Charity Footprints Partner - The B.R.O. Experience Foundation

We are helping close the Black male mental health gap by giving young men of color the emotional tools they need to redefine who they are, develop healthy responses to what they experience, and transform their relationship between self and community.

The B.R.O. Experience Foundation (Brothers Redefining Opportunity) is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit founded in 2020 by educator and community leader Barry Cooper. The organization serves young men of color ages 8 to 24 from Central Brooklyn communities including Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Crown Heights, and East New York. What began as a small mentoring initiative has grown into a multi program organization anchored by The BRO Space, a 4,500-square-foot community hub in the heart of Bed-Stuy, where more than 1,000 young men have come to learn, heal, and grow. At the core of every program is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)- informed framework that helps young men understand the connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and develop the tools to navigate their lives with intention. This framework runs through a continuum of programming that spans from elementary school through young adulthood: Little BRO serves boys in grades 3 through 5 through literacy, mentorship, and social-emotional learning; The BRO Project provides workforce development and career readiness for young men ages 14 to 24; Behind the Bars uses rap music and creative expression to build emotional skills in high school settings; and the Daddy and Me program supports young fathers with parenting and family stability. The organization also operates BeWellBro.org, a national digital platform connecting young men of color to mental health resources beyond Brooklyn.

Our Mission

Young men of color deserve to be well — in mind, body, and spirit. The BRO Experience Foundation is a youth wellness organization dedicated to the holistic development of young men of color. Through a lens of mental, emotional, and social wellness, we create transformative spaces where young men are equipped to heal, grow, and lead. Grounded in the 7 Dimensions of Wellness, our programs cultivate the emotional intelligence, resilience, and purpose that our young men need to thrive. Through transformative programs like our The BRO Project and our Little BRO Programs, we foster the confidence and resilience they need to advocate for themselves and drive positive change in their communities.