Our Strategic Plan
Transforming the systems that impact our children to ensure better, more equitable outcomes.
During our current strategic cycle, which runs from 2023-2028, we’ll explore ways to better connect with and educate our children, from the moment they’re born until they transition to adulthood. With calculated collaboration, insightful data and research, and strong community leadership, we’re committed to creating spaces where youth and families can thrive.
Our Story
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2011
Milwaukee Succeeds was founded as a community initiative of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. We began bringing together diverse stakeholders to design innovative solutions to complex challenges, from kindergarten readiness to college access.
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2020
We shifted our focus from program-based to systems-based strategies. This pivot led us to streamline our focus to early childhood education (ECE) and high school success (HSS), ensuring that we’re investing in our youngest learners and our aspiring change-makers.
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Today
We convene over 1,500 people and organizations annually under our collective impact framework, believing that complex challenges require a broad range of champions. Both of our coalitions aim to improve systems that affect children as we strive for more equitable outcomes in Milwaukee.
Our Priorities
Both our ECE and HSS coalitions aim to improve systems that affect children as we strive for more equitable outcomes in Milwaukee. Each coalition works to build trust and commitment to ensure that solutions are inclusive and representative of local needs; align around a shared vision to drive unified goals with greater efficiency and urgency; and leverage the collective perspectives, knowledge and skills of a variety of partners to drive/change agendas.
ECE Coalition
ECE is a powerful community asset with generations of impact, supporting children’s futures and enabling parents to participate in the workforce. Yet it remains severely underfunded and out of reach for many families. Over the next few years, we’ll work with our ECE Coalition to address these challenges, advocating for quality, accessible and affordable care while reshaping the narrative around ECE as a public good worthy of investment.
Youth Forward MKE
According to Milwaukee’s youth, educators and community members, high school success is about more than academics. It’s about integrating identities and cultures into education, building relationships to engage youth and amplifying youth voice in decision-making. Our Youth Forward MKE Coalition leads efforts to build a sustainable youth leadership pipeline, shaping policies and decisions as we explore ways to improve high school education in Milwaukee.
Our 2023-2028 Strategies
Our strategies aim to incorporate local solutions while building state and national influence to advocate for positive change. These six strategies not only address how systems function but also design meaningful supports for educators, youth and families, increasing access to critical resources that foster economic mobility.
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We encourage and support continuous improvement within institutions to create sustainable, long-term change. By shifting practices, policies and resources from a community perspective, we can achieve better citywide outcomes.
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When used effectively, data helps identify areas for improvement and uncover gaps we need to address. We pledge to provide timely and relevant data to inform our strategies, decisions and advocacy efforts.
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High-quality early childhood education is essential for a thriving community. We advocate for partnerships and resources to help families afford quality care and to support providers in enhancing their services.
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Early childhood education is a labor-intensive profession requiring significant skill, yet pay remains at minimum wage levels. We’re working to address this pay disparity and reduce the high turnover that disrupts children's access to stable, experienced educators.
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Young people in our city are seeking more control and input over the systems that shape their lives. We envision a city where youth leadership and talent are leveraged to address community challenges. Our goal is to equip youth with the skills and knowledge to actively shape the decisions affecting their lives.
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The pandemic highlighted the critical importance of mental health in community well-being. Milwaukee Succeeds curates culturally responsive, non-traditional mental health supports for youth, educators and families to manage stress and build positive connections across our network.
Community Leadership
Community leadership is at the heart of our vision, ensuring that those affected by decisions shape and drive solutions. Since our strategic shift in 2020, youth and parents have become our fastest-growing champion base. Between our ECE Ambassador Program and Autonomous Youth Council, we have over 45 lived experience partners leading efforts to transform education. We will continue raising funds to compensate our community ambassadors for their time and expertise, demonstrating the value of their leadership.
