N² grantee Together for Brothers (T4B), a BIPOC-youth-led nonprofit that brings community, love and young men of color to demand justice and change in their communities, had a huge win in 2023. Their community organizing efforts around health and youth equity have made Albuquerque, New Mexico the largest city in the country to become transit fare-free!
This means that young people of color and their families have fewer barriers to many of the positive social determinants of health, including easier access to trails, open spaces and other outdoor environments that allow them to connect, heal and celebrate. Due to their efforts over the past four years, one-third of New Mexico’s transit agencies now offer zero fares. Together for Brothers hopes to take the model across the state, which would make New Mexico the first transit fare-free state in the country.
About Together for Brothers
Together for Brothers (T4B) is a BIPOC-youth-led nonprofit that brings community, love and young men of color to demand justice and change in their communities. Since 2019, outdoor programming has been a part of that process of healing, self-discovery and community building for the youth, including bicycling, soccer and hiking. This work also connects the participants to environmental justice and climate justice issues in their community through a safe space for these men. T4B is working with others to promote equitable access to outdoor recreation including participation in decision-making for young men of color from the low-income communities and communities of color connected to the International District and Westgate (the neighborhoods with the poorest and highest concentration of people of color in Albuquerque). 75% of participants with T4B identify as low income or being eligible for free breakfast and lunch in their schools. Almost 100% had not previously visited outdoor spaces or participated in weekly outdoor recreation activities. Through their outdoor programming, youth develop stories of self that they use to advocate with decision-makers to help improve the quality of life for these young men and their communities. Visit https://www.togetherforbrothers.org/ to learn more and get involved.