Countless Milwaukee teens are not being equipped to successfully transition out of high school and into becoming productive contributors to our communities. Alike, businesses continually affirm their need for employees that are able to display necessary employability skill that will add to the organization's success. Now a day, it is difficult for businesses to teach employees higher-level job skills; critical thinking, problem solving, initiative, professional communication, and giving/receiving feedback.
ArtWorks makes use of a very powerful tool by using the Arts to engage youth in creative ways. The Arts provide opportunities for a wide variety of youth they serve to be successful, regardless of their learning method, disability status, or level of artistic ability.
TRUE Skool’s mission is to provide arts education and community service opportunities for youth to create positive sustainable change in their lives and in the community. Moreover, TRUE Skool believes the cultural arts and arts education is a fundamental part of the community. Thus the arts have a great effect on the achievement of our youth’s power to thrive as adults. Art education as an essential tool is impacting but unfortunately is limited in our public schools. TRUE Skool fulfills that absence by offering art’s education in a nontraditional site with a promising curriculum that can easily fit into today’s classroom. Their Urban Arts Program offers a teaching in art, music and dance using a core curriculum; based on Milwaukee Public School's Learning Targets for the Arts. The Urban Arts Program offers a focus on community service and job skill and training. Youth explore the possibility of being professional artists and musicians by learning project planning, budgeting, contracts, and other essential skills needed to become entrepreneurs as well as the ability to find careers in these fields. All participants are required to complete 10-15 hours of community service in order to receive a certificate of completion. Furthermore, are evaluated through pre and post surveys, peer to peer evaluations, completion of projects and performances. Majority of the youth participating in the program complete more than 150 hours of Art instruction and more than 300 hours of community service. TRUE Skool’s distinctive programming, such as the Urban Arts Program, is an extraordinary opportunity for youth to make significant changes in their lives. Aside from the Urban Arts Programs, TRUE Skool offers a successful Adopt a Community Program and workshops in Hip Hop History, Graffiti and Street Art, and MCing.
MIDWEST INDIAN MISSION, INC
In 1964, after holding several years of Bible camps and Vacation Bible Schools in the Crandon area, Rev. and Mrs. George Hollingshead were deeply impressed as they saw the neglect of small tribes of Indians where they were scattered throughout Northern Wisconsin. Resolved in their own minds that there was a great need here, they looked to the Lord for His will - and as a result of this direct leading, founded the Midwest Indian Mission, Inc. - The mission statement of the Midwest Indian Mission. The Mission is devoted to spreading the Gospel through the institution of indigenous churches, organizing vacation Bible Schools, Camps, study classes, and preaching.
The main task is focused on working among Native Americans in Northern Wisconsin. The Mission is making an everyday impact by providing food, shelter, transportation, case management, and encouragement for those who need it the most in the community. They maintain a 100% sobriety, zero tolerance policy for any amount of drugs and/or alcohol with weekly testing to help uphold the safety and sobriety of their residents.
Walnut Way Conservation Corp was founded in 2000 by residents in the North 17th street community of Milwaukee after seeing their neighborhood begin to lose itself to drugs, prostitution, assaults, sometimes murder, and blighted homes. The neighborhood began to report any criminal activity and moreover, restoration to homes and vacant lots. Over the years, the crime that plagued the area has literally disappeared and many new homes have since been constructed.
Walnut Way Conservation Corp motivated many residents and as a result instituted a program planning and operation; geared at the community youth and adults. The urban-ecology-based initiatives have helped create and manage various, high-production community gardens, the accomplishing sales of garden produce, on-going gardening and nutrition education programs for the youth and adults, as well as installing a rain garden, and creating a small shade tree nursery.
Founded in 2008 by a group of Vietnam combat veterans, Dryhootch of America is a Milwaukee based nonprofit organization that helps veterans and their families survive Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and alcohol and drug dependencies. Dryhootch provides a stable and substance free environment for gatherings and meetings. They provide peer to peer support, individually and in groups, offer an inviting atmosphere, and offer military cultural training to organizations that interact with veterans. Some of the mentor programs offered by Dryhootch are a Peer Mentor Program, Veteran Court & Corrections Peer Mentor Program, Police Department Mentor Program, Military Culture Awareness Training, along with the Dryhootch website.
In 2009, Dryhootch held its first Wisconsin Warrior Summit with the help from the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force and other mental health agencies. The objective of the summit was to provide health and medical professionals and veterans and their supporters with information concerning an array of veteran’s issues; mental health management, support systems, legal matters, etc. The Wisconsin Warrior Summit is now in its 4th year.
