Our Mission
Brothers Empowered to Teach Initiative’s (BE2T) mission is to close the achievement gap for at-risk students by inspiring and incentivizing men of color to choose education as a career starting in New Orleans.
Our Vision
To inspire all children , especially those at-risk to drop out, to expand their vision of success and defy the odds.
Our Values
With no foundation there is no progress. Our values keep us grounded in why we do what we do.
-Remain Relevant
It is paramount that our fellows understand the language, likes, dislikes, and social issues affecting the students in their classrooms. It is equally paramount that we have this understanding of the issues and trends affecting our fellows. From our vantage point, being able to create pathways to open dialogue, is the key to building cultural competency in a holistic way.
-Be comfortable with being uncomfortable (adaptability)
Growth requires stretching outside of one’s comfort zone. We challenge ourselves through out the entire program to constantly look for ways to improve how we do our work. In rising to that challenge, we sometimes reach places that require us to learn from the struggle and embrace it.
-Always be prepared for game day
Ninety percent of success is preparation. We want to be ready to seize opportunities when they avail themselves and create opportunities for others. Preparation plus the ability to relate, communicate, and present our best selves widens our access and ability to grow.
-Hustle with Grit
Their is no failure. Only lessons. Developing BE2T has not come without its share of losses. These losses have helped us gain clarity on what we want to accomplish. We are accessible examples of how to continue to climb even in challenging times for those who participate in our program.
-Take Care (social and emotional self-care)
BE2T wants to support the development of each of our participants in a holistic way. The foundation to this development is taking care of one’s self emotionally. By promoting social and emotional awareness, our participants will have the foundation to better manage the stressors of life personally and career wise outside of school.
-Defy Convention
Popular opinion says men of color don’t teach and the statistics don’t defy it. Only 2% of all teachers nationally are men of color. We want our fellows to turn the profession on its head by entering the classroom and using their ability to communicate and relate to the students they teach everyday. We meet teachers everyday who demonstrate that men of color can and do teach. We have to show more men, regardless, of what the masses say they have an ability to reach at-risk students that defies the current demographic in front the classroom and the vision of what success looks like to students.