The Autonomous Youth Council

Making youth a dynamic force in decision-making.

Shaping the future of youth leadership in Milwaukee.

Youth want to be at decision-making tables. During the Design Your Future Fellowship, they expressly called out the need for engaged youth leadership. The Autonomous Youth Council (AYC) made it happen.

The AYC aimed to recruit, train and position local youth within decision-making bodies. This included boards and leadership tables across Milwaukee, as well as more informal structures. In these roles, youth had the power to influence decisions that affected them and speak up for what they needed.

Summer Training Program

The Autonomous Youth Council launched with a 4-week in-person training academy in July of 2024, allowing youth the opportunity to develop and hone their talents. The content and structure of the training was shaped through youth and community feedback, creating a more responsive and engaging educational experience. Discover how it went in our AYC Evaluation!

2025 Partner Placements

Our AYC placements provided year-long opportunities for youth to join key decision-making bodies across Milwaukee, including boards and advisory councils. By placing 2-5 council members at each organization - from Data You Can Use to Arts at Large - we elevated youth leadership and ensured their voices shaped critical decisions. These placements empowered our young leaders to make a meaningful impact in their community.

Youth & Community Feedback

  • What should students learn?

    Life skills - like finances and home-buying - was the clear winner. Other top responses included skills for future employment, wellness/mental health tools, communication skills and general education.

  • How should students learn?

    People prefer hands-on learning, like activities and field trips. They also want to incorporate different learning environments and teaching styles, student-led and self-paced study, and various technological tools.

  • Who should students learn from?

    There was a clear desire for collaborative learning and a diverse teaching pool, including peers, subject matter experts in a variety of fields, parents and family, and the larger community.