Michael B. Jordan Launches Fellowship for Underrepresented Youth

Melissa Matthews

February 22, 2019 4:54 PM

Hollywood gets a lot of flack for its lack of diversity, and Michael B. Jordan wants to change that by helping minority guys become, well, the next Michael B. Jordan.

Michael B. Jordan Launches Youth Fellowship

The Black Panther star created an internship and mentor program to give underrepresented boys the opportunity to pursue careers in media, entertainment, and arts, reported Deadline . Named the Outlier Fellowship, the program was created through his production company, Outlier Society, in partnership with the My Brothers Keeper Alliance, an initiative under the Obama Foundation.

The fellowship will include a summer internship program open to high school and college students from underrepresented communities. Guys will get work experience, networking opportunities and mentoring from other men in the arts and entertainment fields.

"Build with your peers. Build with your friends." @MichaelBJordan talks collaboration at #MBKRising pic.twitter.com/6ZRGMJg8Rh - The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) February 21, 2019

Jordan made the announcement at the My Brother's Keeper first national meeting , held in Oakland, California, Feb. 18 to 20, Huffington Post reported . Launched in 2015, the My Brother's Keeper Alliance aims to close the opportunity gap for young men of color "to ensure all youth can reach their full potential," the official website proclaims .

At the event, Jordan said he always hoped to use his position of power to help others.

"Its something I always promised myself that once I got a production company, I would be able to do that, Huffington Post reported him saying. Jordan explained that the fellowship is an important investment in the livelihood of our country.

Outlier Fellows is a chance to find and cultivate a purposeful pipeline of talented and diverse minds from the next generation - the voices who will shape our community for years to come," Jordan said in Deadline. "Pulling up a seat to the table for the next group of cultural leaders is the greatest investment we can make as a community.'

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Melissa Matthews