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Founded in 2019, Brothers 2 Brothers United(B2B), a not-for-profit organization located in Muncie, is working to connect young men between the ages of 8-18 with mentors and social outlets to positively impact their lives.
A conversation between friends resulted in a car ride to a dilapidated building on the east side of Muncie, which in turn solidified the vision for something prosperous in the neighborhood where Melvin Kelly grew up in (and where he still lives today).
His personal life experience coming up in a poverty-stricken, single-parent household motivated Kelly to better his community with a focus on young men. After telling his wife on many occasions about the many needs of the community, he decided to take her advice of “either do something about it or shut up.” He believes that helping young men understand their value and importance is a key step in changing the lives and the overall narrative of young Black men.
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IHCDAs CreatINg Places program provided a $10,000 matching grant to acquire the aforementioned building that now serves as the main office and community center of B2B. With the support of the mayor’s office, Ball State University, local businesses and community volunteers, B2B was able to complete renovations on the one-story brick building on Muncie’s East side, transforming it into a community mentoring center.
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The mentoring center is equipped with computers, mixed-media options, games and more. It is a safe space for people to come for guidance, or just to sit and be around other people. Additional fundraising and grant opportunities are being pursued to continue building the organization and its mission.
The end goal of B2B is to cultivate self respect, self love, cultural identity, work ethic and family values. Surrounding these young men with valuable tools and resources is the first step towards change for B2B, but bridging the gap isn’t an easy task. Brothers 2 Brothers is in it for the long haul and refuses to give up on the goal of prosperity and progress.
The Summer issue of IHCDA…The Magazine will provide an update on Melvin Kelly and the people surrounding him, all of whom share a dream to uplift youth and pave a better path for their futures.
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