Page 1.

A FOREWARD FROM Jeremie
BMT High School Fellow, Class of 2024
‍
My name is Jeremie Niyonkuru. Right now, I’m 17 years
old, and in the fall of 2024, I’ll be going to Minnesota
State University Moorhead to double major in
education and marketing. Black Men Teach played a
big role in that decision for me.
‍
I first saw Black Men Teach in 2020 when I was a
freshman, and we had to pick electives for sophomore
year. They had a booth set up during lunchtime with
snacks, so a few of my friends and I signed up, not
really knowing what it would entail. I didn’t know what
to expect and didn’t think too much of it. But the next
year, when Sean, Domonick, and Markus came to
speak to the class and pulled out all the statistics on
education in Minnesota, I started to understand the
importance of what they were doing.
‍
My desire to be in education grew every day after that.
Later, I became an intern at BMT Academy and taught
elementary students social and emotional learning
skills in 2023 and 2024.
‍
Black Men Teach helped me start to think about
myself as an educator, but at the same time, it is
the only place in my life where I see educators who
look like me. I was born in Burundi (a country in East
Africa), but I came to Minneapolis with my family
when I was four and didn’t have a Black male teacher
until private school in fifth grade. And then, not again
until BMT partnered with my school at Patrick Henry.
‍
Our last assignment for the BMT class was to build
our dream school. Mine would be on the Northside of
Minneapolis. It would be accessible to everybody, with
great teachers who provide a positive environment
for students. Students need to feel seen and mentally
safe. They need adults to make a positive connection
with them, have high expectations, and set high
standards so they can be successful in the world.
That’s what’s missing in public schools, so that’s what
my school would be about. And that’s what Black Men
Teach is building every day.
‍
Right now, I work at a daycare. I’m the only Black male
there, and I can see my impact on the kids. Whenever
I’m not there, I get reports of kids crying and calling
for Mr. J, or acting out. And when I walk in, I can
definitely see the energy in the room lift up.
‍
I’m good at a lot of other things, too. For example, I
play football, I’m advanced in math, I like to act and
write, and I enjoy photography. I believe I can try all
my interests, and I believe I can be a positive part of
my community by becoming an educator.
‍
Black Men Teach giving me the chance to step into
this role has allowed me to better myself within. As
you read more about this organization, I hope you get
the same feeling of comfort as I feel, and I hope you
support Black Men Teach in whatever way you can.
‍
Thank you for reading,
Jeremie

‍