The Cincinnati Reds hosted students from 12 My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) chapters around Ohio at Great American Ball Park for a unique leadership event on Wednesday.
Over 170 students from MBK chapters in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Youngstown attended the program, which returned to the ballpark for a second consecutive year. Special guests participating in the event included U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, Reds president and chief operating officer Phil Castellini, Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin and director of MBK Ohio Kyle Strickland, along with other local leaders and Reds representatives.
“We’re excited to host you at the ballpark for today’s unique leadership event,” Castellini said. “We believe the work done through MBK is helping ensure all young people reach their full potential. It aligns with the Reds’ commitment to use our platform to elevate necessary conversations that bring about positive change, and that’s what today is all about.”
My Brother’s Keeper was started by President Obama in 2014 as a national initiative to address opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color, and to ensure all young people reach their full potential. In 2015, Senator Brown led efforts to launch MBK chapters around the state and helped launch the statewide MBK coalition in 2018.
Attendees arrived at 10 a.m. and enjoyed a ballpark tour followed by lunch in the Bally Sports Club. Then the program began with the panel of guests addressing the students.
“For the young men in the room, we are all here for you,” Mayor Pureval said. “My Brother’s Keeper and all of us are working hard to ensure you know that whatever the size of your dream, you can achieve it. And we are all here to create opportunities for you to do just that.”
The students took part in breakout sessions where they asked the panelists questions and sought advice on management, career opportunities, and how to grow and develop as leaders in occupations like sports management, health care and public service.
After the program ended, the group went down the street to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center before returning to the ballpark for a tour of the Reds Hall of Fame presented by Dinsmore. The day concluded with the group watching the Cardinals-Reds game.