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Brothers@ Celebrated 10th Anniversary with NYC Gala

Members of Brothers@, the initiative dedicated to building a community supportive of Black students and students of color, celebrated the group’s 10th anniversary with a gala in New York City this April. Attendees reflected on and celebrated a decade of transforming the lives of young men across the country, and the event was marked by powerful stories and heartfelt speeches. “By sharing my experiences and knowledge, I can help these young men navigate challenges, develop life skills, and build confidence,” said Williams Hernandez ’27, current coleader with Jalen Smiley ‘27 of Bard’s chapter. “I grew up not having some of the opportunities that these high schoolers have and I always wished that I would have had a program like Brothers@.”

In 2015, group founders Dariel Vasquez ‘17 and Harry Johnson ‘17 created an on-campus support group for men of color which offered a safe space for healing circles, near-peer group mentorship, and cultural-event planning for men of color on Bard’s campus. With the assistance of the Bard Center for Civic Engagement’s Trustee Leader Scholar program, Brothers@ later launched a youth outreach program designed to assist students from low-income high schools as they prepare for college or a career. The group's efforts have a demonstrable impact on students at Bard. Currently, the four-year graduation rate for Black students at Bard is just over 70%, while the four-year graduation rate for members of Brothers@Bard members is 90%.

Post Date: 05-20-2025