information, visit www.fundishacenter.org.
With values rooted in equity, access, opportunity, and prosperity, Business for Good (BFG) is advancing the model of traditional venture philanthropy in the Greater Capital Region of New York and beyond. Formed in 2020, BFG seeks to give back to move forward. Its efforts have been recognized on a national level, including being named to Fast Company’s 2023 list of Brands That Matter, an honor reserved for organizations and brands that have built cultural relevance and impact through compelling branding and efforts that naturally extend their presence into communities. BFG was also awarded Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Honorable Mention in 2022, which recognizes pioneering teams that are playing an important role in the betterment of the world through intentional philanthropy. Comprised of a mission-focused team, BFG believes no challenge is insurmountable through hard and thoughtful work. With a goal to provide businesses and organizations with sustained support, BFG invests in people for the long term and in every way.
Business for Good: building better businesses, stronger communities, and a more equitable world. To learn more, visit www.bfg.org.