President Obama Speaks at Lehman
By Gabriel Diaz
Lehman College’s own Scott Davis got up close and personal with the leader of the free world on May 4 when President Obama visited Herbert H. Lehman College to announce the launch of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.
President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative in February 2014 to develop recommendations on how to increase opportunities for at-risk young men, focusing on inner city youth and young men of color.
During his visit to Lehman, the president announced that his initiative would now be funded privately, but would bring to bear any existing resources the federal government had to achieve the objectives set in conjunction with private organizations. He also said that his initiative would outlive his administration, implying that the task force would be his primary focus after his presidency.
Traffic and students were diverted for the event and only a selected few got a chance to see the commander-in-chief. The president arrived on Marine Force One in the middle of the Bronx High School of Science baseball field around 1 p.m.
(Lorraine Kearney)
Davis said his favorite exchange was right after he turned to Obama, thanked him for coming and said his appearance really showed students that he cared. “He remarked something along the lines of ‘Of course I care,’ with a genuine tone, and then, in a second, gave his address to the cameras. It was amazing,” said Davis.
Young men of color are one of the target groups of the initiative. Recent Lehman College graduate Elias Alcantara, who currently works in the White House as the Director of Inter-government Affairs, collaborated with Suzette Ramsundar, associate director of the Office of Campus Life, to invite the president and bring the event together.
Scott Davis was chosen to attend the special event because of his work both inside and outside of campus. Davis started his freshman year like most young students, unsure of where to get involved but wanting to make a difference. He soon began networking with different campus organizations to see where he could lend a hand.
He was chosen to join the CUNY Service Corps with Amanda Dubois, Director of Community Engagement. “I got accepted because Amanda knew I demonstrated a track record for service prior to the program’s launch,” said Davis. “During the audition I met the Service Corps Leadership and they would give me future speaking opportunities.”
At the end of the program, Scott was hired by the YearUp program and continues to represent it and CUNY. “Next thing I know I’m featured on the CUNY homepage and used in CUNY ads in the NY Post,” he said. “Turns out the president wanted to meet two students from Lehman during his visit and because staff on campus trusted me and knew of my history of service. I was chosen alongside Rich Nyugen — who is involved with the UMLP (Urban Male Leadership Program).”
Davis says it was pure luck that he got to sit so near the president. “We get to the room and there is a seating arrangement. The president hasn’t come in yet, but there is a paper in front of where he would sit, with names, and my name happens to be beside him. I don’t know why I was chosen to sit there or if it was mere fortune,” he said with a grin.
The timing of Obama’s announcement about the alliance was particularly apt with the national tensions brought on by protests against police brutality and inequities in the U.S. justice systems. Scott Davis said he appreciated that the president chose this time out to highlight why it is critical to lend a helping hand to inner-city youth.
“I was blown away, it’s a remarkable speech, and the fact that our conversation was included in his speech underscored the sincerity of his work and mission,” said Davis. “I’m glad he intends to continue the work of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance long after his presidency ends and I trust he’ll be met with continued success.”