Update: The Autonomous Youth Council

The Autonomous Youth Council (AYC) continues to play a central role in Youth Forward MKE’s vision for change, moving beyond traditional internships to place young people in meaningful decision-making roles. This approach not only empowers council members to develop critical leadership skills but also ensures their voices directly influence policies and programs across Milwaukee.

At the June 25 Youth Forward MKE Coalition meeting, council members shared insights from their diverse placements, illustrating the breadth and depth of their impact. At Arts at Large, for instance, Lola Johnson and two fellow AYC members are helping launch the organization’s Mobile Media Van, which will use storytelling and art to engage the community.

“We're going to use the van to…[gather] stories from a range of ages, and we're going to ask people to draw their perspective on iPads, making a short film and utilizing multimedia to create a story,” explained Lola.

Meanwhile, over at Your Move MKE, Tai Rush is diving into events and creating a dialogue around critical issues like police-community relations. Deh Nee’s board-level placement with Data You Can Use has already deepened his understanding of strategic decision-making and fiscal responsibility, while also helping him discover his own personal strengths. And over at Lad Lake, Kaylee Marsh is navigating practical challenges in order to change policies – starting with the organization’s dress code.

Summer Training Series

To build on these real-world experiences, AYC members will participate in a weeklong summer academy from July 7-11, led by returning facilitator Angela Harris. The week’s theme – From Roots to Resistance: Rewriting the Future of Education – will guide council members through Milwaukee’s legacy of youth-led activism and help them apply those lessons to their current work.

“I really want them to be able to connect with the activism that has happened here in the city of Milwaukee, in particular the youth-led activism that has happened both historically and currently,” Angela said. “What does it look like to learn about historical movements, and how can we make that applicable to the work that we are trying to do today, whether it's in their current placements or some personal issue that they want to organize around?”

The academy will culminate in the creation of zines – short multimedia magazines – that will allow participants to explore what it looks like, sounds like and feels like when education is truly liberating.