Youth Forward MKE in 2023
The final Youth Forward MKE meeting of the year concluded with a hopeful look forward into 2023.
“I’m hoping for some deeper collaboration in 2023,” said Dom Portis, Community Schools’ high school manager. “Milwaukee is a city that has a ton of resources. We have a ton of leaders at the table. I think we are just missing one component. And I think that is how to collaborate on a deeper level.”
Kyle Ashley, community engagement manager at Unite Us, seconded that. “It all boils down to just being able to talk to one another,” he said. “Being able to empathize with another situation.”
Building a bigger, better coalition of like-minded partners and youth also rose to the forefront.
“The one goal I have…is being able to recruit more young people to these conversations and get them to be more active in decision-making seats,” said Clintel Hasan, Milwaukee Succeeds’ strategic initiatives manager. “And to ensure other organizations are opening their tables to young people.”
In the new year, Youth Forward MKE will be recruiting additional Ambassadors to support the work in various ways – so keep an eye out for those application cycles! The current Ambassadors also weighed in with their own goals for the new year, each expressing the hope of continuing this work in their own ways.
“I want to get involved in my community more, and when I’m older I want to go into urban planning…because it affects the community and education and everything we spoke about,” said Ambassador Amaya Bauldwin.
“I want to continue with Youth Forward MKE and see the success of the proposals that we made during the Design Your Future Fellowship,” said Deh Nee. “I also want to advocate for youth, as well.”
For those interested in getting more involved in Youth Forward MKE and its work, there will be even more opportunities in 2023! The partnership will be launching three workgroups – Strategic Planning, Data and Youth Engagement – which will meet every 6-8 weeks to help push the work forward. If you want to join, contact Clintel Hasan to learn more. And stay tuned for our 2023 meeting dates so you can keep up-to-date on how we’re advancing education equity in Milwaukee!
