High School Success

True high school success involves fostering an environment where students feel seen, heard and supported. Yet under the current system, our students are struggling to get the supports they need - particularly our Black male youth.

Milwaukee Succeeds is working to change things for good. Through our Youth Forward MKE Initiative, Design Your Future Fellowship and Autonomous Youth Council, we’re giving students a voice and an opportunity to shape the future of education.

It’s clear that we need to
re-envision high school education for Black male youth.

Reimagining High School Success

Going beyond grades to discover how our students are faring.

Read the Report

Youth Empowerment

“I came [to the Youth Forward MKE Ambassador Program] because I felt like there was nothing really changing, but when I heard about this opportunity, I knew I had to get on to it because they were actually willing to hear us out and put our voices onto a platform.”
– Youth Forward MKE Youth Ambassador Amaya Bauldwin
Persistence to Achieve

“A lot of the environments in schools aren’t set up for Black students to be successful. So, the persistence to achieve in spite of that is amazing and we see that reflected in the data.”
– Milwaukee Student
A Radical Shift

“What we learned from youth in Milwaukee is that the community is eager to see a radical shift away from traditional classrooms and instruction.”
– Youth Forward MKE Youth Ambassador Kaylee Marsh
Understanding Experiences

“Schools must make sure that school staff and teachers understand some of the experiences Black males have. As a Black male student myself, I can open up to a teacher who understands my experiences.”
-Zion Owusu-Yeboa, Design Your Future Fellow
A System of Support

“In this day and age, our Black males are targeted the most for being themselves. What I think the school system can do to make them feel more comfortable is to assure them that you actually care about them and don’t see them as a number or a statistic.”
-Trinity Thompson, Design Your Future Fellow

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Our Work

Vision

We strive to transform education for Black male youth in Milwaukee so they can not only succeed, but thrive.
Actions

We work to unite the community around our vision of success. Together, we develop resources and opportunities so our youth can be effective advocates for change.
Impact

We find new ways to bring youth to the table, giving them a say in their education, involving them in decisions and ensuring they have a voice in society.

Our Strategies

Local Partnership

We strive to authentically engage youth, learning from their experiences and ensuring their voices are heard. That’s why we’re committed to growing and supporting our youth-adult partnership, Youth Forward MKE. Together, we work to identify and meet the needs of Black male youth.
Equitable Governance

We work to increase access to equitable community governance structures for youth, giving them a place where they can be heard and people who are willing to listen.
Mental Health

The painful truth is that for Black males, our schools do not provide a welcoming environment that cultivates their long-term success. Increasing access to mental health supports and preventative care will provide them the space, time and strategies they need to succeed.
Advocating for Change

Deep and lasting change can only happen when we work together to change the systems. That’s why we advocate for state and local policy to create a more equitable and inclusive education environment.

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In 2020, Milwaukee Succeeds established a high school success initiative called Youth Forward MKE. The goal is to promote the long-term success of Milwaukee’s Black male youth by creating space for, building relationships with, and shifting power to young people in our community.

Learn More

In the summer of 2021, Milwaukee Succeeds launched the Design Your Future summer fellowship. This paid program gave 60 young people around Milwaukee the opportunity to create plans on how to improve high school for Black male youth.

Learn More

The Autonomous Youth Council

During the Design Your Future Fellowship, participants called out the need for engaged youth leadership. Now we’re making it happen.

The Autonomous Youth Council aims to recruit, train and position local youth within decision-making bodies. In these roles, youth will have the power to influence decisions that affect them and speak up for what they need. The council launched with a 4-week in-person training academy in July of 2024, allowing youth the opportunity to develop and hone their talents. Read the new evaluation to discover the secrets to our success!

Learn More

Contact Maria Hamidu to learn more about our High School Success work.

Contact Maria

High School Success

It’s clear that we need tore-envision high school education for Black male youth.

Reimagining High School Success

Youth Empowerment

Vision

Actions

Impact

Local Partnership

The Autonomous Youth Council

Contact Maria Hamidu to learn more about our High School Success work.

It’s clear that we need to
re-envision high school education for Black male youth.