A group at Mount Carmel High School is working to bring students together and build a strong community. Brothers From the Mount provides a space where students, especially students of color, can feel safe, share their thoughts, and be there to support each other.

The club meets weekly, having activities and events organized that help students connect with each other. 

“Our main mission is to bring a safe haven,” says sophomore Aaron Hyler, the club’s treasurer. “We tried to do it just for people of color, but it’s really for all people. It really focuses on people of color and Black people in our school, giving them a safe space to talk, to do activities, and to feel free to express any grievances they have.”

The group gathers for different activities, from fun ice breaker games to serious discussions. 

“Every meeting, we usually do some type of activity,” Hyler says. “For the first meeting we had this year, we did an icebreaker. We played a game of Jenga, and each block had a sentence or an icebreaker question to answer. We also play Uno, Black Jeopardy, and Kahoot.”

Mrs. Emma Norise, a faculty member at MC who helps moderate the club, sees how important the group is for students. “It’s a place where students can be themselves and find guidance from others who have been in their shoes,” Mrs. Norise says. “Alumni come back almost every meeting to talk to the students about their experiences.”

One of the key parts of the club is the connection between students of different ages. 

It’s really about bringing teams together, underclassmen talking to upperclassmen about what to do and how to navigate the hallways,” says Hyler. “And it’s not just about current brotherhood either, it’s also about alumni brotherhood.”

Brothers From the Mount hosts events that bring students together. 

“I would say the bowling event is one of our key activities,” Hyler says. “We’ve done trivia before. We’re starting up our own social media account. Like I said, we play Kahoot and Jeopardy—those are team events.”

Mrs. Norise hopes that students are prepared for life after school. 

“One of our goals is to take students on college tours, especially to [historically Black colleges and universities],” she says. “We want to give them a chance to see what’s possible for their futures.”

The club also teaches students important life skills. 

“We’re trying to teach people how to tie a tie,” Hyler says. “We see a lot of people who don’t know how to tie a tie correctly. We’re trying to set up some man-building activities.” 

One of Hyler’s most memorable moments in the club was a barbecue event that helped him become an officer. 

“I just saw the love, the community, and the resources everybody was using,” he says. “It was such a loving environment to be in. People were eating, there was good music, and good food. There were people from all different classes—alumni were coming, current students were coming.”

Mrs. Norise believes that events like these make a lasting impact. “That sense of community is what makes this club so important. It gives students a place to belong,” she says. The club also focuses on leadership. 

“We have alumni come in almost every meeting, and they really show us what it is to be a Man of Carmel,” Hyler says. “They have walked through these halls, they have sat in these seats, they’ve been in our shoes, and they really know what we should do and how we should navigate.”

Mrs. Norise agreed that leadership is a big part of the club’s mission. 

“We want these young men to learn how to carry themselves with confidence,” she says. “We want them to be ready for the world.”

Hyler is working hard to set a good example. 

“You have to come prepared with what to do, how you’re going to be the face of this group, and how you’re going to influence people,” he says. “If you’re going to be the face of something, you have to be an example.”

As Brothers From the Mount continues to grow, its members hope to expand their impact. 

“We’re trying to get more events and activities throughout the year,” Hyler says.  “The club is trying to increase participation, maybe even outside of it.”

For students at MC, Brothers From the Mount is not just a club, it is a community.  

“We’re trying to build men and teach guys how to be wonderful people in a crazy world,” Hyler says.