Before and Beyond D.C.
The Brotherhood
across the years.
The D.C. Brotherhood didn't start in D.C. It grew out of older circles, first on a college campus and later in Florida, where Black men came together to support each other. This is that story.
The Brotherhood at Brown University, founded 1994.
Chapter 1 · Brown University · 1994
Where it started.
The Brotherhood was founded at Brown University in 1994, inspired by The Brotherhood-SisterSol, a similarly-named organization founded shortly beforehand. It quickly took root as a social support community for Black males who also looked to serve through altruistic pursuits, including mentoring at nearby John Hope Settlement House.
Supported by the Office of Student Life and facilitated by an associate dean, the Brotherhood created a structured space for discussion, including check-ins, guided topics, and honest conversation led by student leaders who carried the tradition forward year after year.
"The group was created as a discussion space, primarily staffed by an associate dean who provided a framework for the meeting conversations: a check-in and a discussion topic facilitated by student leaders. The group also organized a trip to Washington, D.C., for the Million Man March."
— A founding co-chair, 1995–1996
For decades, the men of the Brotherhood have served as leaders within the Brown community and gone on to achieve remarkable things after graduation. Throughout its history, the organization has provided Black men at Brown with a vital space for community, networking, mentorship, and lasting relationships. That tradition of leadership has continued across generations, including during Armani Madison's tenure as co-president from 2013 to 2014 and president from 2014 to 2015.
Now in its fourth decade, the Brotherhood at Brown remains an active student organization committed to fostering unity among Black men and deepening their awareness of the communities they serve as they grow into scholars, professionals, and lifelong learners. Its example has also inspired alumni to carry that spirit of brotherhood into the communities and institutions they have helped build after Brown.
Chapter 2 · Tampa Brotherhood · 2022–2023
Tampa.
After Brown, the idea traveled south. From 2022 to 2023, the Tampa Brotherhood brought Black men in the area together for dinners, conversation, and the same spirit of fellowship.
Tampa demonstrated that the model could extend beyond a college campus. The city and circumstances were different, but the purpose remained the same: Black men creating space for one another. That same vision eventually reached Washington, D.C., where the Brotherhood would take its next form.
Tampa Brotherhood, 2022 to 2023.
Chapter 4 · NYC Brotherhood · 2026
New York.
In July 2026, the Brotherhood arrived in New York City. Founded by Mo Light and Kareim Oliphant, the NYC Brotherhood launched with the same conviction that has anchored every iteration: that Black men thrive when they make intentional space for one another.
New York is a different pace of life but the call is the same. A table, a circle, and men willing to show up for each other. This expansion marks the first time the Brotherhood has operated in multiple cities concurrently, with high hopes for more opportunities coming soon to connect brothers in other cities across the country.
NYC Brotherhood, July 2026.
And counting
What's next.
Brown, Tampa, D.C., New York. Each one showed that when Black men make space for each other, the community holds. We want to help start Brotherhoods in more cities, so more men get that same room to grow in.
Start a chapter in your city