Director’s Message: Empowering Youth and Community
From Vincent Lyles, Executive Director:
As we look forward to 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on our collective efforts and the significant strides we are making in our mission to empower youth and strengthen our community.
This year, we have placed a particularly strong emphasis on mental health and advocacy training, recognizing the critical role these elements play in creating supportive environments for our educators and the wider community. By equipping our educators with the tools they need, we are fostering a culture of understanding and resilience that will benefit our students for years to come.
We are also excited about the work of our Autonomous Youth Council, a groundbreaking initiative designed to amplify youth voices and cultivate leadership skills among the young people of our city. This council is empowering our youth to engage meaningfully in decision-making processes, ensuring that their perspectives are heard and valued. We believe that when young people are given the platform to lead, they can drive transformative change in our community.
In addition to these initiatives, we are becoming more intentional about policy work, recognizing its potential to create more equitable systems. Milwaukee Succeeds, alongside our Wisconsin-based StriveTogether partners and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, will be launching a policy department in 2025. By advocating for policies that prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable populations, we aim to dismantle barriers and foster an environment where our earliest learners, high school aged students and families can succeed.
Throughout the year, we’ve also seen the success of various data projects, including Building Foundations, Unlocking Wisconsin Shares and Reimagining High School Success. These initiatives have provided invaluable insights that will guide our efforts in supporting families and improving educational outcomes.
In 2024, our strategic plan drove our efforts to empower Milwaukee’s youth and strengthen our community. These priorities will continue to shape our work in 2025 as we build on our progress and pursue lasting change.
As we continue this important work, I invite you to join us in our mission. Together, we can create a brighter future for all of Milwaukee’s youth. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication!
