Strategic Projects in Motion
The next chapter of Youth Forward MKE is being shaped by the Strategic Priority Workgroup, the coalition’s engine for planning and implementation. This year, the workgroup is launching three bold, youth-centered projects:
1. Post-Secondary Pathways Program
The Post-Secondary Pathways Program aims to expand awareness, access and confidence among Milwaukee youth when it comes to nontraditional paths like trades, apprenticeships and service programs. Led in part by Autonomous Youth Council member Aliyah through her placement with Milwaukee Succeeds, the program is working to reduce stigma and shift the narrative around what success looks like after high school. Current efforts include outreach to local organizations, event planning, servey development and the creation of a resource guide to help students navigate their options.
“Our purpose is simple and powerful,” said Aliyah. “We want to connect Milwaukee youth with diverse post-secondary options, support youth employment and contribute to local economic growth, as well as shift perspective and build community value around nontraditional careers.”
2. Youth-Led Mini Grantmaking Pilot
The Youth-Led Mini Grantmaking Pilot will put real decision-making power in the hands of young people by training them to review, award and evaluate small grants for youth-serving initiatives. The goal is to not only fund meaningful projects, but also to build sustainable leadership skills and ensure that youth are directly involved in determining where resources go within their communities.
“This will help us dive into what really matters to young people and identify areas where they would like to see change,” said Maria Hamidu, the Youth Forward MKE program manager with Milwaukee Succeeds.
Grantmakers will also help track how funds are used, giving them a full view of the process – from application to impact. Though the grants are intentionally small, the opportunity is big: empowering young people to shape priorities, influence funding decisions and invest in the change they want to see.
3. From Listening to Action: A Community Narrative Toolkit
What started as an idea to host community listening sessions evolved into something deeper: a toolkit to help others lead equity-centered, accountable conversations within their community. From Listening to Action: A Community Narrative Toolkit will guide schools, organizations and community groups in designing and hosting meaningful listening sessions. The project will include templates, planning guides, facilitation tips and tools for analyzing and using community input responsibly.