Holy Cross Alumnus and Obama Advisor to Speak on ‘My Brother’s Keeper’

Broderick Johnson ’78 leads the White House task force to help close the opportunity gap for young men of color



College of the Holy Cross alumnus Broderick Johnson ’78, who serves in the Obama administration as assistant to the president and Cabinet secretary, will speak at the College on Wednesday, March 30 at 4:30 p.m. in Rehm Library. In his talk, Johnson will give an update on My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), the White House task force he chairs, which aims to improve the outcomes of boys and young men of color in this country. The event is free and open to the public.

In 2014, President Obama launched the MBK initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Through this initiative, the administration joins with cities and towns, businesses and foundations who connect young people to mentoring, support networks, and the skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way into the middle class.

Communities are engaged through the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, an effort to encourage communities to implement a coherent cradle-to-college and career strategy aimed at improving the life outcomes of their young people. Two years after the MBK initiative was launched, nearly 250 communities have accepted the Challenge, representing 49 states, Washington, D.C. and 19 Tribal Nations.

“MBK is about obliterating the barriers our kids face in building stronger communities and stronger opportunity streams,” said Johnson. “In less than two years, we could not be more excited about the momentum around MBK, the energy and the enthusiasm we've seen all across the country.” Johnson joined the White House staff in 2014, though he’s been an advisor to Obama for many years. He was the senior congressional affairs advisor on John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign and served as deputy assistant to the president for legislative affairs during the Clinton administration. Johnson started his career in the House of Representatives drafting landmark legislation including the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Johnson received his B.A. in philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross and his law degree from the University of Michigan, where he has lectured on public policy and government relations. A native of Baltimore, Johnson currently lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and three children. His visit to Holy Cross is sponsored by the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture. View the schedule of upcoming events and watch lectures here.