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According to the blog Crew of 42, a rule change the Obama Administration’s initiative, My Brother’s Keeper, which is aimed at helping young black men, will prevent black civic organizations from participating in the initiative.

The organization 100 Black Men of America has written a letter of concern.

From Crew of 42:

A letter expressing concern over the change, written by the national President of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., states that  President Obama originally announced on February 24, 2014 that a group must have a “active presence” in 30 states — not 45.  Brown’s letter requests a reversal of the rule change.

The change from 30 to 45 states would effectively mean that almost no Black civic, social or mentoring organizations, other than perhaps the NAACP, would be eligible for funding under My Brother’s Keeper.  Only the NAACP has a “active presence” in at least 45 states.

The 45 state rule requirement would mean that small community based organizations would be out of the running for funding.

“I am writing to express our concern for the change in direction for the President’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative,” wrote Michael J. Brown, President of 100 Black Men of America, in a letter to the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.  The letter was dated April 28, 2014.

Read more at Crew of 42

The Obama Administration has yet to reply.

Thoughts on why the Obama Administration would change a rule that would prevent most black civic organization from participating?

Sound off below!