An Organization Focused On Increasing Male Minority Graduation Rates Is Coming To MDC

An organization focused on increasing the number of male minority college graduates — Brother 2 Brother — wants to start a chapter at Miami Dade College.

The group, part of the Student African American Brotherhood, would be based at Kendall Campus but open to students at all eight MDC campuses.  

“When I came to MDC, I was lost. If it weren’t because of the people who helped me, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today,” said Quran Howard, one of the students trying to get Brother 2 Brother started at MDC. “I want to be that person for people that are just starting because it really takes a village.”

Although not an official club yet—MDC requires five members but SAAB requires 15—B2B hopes to start activities next fall semester. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to speak with minority males who would tell me that they’re struggling and wanted a club that would represent them,” said Anthony Valenzuela, the president at the Kendall Campus Student Government Association, who is trying to get the chapter launched. “I think this club is going to outlast many others that are going to start in the next few years or months because the [reason for starting it] is so strong.”

The possibility of starting the organization surfaced in March of 2020 when SAAB’s founder Tyrone Bledsoe spoke at professional development day at Kendall Campus. His speech sparked interest in starting a chapter on campus to offer leadership and networking skills for male minority students. 

Meetings will be held biweekly. Members will participate in workshops about creating resumes, academic tips, financial literacy, public speaking and interviewing skills. Non-academic topics that can affect their performance in class, like proper nutrition, will also be discussed.

There will also be team-building exercises to establish lifelong connections between members, as well as guest speakers who will discuss their experiences as male minorities. 

“Brother 2 Brother doesn’t say ‘you need to be this type of individual’,” said Kendall Campus Student Life Director Ashton Hartley, who will help advise B2B. “It helps you explore yourself so you can find yourself and be comfortable with that while also developing other skills.”

The club is looking to fill the following positions: 

• President 
• Vice President
• Secretary 
• Personal Development Committee Chair and Assistant Chair
• Equity, Inclusion and Social Committee Chair and Assistant Chair
• Service Learning Committee Chair and Assistant Chair 
• Academic Development Committee Chair and Assistant Chair
• Financial Affairs Committee Chair and Assistant Chair
• Membership/Data Management Committee Chair and Assistant Chair

The Student African American Brotherhood was founded by Bledsoe in 1990 at Georgia Southwestern State University to offer guidance to Black men on campus. It has now opened more than 350 chapters across 41 states and expanded to help men of all races.

“We’re excited from SAAB Headquarters because we don’t have quite a presence in Florida,” said Tyrone Bledsoe, founder and CEO of SAAB. “I think [Kendall Campus] will be the example within the state and hopefully we’ll get others aligning with this effort.”

To get more information about B2B or to join, contact Ashton Hartley at ahartley@mdc.edu