A Year of Groundwork and Growth

The EmpowerED MKE convening in November.

Youth Forward MKE’s summer coalition meeting on June 25 was alive with energy, purpose and momentum. With a goal of reconnecting, reflecting and refocusing, the meeting was more than a check-in – it was a chance to celebrate powerful progress.

“Over the past year, this coalition has pushed forward some powerful work building youth leadership, supporting organizations with resources and coaching, and creating space for youth voice to be heard and acted upon,” said Maria Hamidu, the Youth Forward MKE program manager at Milwaukee Succeeds.

One prime example is the Autonomous Youth Council (AYC). Since its launch last summer, council members have honed their skills and entered into placements with eight local organizations, serving on boards, shaping programs and influencing policies. From data and research to multimedia storytelling, their impact is already being felt across Milwaukee.

Throughout the past year, Youth Forward MKE has also used their capacity grant process to invest in local youth-serving organizations. This funding has helped fuel Teach for America’s Teacher Pathways program, the Sky Schools breathwork curriculum, MENTOR Greater Milwaukee’s Youth Voice Summit and the new Latine Youth Achievement Report from Marquette’s BLEST Hub.

The coalition even deepened its commitment to equity by expanding the use of the Youth Adult Equity Ladder Assessment, a tool that helps organizations measure their commitment to youth leadership and guides them toward meaningful improvements.

This emphasis on shared leadership was on full display at the Empowered MKE convening last November, where youth and adult partners came together to co-create change. The gathering sparked new momentum, including the launch of a citywide reading initiative now taking root in Milwaukee.

“So I have to say that as a coalition, we've done some pretty great work within our city and for our young people and coalition partners,” summarized Maria.