Partner Highlight: United Way Community Schools Partnership

Community Schools is a national model that aims to go beyond the typical system by catering to the whole student and connecting them to learning experiences across the community. Milwaukee’s 16 Community Schools not only provide a variety of opportunities and resources, but they also ensure students have a seat at the table and ownership over their own education. They approach this collaboration with three core practices in mind: shared leadership, equity and cultural relevance.

“It’s really necessary for us to actually partner with our young people in an equitable way to be able to create the learning environments that are necessary for them to be successful,” said Dom Portis, Community Schools’ hisch shool manager.

Creating the right type of learning environment begins with bringing youth in on the ground floor, giving them a part in selecting each school’s priorities and involving them in the implementation. Community Schools’ Youth Councils provide a unique opportunity for youth to lead – showcasing their talents, gifts and advocacy skills – while also ensuring continuous improvement across their school experience.

One prime example of the power of these Youth Councils is their work to improve school lunches through the $25,000 Violence Prevention Grant, funded by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and awarded by Youth Forward MKE Ambassadors. The school lunch subcommittee at James Madison Academic Campus (JMAC) is actively working on ways to improve the quality of their food, which has a direct effect on student behavior and energy levels throughout the day.

“We want to encourage [youth] to find their own leadership voices and awake their confidence within themselves to be the next generation of problem solvers,” said Portis.