Dive Brief:

• President Barack Obama is launching the My Brother's Keeper initiative as an independent non-profit organization.
• Since its inception, the White House initiative has focused on issues like disproportionate school discipline, third grade reading scores, graduation rates, and mentoring opportunities for boys of color via a mix of public-private partnerships, interagency cooperation, and local level efforts.
• The organization is expected to continue working with corporate and nonprofit organizations, as well as civic and faith leaders, and has received support from organizations including the NBA, AT&T, and the California Endowment.

Dive Insight:

The announcement that a key Obama White House initiative will spin off as the My Brother's Keeper Alliance gives some idea of where the president will continue to focus his efforts after leaving office in 2017. Closing the achievement gap, addressing the school-to-prison pipeline, and increasing opportunities for African-American and Latino boys has been a priority for Obama, though Education Week notes the effort has received criticism for not also including girls. The announcement also notably comes amid heightened tensions in Baltimore due to the nation's latest instance of police brutality against an unarmed black man.