Learning While Leading in Libraries: My Brother’s Keeper Peer Advocates

Youth economic advancement

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

People of color continue to drive growth in LA County, with youth leading the demographic shift: 83% of County residents 18 and under are young people of color. Yet, studies show they have fewer educational and employment opportunities. Boys and young men of color, especially, are disproportionately at risk from birth. Three out of four Black boys in California aren’t reading at grade level, and low proficiency makes high school dropout more likely, with rates twice as high for Black and Latino students. Black and Latino youth are also overrepresented in the juvenile justice system; despite making up only 65% of the County population, they account for nearly all (94%) of its incarcerated young people. 
Opportunities for mentorship, career training, and safe and inspiring workplaces that pay fair, living wages are, therefore essential in LA County, especially for those who are not yet in college or hope to work while pursuing their education, to reach their full potential.

LA County Library’s My Brother's Keeper Peer Advocate (MBK PA) program helps young people of color thrive. Each PAs serves a library in a high-need community as an integral, salaried team member. Most have recently graduated, with some pursuing college or technical degrees. As part time employees, they receive financial support during their education.
PAs receive training and mentorship from Library staff to support their career aspirations while drawing from lived experience to develop programs that highlight Library resources and respond to community needs and interests. (Studies show that young adults who build positive relationships with adults through work-based learning experience enhanced job quality and higher wages, even a decade later.)
Encouraged to explore their creativity, PAs research sources, choose topics and presenters, outreach to local residents, and manage events. Drawing on their own interests and strengths—like horticulture, arts, entrepreneurship, and crafting—PAs create educational programs that help them develop leadership skills and gain confidence while experiencing first-hand the impact they can have on other young people by teaching new skills and building community relationships.
Adult 101 workshops, which teach life skills to teens, have been a large part of the MBK programming to date. Grant funding would add a focus on the creative economy, featuring presenters who specialize in careers young people in their community strive to break into.

During the grant period, 6 PAs will build their workplace and leadership skills within libraries while deepening community engagement for youth of color. PA Justin H. said, “At such a young age, I've been able to meet remarkable people and get great advice...This has helped me gain confidence on what I want to do throughout my career.” Many go on to attend college or start careers in literacy or education.
Teens will have role models in PAs and see their interests reflected in responsive and inclusive Library programs. PA Julio C. shared, “MBK has given me the tools, training, and skills to be able to take back to the teens in my community to show them that there’s still a possibility of a second chance in life.” With grant funding, programs will also expand to teach teens about creative economy career paths.
In the future, LA County Library hopes to create MBK PA positions at more of its 85 libraries so that youth in additional communities can benefit from locally-designed programs.