The B.R.O. Experience Foundation

What happens when young men are seen, heard, and supported? The B.R.O. Experience has the answer: changing lives, one young man at a time.

When walking down Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Bed-Stuy, you might pass a vibrant 4,500-square-foot space filled with music, conversation, youth, and purpose. Inside, young men of color are learning to express vulnerability, build resilience, and find their voices in a world that too often fails to listen to them.

Founded in 2020 by educator, youth advocate, and community staple Barry Cooper, affectionately known in the community as “Coach Coop,” The B.R.O. Experience (Brothers Redefining Opportunity) began in response to a clear and urgent need.

“We just wanted to create a space for them where they wouldn’t have to be in the streets. That’s how the organization was birthed. It was born out of a need,” shared Cooper, who now also serves as the organization’s executive director.

When Coach Coop received a call from the NYPD Inspector of the 81st Precinct about violence in the Malcolm X and Chauncey Street housing developments, the organization wasn’t yet fully formed. To meet the needs of his community, he said yes.

“I kind of jumped in headfirst… That was our first cohort, and ever since, we just kept building.”

Today, that early “yes” has become a full-scale operation—and a community anchor, instilling confidence and resources.

What started with five young men in a small space on Chauncey Street has flourished into a movement that served over 250 young men in 2024, with programming embedded in four DOE schools and a team of 13 staff members.

At its core, The B.R.O. Experience is about more than mentorship. It’s about transformation.

“The mission of the organization is to create mental wellness spaces that excavate the untapped potential of young men of color. By providing authenticity, bravery, and connection in our spaces,” added Cooper.

This mission comes to life through innovative programming like Behind the Bars, which uses popular music and poetry to guide young men through conversations about masculinity, mental health, and identity. At events like I Hear You, BRO, participants engage in emotional wellness retreats designed to promote healing, reflection, and community.

The goal, according to Cooper, is about more than just serving individuals. “We want to create a world where young men of color are thriving community members, who our community can rely on.”

The organization’s work is deeply relational—connecting not just youth, but also fathers, mentors, educators, and even police officers in programs designed to heal divides and spark change.

A critical turning point for the organization came with support from Brooklyn Org, which provided not only funding but a sense of community and leadership development.

“Brooklyn Org’s funding not only supported us with building more capacity. We’ve also been able to hire more facilitators to help us do the work while instilling a stronger sense of confidence in my ability to lead.”

This investment in leadership has allowed The B.R.O. Experience to not only sustain its programming but also deepen it—reaching more youth, more schools, and more communities each year.

In a city where too many young men of color are misunderstood or overlooked, The B.R.O. Experience Foundation is actively working to flip this narrative, proving what’s possible when we invest in emotional wellness, real mentorship, and human connection for young men.

Cooper envisions a future with The B.R.O. Experience touching lives across the globe – starting with its new digital platform Be Well Bro, which offers comprehensive mental health resources including articles, podcasts, videos, crisis support, therapy guidance and interactive events.

“We are very much a global organization. I mean, we started from the root. But when I envision the BRO Experience in its full actualization, we are a global entity… Wherever you go, you’ll have a BRO.”

As the organization expands its digital presence and grows its community partnerships, one thing remains constant: a deep belief in the power of young men to lead, heal, and thrive—when they’re given the space to do so. By holding space, building trust, and cultivating leadership, The B.R.O. Experience is not just supporting young men—it’s redefining opportunity.

This story was written by Sada Connel, Brooklyn Org’s 2025 Coro Public Affairs Fellow.