Activating our Youth: Inside the Autonomous Youth Council

This summer, 26 young people from across Milwaukee gathered together to forge a path toward a brighter future. These passionate individuals formed the inaugural cohort of our Autonomous Youth Council (AYC), a groundbreaking initiative designed by youth, for youth.

Fueled by the insights of over 300 youth and community members, the AYC is a paid opportunity that aims to empower young advocates (ages 14-23) to actively engage in and shape the decisions that affect them.

This journey began with a 4-week in-person training academy in July, where participants explored a curriculum crafted from their own feedback. Lead facilitators David Castillo from Equitable Systems Consultants and We Will All Rise and Angela Harris from the Black Educators Caucus guided discussions on historically responsive education practices, equity and the local educational landscape, creating a dynamic space where youth felt empowered to learn, engage and take action.

“I wanted this to be a space where young folks felt like they had autonomy,” explained Angela. “They had the power to share their voices and their opinions. I wanted to approach it as a space where we were all coming to learn together.”

In addition to these traditional sessions, the AYC enriched the experience with tours, interactive activities and focused mental health time, fostering connections while bolstering confidence and resilience.

“I hope young people can use what they’ve learned to challenge the adults in their educational spaces,” said David.

The impact was immediate and powerful: The summer academy achieved a 100% retention rate and an overall attendance rate of 92%. Following the sessions, youth showed a notable increase in their understanding of both youth-adult equity and the history of education in Milwaukee.

“Being part of this really inspired me to be more than what I was,” said council member Amir Williams.

Fellow AYC member Ben Lawrence agreed: “It’s been an experience that I’m lucky to have because most teenagers don’t get this opportunity.”

The AYC carried this momentum into a series of fall trainings, which built on the summer sessions while incorporating topics youth have identified as important – like job readiness, budgeting and entrepreneurship.

Representing 17 schools, these young leaders are now poised to make a lasting impact. In 2025, they’ll be placed on decision-making bodies across Milwaukee, including leadership tables and advisory councils. With the skills they’ve developed, they’ll be ready to raise their voices and begin building a more equitable city for all our students.