$10,000 Grants to Milwaukee Youth Projects

To truly give Milwaukee’s youth an opportunity to make tangible changes in the education system, the newly formed initiative Youth Forward MKE will approve five youth proposals and give them $10,000 each. The goal is to improve the experience of Milwaukee Black males in high school and the only way to do this is from within.

“We should be looking to our youth on how to address issues current day that are affecting them,” said School Partnerships and Initiatives Manager with Milwaukee Succeeds Clintel Hasan. “We can’t make assumptions.”

 Youth Forward MKE was created in November through Milwaukee Succeeds: a collective impact organization focused on educational equity launched by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

It is no secret that Black males are unfairly treated in the educational system, which is why the “Design Your Future Challenge” was created.

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Applications opened on November 18, 2020, and will close on January 8, 2021, at noon CST. Youths ages 13-20 are encouraged to submit proposals. 

Hasan said the point is to show our youth that we believe in their idea even before it’s fully thought out. Each youth working on the approved proposals will receive a $2,500 stipend.

“We want this to be a thing everyone is involved in,” she said.

Approved proposals will be worked on during the Spring and Summer of 2021 and implemented in the Fall.

When it comes to the proposals themselves, Youth Forward MKE is open to all kinds of ideas because no one solution will fix everything. Youth can submit their proposal individually, in groups, or partner with an organization or school.

Hasan said it’s time to stop viewing Black males as all the same because they each have their own stories and barriers, and they need specific resources to make a positive impact in their lives.

“It’s important to not group them,” said Hasan. “Really, truly center their experiences and listen.”

Applying with Ease and Options

To be more inclusive, there are two ways to submit a proposal. You can send a written proposal that’s up to two pages. The proposal can be traditional writing, spoken word, or some other form of writing. The second way is to send an audio/visual proposal. If sending a video, it can be no longer than three minutes. This section is open to any form of visual art.

The point is to ask questions and listen to the youth before creating a solution.

All proposals will be reviewed by Milwaukee Succeeds team members, youth, and community members. Winners will be notified on January 22, 2021.

To apply for the Design Your Future Challenge, click here.