Building Collective Power for Milwaukee’s Education System
On Saturday, November 9, Milwaukee Succeeds' K12 Civic Action Team (K12 CAT) hosted the first ever EmpowerED MKE Convening at ThriveOn King. Grounded in the vision of A Manifesto for Black Education, the event challenged participants to reimagine Milwaukee's education system with a focus on self-determination and equity for Black children. This manifesto calls for the creation of educational spaces where Black students feel a sense of belonging, are taught the truth of their history and potential, and leave prepared to transform their communities.
The convening welcomed a diverse group of 53 attendees, including youth, educators, community organizations and members of the Autonomous Youth Council, united by their shared passion for education reform.
A Call to Action
The day began with an inspiring keynote speech by Dr. Howard Fuller, who provided a historical and contemporary analysis of Milwaukee’s K12 schools. Centering the experiences of Black students and families, Dr. Fuller emphasized both the challenges and the opportunities for change within the education system.
Understanding School Quality
Milwaukee Succeeds’ director of research, Kristin Kappelman, followed with a session titled Understanding School Quality, offering participants an in-depth walkthrough of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) report cards. The discussion highlighted gaps in how school quality is currently assessed and sparked conversations about how equity is -or isn’t- factored into these evaluations. Participants expressed strong interest in learning more about DPI’s metrics and where MPS stands as a district.
Organizing Power
A dynamic panel discussion on Organizing Power featured local experts who shared their strategies for driving sustainable change in Milwaukee’s education landscape. Moderated by Clintel Hasan of LiberatED Consulting, the panel included:
Angela Harris, Black Educators Caucus
Devin Anderson and Thomas Leonard, African American Round Table
David Emmanuelle Castillo, Equitable Systems Consultants
Panelists addressed the roles of key stakeholders in Milwaukee’s education system and offered actionable insights into how to influence decision-makers to create equitable outcomes.
Collaboration in Action
During breakout sessions, participants divided up to map out the power dynamics currently at play within Milwaukee's education system. These groups identified focus areas and crafted actionable steps toward meaningful change.
As High School Success Project Manager - and event organizer - Maria Hamidu shared, "The conversations and collaborations that took place are a testament to the power of community-driven change."
Looking Forward
The EmpowerED Convening was more than a single-day event; it was a call to action for all involved. Participants were encouraged to reflect not only on the mission of the K12 CAT, but also their part in bringing it to life. As we move forward, these reflections will guide our work to build and sustain collective investment in K12 education. Together, we are shaping a future where every student in Milwaukee has access to education that empowers them to transform their world.
Stay tuned for updates on the action steps identified during the convening, and join us in this vital work to create an equitable, transformative education system for Milwaukee’s youth.