Our Signature Events

#50Strong is a campaign that seeks pledges from 50 men of color who will commit to being advocates organizing for the success of boys and young men of color in Washtenaw County. There is a need for Men of Color to meet consistently to target issues to advance the success of young men of color. #50Strong aims to connect men who want to put their time, energy, and weight behind building an intergenerational community with each other. Men of color ages 16+ are invited to join. To join, complete the contact form or email washtenawmbk@gmail.com

Washtenaw County My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) have partnered in an effort to elevate the voices of boys and young men of color (BYMOC) here in Washtenaw County. WMBK is spearheading the creation of a compilation album titled Formula 734. Boys and men of color will creatively construct and record original songs and other audio that confront issues of race, educational inequity and economic inequity in our county and highlight factors that drive the urgency of WMBK’s vision and mission.
This process will be filmed along with participant interviews to provide a visual companion to this project. Everyone involved will be actively participating in the production of this project in every artistic, technical, and administrative capacity. Therefore, the participants will be able to use their voices in a new and innovative way to address social justice in their communities, and simultaneously develop transferable skills in project management, marketing, media and technology. The participants will also be paid for their contributions to the project.

WMBK has hosted three county wide local action summits (2016, 2017, 2018). These summits align with WMBK’s second strategic goal of positively changing the community's perception of the contribution made by boys and men of color. Each summit has been hosted at Eastern Michigan University, and serves as an opportunity for the entire community to discuss how we can support boys and young men of color in Washtenaw County.

The WMBK #50Strong breakfast is one way the #50Strong men are attending to the WMBK Goal 1 of transforming communities of color by growing and transforming ourselves as men of color. The breakfast provides a space where an intergenerational group of men of color can come together, educate one another, and foster a welcoming environment for both young and old. The #50Strong breakfast also helps men of color connect to specific opportunities to support, advocate, and uplift boys and young men in the county, and ultimately allows for the #50Strong men to volunteer by reaching back and making change.
WMBK #50Strong Breakfasts are held on the second Saturday of every month, from 10-12pm at 235 Spencer Lane in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

On May 10, 2017 over 200 professional men of color from around Washtenaw County gathered for a picture. That picture will be turned into a poster and that poster will be the centerpiece of our public education campaign. In line with it’s strategic goal #2, WMBK continues to support and be the movement mechanism for the See the Vision Be the Vision Campaign.
https://www.seethevisionwashtenaw.com/