On Friday, My Brother's Keeper Alliance (MBKA) announced that Blair Taylor, former senior vice president and chief community officer at Starbucks, will join MBKA in April 2016 and assume the position of CEO. He will be the company's first CEO since it launch.

MBKA was launched in the Spring of 2015 as an independent private sector effort in response to President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which was created to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color. The organization's goal is to ensure all youth can reach their full potential, and to elevate the conversation, and utilize strategic, evidence-based interventions from community, private, and social enterprise partners that tackle the achievement gaps from cradle to career. 

MBKA Board Chair Joe Echevarria says of Taylor, “Blair brings the perfect mix of nonprofit and private sector experiences to move MBKA to the next level. His track record of achieving measurable positive outcomes for underserved communities around the world is unparalleled. I am looking forward to working with him to help shape a brighter future for boys and men of color across the country.”

Prior to joining Starbucks in 2012, Taylor served as President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, and is credited with transforming the agency through innovative, nation-leading, comminity engagement programs.

Taylor expresses his deep excitement about joining such an impactful group. “This is an incredible opportunity and I am elated to assume this role at this important time. I am very grateful to the MBKA Board for their vote of confidence and indebted to those who have poured their hearts into this work," he says. "I will continue to bring a sense of urgency to this effort, along with years of experience and a genuine understanding of the power of collaboration. We will build upon the initial work and plans of MBKA, and do so with a renewed emphasis on measuring success and helping communities to achieve tangible results.” He added, “I am firmly convinced that addressing the crisis for our youth, and particularly for boys and men of color, is a big part of my purpose in life. I also believe that the opportunity gaps our youth face today may be the single biggest issue of our time. Our collective future as a nation absolutely requires us to address it.”

Taylor has been widely recognized and celebrated for his creativty, leadership, and innovation for nearly two decades and the teaming up of Taylor and MBKA seems like a fantastic step in the right direction for a company that has already done so much good for the Black community nationwide.  

(Photo: Courtesy of Blair Taylor)