The B.R.O. Experience takes a night in Brooklyn to recognize some Extraordinary Men

It was a night of sharp suits and elegant dresses under the Brooklyn Bridge as the Brothers Redefining Opportunity Experience Foundation (B.R.O. Experience) celebrated its 2025 Extraordinary Men Awards (EMAs), honoring brilliant men and women of color from within the community.

“When I think about my younger brothers and all the things that they have to experience, all the statistics they have to overcome, and all of the narratives that are painted on them before they can even define their own selves,” said the B.R.O. Experience Founder Barry Cooper, at the awards ceremony on Thursday, December 11, 2025. “Somewhere someone told them that they won’t graduate, or because of the communities they come from, they could only ever be dead or in jail. And all we do every single day in our work is defy that narrative.”

A former barber in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, Cooper grew his youth empowerment organization from a few simple events to a safe haven focused on serving young men of color from ages 8 to 24 in the borough’s most neglected area. Cooper’s mantra is to address issues like mental health, violence, and educational gaps with emotional intelligence and educational opportunities. The B.R.O. Experience has unique programming, like Behind the Bars, a unique music-centered cognitive-behavioral group curriculum for middle and high schoolers, and the Daddy & Me project, which is a six-week fatherhood program that supports young dads.

During the event, community leaders and attendees poured into the DUMBO Lofts near Downtown Brooklyn as Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble performed for guests.

Ariama C. Long photos

Honorees for the night included President & CEO of The Eagle Academy Foundation (EAF) Donald M. Ruff, Jr., who won the Henry Pete Pearson Impact Award; entrepreneur Tameek Floyd, who won the Resilient Visionary Award; Executive Director of the Social Justice Fund Gregg Bishop, who won the Boundary Breaker Award; mental health advocate Raul Espinoza, who won the ‘Be Well Bro’ Award; Dr. Dennis McKesey, who won the Educational Advocacy Award; Gentlemen’s Factory founder Jeff Lindor, who won the ‘I Hear You Bro’ Award, and Brooklyn Org President Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, who won the Extraordinary Community Partner Award.

Ruff, who essentially grew up with Cooper, said that he was beyond honored to receive an award from his long-time friend and brother-in-arms. “I’m actually kinda shy about these things, but it’s Barry. You can’t say no. We came up together.”

Floyd spoke about how special it was for him to receive the resiliency award and thanked the support system of dedicated friends he had as a justice-impacted youth. He decided to become a sports entrepreneur to pour back into his community and be the representation he often didn’t see on and off the field. “I served 10 years in state prison. I went from being a collegiate athlete on a full scholarship. But within 10 months, I was in Miami State prison,” said Floyd. “At my darkest times, I didn’t know what to do. I was drowning in failure, and I didn’t know how to deal with adversity. I spent several years with no hope, but I had a friend that for 10 years visited me.”

“Partners and brothers that are out there creating change in our communities that is so much needed,” said Espinoza. “And so, to the BRO Experience, you have an ally, you have a brother, you’ve got a fellow comrade in transforming our communities with the work that we’re doing. I see you.”

“It started out as a coworker space. As I really saw that there weren’t spaces that were designed specifically for Black men to just be,” said Lindor. “And there are so many spaces that we have to fit in, but there are no spaces that fit us.

Other performances to cap off the night included spoken word artist Cyrus Aaron, musician Greg Banks, DJFame BK, and saxophonist John Robert Bonhomme.

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