Black Leaders to be Honored For Shaping Mental Health For Brooklyn Youth

The B.R.O. Experience Foundation, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering young Black men, will honor a group of distinguished individuals at the second annual Extraordinary Men Awards on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The awards will also serve as a fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit's ongoing programming that currently serves 300 young Black men annually, ages 8 to 24, according to a press release. 

The following honorees were selected for their overwhelming commitment to supporting mental health initiatives for young men of color:

• Maino, platinum-charting Brooklyn rapper and radio personality, will be awarded the Resilient Visionary Award.

• Wes Jackson, president of BRIC Arts and Media, will receive the Art & Activism Award.

• Dr. Christopher Emdin, author and professor of science education at Teachers College, Columbia University, will be honored with the Henry Pete Pearson Award.

• Aaron Barnett, director of youth empowerment and partnerships for the NYC DOE, will receive the Equity Builders Award. 

• Brendon Mims, community superintendent for NYC Community School District 16, will be awarded the Educational Advocate Award.

• Dr. Jay Barnett, author and mental health expert, will be presented with the “I Hear You Bro” Award.

• Jacobi Holland, co-founder of cannabis education company On The Revel, will receive the Boundary Breaker Award.

“As an organization deeply committed to the mental health and well-being of young Black men, our mission at The B.R.O. Experience is to create lasting impact by providing access to critical resources and support,” said Barry Cooper, executive director of The B.R.O. Experience Foundation. “The Extraordinary Men Awards is not just a celebration of those making a difference in our community—it's a vital opportunity to raise the funds necessary to continue our work and expand our reach. We rely on the generosity of our supporters to help us empower more young men and break down the barriers to mental health care.”

The ceremony will take place at the B.R.O. Space Transformational Center, 7 Marcus Garvey Blvd., from 5:00pm to 10:00pm.

For more information about the awards, including sponsorship, donor information and tickets, visit thebroexperience.org/emas.