Brothers on the Rise responsibly empowers school-aged males in Oakland to achieve individual success, develop healthy relationships and contribute to a more just and equitable society.

We accomplish this through gender-responsive programs that engage males personally and professionally in social service and social change:

Counseling - Conflict Resolution - Leadership - Mentoring - Organizing - Technical Assistance

Description:
Project Need & Approach:

Oakland is a city known for high levels of violence, and codes of the street that influence boys’ decision-making and outcomes. “Respect is money, money is power and power is masculinity. Violence defines you as a man” (SF Chronicle, 2007).

Examining this code through BOTR’s gender-lens and social justice framework, we see how poverty, racism and other forms of oppression unfairly put young men from low-income, marginalized, communities of color at greater risk for violence.

BOTR therefore not only provides services to at-risk young men, but also engages them in social change through youth-run projects funded by Youth UpRising, and connecting them to activist groups like Silence the Violence. Our “responsible empowerment” approach also recognizes male privilege and violence against women, developing males as allies to channel our strength towards a just and equitable society for all.

Project Components:

I. Counseling: Talking about feelings does not fit within traditional masculinity (Real, 1997) so many males choose not to enter counseling. Sadly, the most “difficult to reach” adolescent male often ends up in the criminal justice system (Counseling Magazine, 2007). Peaceful Warriors Project therefore uses boys groups integrating media, arts, and culture to facilitate sharing, skill building and problem solving in a fun and safe environment. Redefining male strength as self-control, inner-peace, and healthy relationships, we prevent unwanted behaviors and build a positive peer network to support student success.

II. Conflict Resolution: Though peer mediations involve boys and girls, this project is important as it deals directly with young men’s conflict management. By having an adult male professional with a counseling degree as the Mediation Coordinator, we engage respected young men as mediators and assure that males feel comfortable accessing this valuable violence prevention program. An alternative to walking away or telling, which often results in teasing and further conflict, BOTR mediation is handled with sensitivity, understanding and skill, thereby gaining trust to engage young men in peaceful conflict resolution.

III. Leadership Development: The transition from elementary to middle school has been called one of the toughest, with after-school hours identified as the riskiest for violence, drugs and sexual activity (www.SafeYouth.org). BOTR therefore targets 6th grade males for this project, engaging 7th graders as peer leaders and 8th graders as paid interns. Each year, participants move through middle school orientation, a holistic health curriculum, training on youth work and peer education, and delivery of leadership workshops for elementary school boys. Throughout, older males from agencies like Youth Alive and Ella Baker Center come in as speakers and team-building trips are taken to keep students engaged.

IV. School-Based Mentoring: A bond with a caring adult is a protective factor that affects all areas of youth behavior and development. Yet for males who may lack this bond with their dad, providers have had trouble finding male mentors to fill this role. BOTR therefore will continue working with the Glenview Community Association to connect students with a diverse group of successful men representing a variety of professions. With speaker events already integrated into our after-school program, they will now occur with our day counseling groups as well.

V. Organizing & Technical Assistance: BOTR provides workshops, consultation and facilitation of teacher and youth worker groups looking to improve males’ outcomes school or agency wide. Besides supporting a group at Edna Brewer Middle School, BOTR is available to facilitate others, offer training and consult on effectively working with boys and young men.

History:
Brothers on the Rise (BOTR) is based at Oakland’s Edna Brewer Middle School, where founding Executive Director Jon Gilgoff has provided young men’s services for two years, first with Girls Justice Institute (GJI) and then as an Independent Contractor. Now established as a fiscally sponsored project of San Francisco Study Center, BOTR broadened its impact with the help of a full-time Coordinator and part-time Assistant, Advisory groups, volunteers, interns and community partners.

With a base of funding and in-kind support provided by Edna Brewer, Oakland Unified School District, and Safe Passages, BOTR has achieved a successful nonprofit launch. During 2008-2009, we aim to expand existing programs at Edna Brewer, and begin replication of our successful programs at other Oakland schools and centers. Already we have secured a second site at Frick Middle School, with others in the pipeline.

Contact person: Jon Gilgoff, Executive Director, (phone), (email)
Main office number: (510) 599-3582
Office fax number: (510) 879-2109

Address:

3748 13th Avenue Oakland, CA 94610 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.brothersontherise.org

Directions:

Edna Brewer Middle School is located right off Park Blvd. on 13th Avenue. If you are driving, you can exit from the 580 at Park Blvd., travel north on Park for less than one quarter mile and turn right. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 19th Street or MacArthur BART,   Walk distance (in minutes): An hour or more   Nearest Bus Stop: 57 and many others (along Park Blvd. or Macarthur Blvd. and 13th Avenue or Chatham), A couple of minutes minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Spanish
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes