President Barack Obama gave remarks Monday at an event launching the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, a non-profit that will support boys and young men of color through programs targeting early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence and adulthood. 
At Lehman College in New York City this afternoon, Obama spoke about the obstacles Black and Latino men face in the path of reaching their dreams. Obama mentioned police and community tensions as one of those roadblocks, especially amid the recent uprisings in Baltimore and Ferguson, following the deaths of Freddie Gray and Michael Brown.

"We ask police to go into communities where there is no hope," he said, according to the Associated Press. "Eventually, something happens because of the tension between society and these communities, and the police are just on the front lines of that."

The foundation will be supported by a leadership team including BET Chairman and CEO Debra Lee, who was in attendance at the organization's launch, recording artist John Legend and former NBA player Alonzo Mourning. BET is one of the dozens of corporations making a total commitment of $80 million to the My Brothers Keepers Alliance. 

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