About – Peanut Butter & Jealous

About the author

In an effort to expand his philanthropic footprint and continue to affect positive inner-city change beyond what was possible during his 13 years of professional community policing, Mr. Keith Linton founded Boys 2 Gentlemen (B2G) in 2015. B2G is dedicated to empowering young people to seek, do, and be all the things they once thought were impossible.

Peanut Butter & Jealous has become another meaningful stepping stone on that empowerment journey for Mr. Linton and his organization.

“We have seen tremendous success with LAUSD students and are excited that our books will be able to help your youth, too. In the world today – young people are working through a series of very complex emotions – while, simultaneously, navigating their way past neighborhood upticks in violence, recalibrations of law & order, bouts of civil unrest, and the growing pains that accompany the advancement of equity. The pain is compounding and so we must show up in a more profound way for these kids.

I grew up in the Brownsville Projects in NYC, where things were quite tough, and so I’ve faced many of the same challenges that today’s urban youth face. And, I’ve been blessed to be able to share some of this lived-experience through books like Peanut Butter & Jealous. Its opening scene, for instance, was inspired by my own situation over 36 years ago – I, too, regularly searched for recyclables so I could afford dinner for me and my mom. Those types of struggles stick with you for a lifetime and no child should face that type of stress alone. Life can be deeply challenging. That’s why positive mentorship and a safe harbor are so important to our social-emotional development.”

Rising through the ranks, Mr. Keith Linton was one of the first 40 officers chosen by Ms. Constance L Rice to lead a Los Angeles community policing reform initiative that focused on restorative justice, community connection, and mutual respect.

While this type of reform initiative was helpful to the communities he served – Mr. Linton realized that there was more that needed to be done – so he retired early from the force and dedicated his full pension to establishing a nonprofit focused on youth mentorship. This civilian-based advocacy work has reached over 60+ LAUSD campuses throughout Los Angeles County and has positively affected the lives of over 12,000+ youth. “I had to take a risk and start something new. Issuing more booking numbers will not solve our problems. There needs to be a greater, more coordinated solution…one built on hope, trust, compounding connection, and aspirational possibility. The positive effect that Peanut Butter & Jealous has on students who are struggling is a clear step in the right direction. Every young person benefits from additional anti-bully education resources like this one.”

Mr. Linton’s community outreach and nonprofit work has sparked a conversation about new and innovative ways in which we can collectively come together as a community to stop the hurting, fighting, looting, and dying.

When he is not working with students, there is nothing that Mr. Linton enjoys more than to spend quality time with his family.

To learn more about B2G’s top-rated, mentorship-focused programming and its community impact, please visit: www.boys2gentlemen.org or @b_2g on Instagram.

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A social-emotional empowerment tool and educational resource

A feel-good story of intrapersonal and interpersonal friendship — so that the internal and external bullies don’t win.