press & media

Description goes hereDariel Vasquez, Co-founder & Executive Director, Brothers@, describes how he didn’t feel welcome at The Met, even though he grew up in nearby Harlem. His first visit was on a class trip, and seeing the confidence and enthusiasm of his professor Teju Cole, a fellow Black man, at the front of the class dramatically transformed the discomfort he felt into a sense of belonging.

Bard College — “Brothers@ is excited to partner with Artsy on Higher Power, featuring some of this generation's most prominent artists of color. Together, we are providing a platform to showcase artists who are not traditionally recognized by the mainstream for their influence in the art world. Brothers@ is thrilled to be part of this cutting-edge endeavor,” said Vasquez.

NY Daily News — Actor Brandon Micheal Hall is doing his part for a good cause. The actor from TV’s “The Mayor” and “God Friended Me” will be part of a panel Thursday called “Closing Opportunity Gaps for Young Men of Color: The State of Mentorship and Youth Development Post 2020.” It is hosted by Brothers@, an organization dedicated to the uplifting of young Black men.

Open Society University Network (OSUN) — This year’s [conference] theme, “Learning Resiliency and Unity Beyond Borders,” was particularly apt, as the conference took place remotely for the second year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite interactions being limited to Zoom sessions, student leaders and innovators still managed to strengthen connections among their colleagues, all who work with community partners to develop solutions to local and international challenges.

Bard College — “It has been gratifying to see Brothers@ flourish at Bard, home to their flagship program,” said Bard College President Leon Botstein. “The group’s achievements over the past six years on the Bard campus and at neighboring Kingston High School, which include mentoring students and helping to increase graduation rates among young men of color, demonstrate an impressive sense dedication and an innovative spirit.”

Chronogram — March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was established in 1966 when the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

Hudson Valley 360 — “Presented by Peace One Day in association with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the live broadcast gathers internationally acclaimed artists, actors, and prominent speakers to raise awareness of Anti-Racism Day, facilitate conversations that lead to a more diverse and inclusive world, set out action points to help individuals and organizations engage with anti-racism, and establish the link between the March 21 Anti-Racism Day and September 21 Peace Day, demonstrating that anti-racism is an essential requirement for peace.”

Peace One Day — Dariel Vasquez, representing Bard College, is participating in the Anti-Racism Live Global Digital Experience.

The 730 Podcast — Dariel Vasquez and Harry A. Johnson Jr. join 730 to discuss their journeys and what prompted them to form Brothers@ – a youth mentorship program for young men of color – they founded while undergraduate students at Bard College.

Metropolitan Museum of Art — “That could be me.” Executive director of Brothers@, Dariel Vasquez, never felt welcome at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, even though he grew up in nearby Harlem. His first visit to the Met was on a Bard class trip for a Northern Renaissance Art course with Teju Cole. Seeing the confidence and enthusiasm of Professor Cole, a fellow Black man, at the front of the class transformed the discomfort he felt into a sense of belonging. Vasquez was interviewed for the Met’s 150th anniversary “Met Stories” series.

The Bardian — “We decided to create an institutional culture of serious, thoughtful and nonpartisan engagement in the world,” President Leon Botstein told the New York Times in 2011, when CCE was established. That culture has grown tremendously over the last decade in Annandale and internationally.”

Bard College — Brothers at Bard co-founders and Class of 2017 alumni Harry Johnson and Dariel Vasquez have been named among the 40 Under 40 Movers and Shakers by the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce. The awards are given annually to 40 individuals under the age of 40 who have shown a strong commitment to the Hudson Valley. The awards ceremony, which is open to the public, is a celebration of these individuals and their accomplishments.

Bard College — On Tuesday, February 4, esteemed filmmakers Charles Burnett, Julie Dash, and Bradford Young will take part in a discussion at Bard College exploring their career trajectories, works, creative processes, and commitments to the humanities. The conversation will be moderated by Tabetha Ewing ’89, Social Studies Division chair and associate professor of Historical Studies, and Dariel Vasquez ’17, director of program design and management at Brothers@Bard (BAB). It takes place from 6–8 p.m. in Olin Auditorium (Olin Hall) and is free and open to the public.

Around this time of year, I’m sure you expect a letter that centers joy and gratitude — an inspiring message full of hope — especially coming from someone like me. That’s what we all want to feel after these last two years. And I am grateful. Brothers@ is growing more than I could’ve ever imagined.

So I could choose to center that gratitude — to say all the things you thought I’d say: that there’s so much to be thankful for, and that I’m proud of all of us for persevering through everything we’ve dealt with since the last time you heard from me. You’ll find that message somewhere in this letter, too. But me being who I am, you should also expect me to keep it real. So instead, I’m choosing to center how I truly feel, and start this letter off by saying this: I’m tired, gang.

As a child, Dariel Vasquez dreamt of going to college. Despite his drive and strong academic performance, he faced real-world challenges as a Black male growing up in a housing project in Harlem.—only 59 percent of young Black boys in the US graduate from high school.

Determined to help change the narrative, Dariel went on to not only get his degree, but pay it forward, working to help increase the high school graduation rate of Black boys in 42 high schools to 90 percent.

This February, we’re celebrating Black History Month at The Met. But for African Americans such as myself, every month is Black History Month. So we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate the Black art and identities that have been crucial in shaping art history for years—and will continue to shape it for many more to come. Here are just five of the many stories of Black art, culture, and history interwoven throughout The Met collection.