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| | 1. | | Call to Order at 8:38 AM | | | |
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| | 2. | | Roll Call | | | |
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| | 3. | | Review and approval of prior meeting minutes
Minutes note: Ald.Stamper, seconded by member Litzsey, moved approval. There were no objections. | | | |
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| | 4. | | Mentor Greater Milwaukee Presentation
Minutes note: Appearing:
Mr. LaNelle Ramey - Executive Director
With the Mission to increase the mentoring capacity of Milwaukee-area mentoring organizations serving youth ages 10–24. founded in 2019 with founding partners such as The City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Bucks, and Milwaukee Public Schools.
MENTOR Greater Milwaukee is part of the national MENTOR affiliate network (headquartered in Boston) with 23 affiliates, allowing sharing/“borrowing” best practices from other cities.
MENTOR Greater Milwaukee Core priorities are:
Priority 1: Technical assistance and professional development tailored to each organization (e.g., basic mentoring principles, cultural humility training, program development for newer/smaller orgs).
Priority 2: Recruitment via the “Mentoring Connector” on milwaukeementor.com (Become a Mentor / Find a Mentor) to help mentors and families find best-fit programs.
The Connector currently includes 102 program partners; 86 programs are actively accepting new mentors and mentees. The Connector routes inquiries directly to the selected organization (MENTOR acts as a facilitator, not a gatekeeper).
Priority 3: Advocacy and awareness (e.g., annual mentoring symposium in January for National Mentoring Month; honoring “mentor of the game” at Milwaukee Bucks home games; annual trip to DC for Capitol Hill Day to advocate with Wisconsin representatives).
Priority 4: Data use to strengthen mentoring (example: training Earn and Learn supervisors to build relationships with youth on the job).
Required training for program partners: “Elements of Effective Mentoring Practices” (emphasis that there is a “science” to mentoring and programs need clear standards/training).
Mentoring formats discussed: one-to-one, group mentoring, school-based, and virtual/e-mentoring.
Consistency standard discussed: ~1.5 hours per month for at least 6 months (consistent contact) can “move the needle,” versus one-off long sessions.
Youth Voice Summit (annual, August): MENTOR hires ~12–15 interns who identify a youth issue, develop solutions, and present to peers.
Youth-reported challenges were limited time availability for mentoring, mentor commitment (adults stepping in/out), and location barriers for community-based mentoring.
Research points shared (Wisconsin youth mental health study referenced): 37% decrease in sense of belonging over 10 years; in K–12, 45% of African American students reportedly did not have a trusted person in the building.
Program capacity limits: wait lists at organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters (200+ youth) and Running Rebels; limited options for youth younger than 10 (parents calling about 7–8 year olds).
Funding and environment concerns: divestment/attacks related to DEI efforts; shifts in youth-program funding toward workforce development framing; staffing shortages in out-of-school programs; housing instability, mental health issues, and poverty.
Ongoing challenge: inconsistent definitions of “mentorship” (e.g., panels/exposure being mislabeled as mentoring).
Data-sharing challenge: organizations are hesitant to share data; MENTOR wants shared data to understand matching models (1:1 vs group), landscape, and needs without using data punitively.
Assistance organizations request varies based upon staff training, program development, recruiting and training mentors, guidance on age groups and program design.
Mentors having multiple mentees depends on program model/capacity; Big Brothers Big Sisters has expanded beyond traditional 1:1 to include group and school-based models; virtual mentoring is also used.
Paid vs unpaid mentor programs: main differences are compensation and more stringent tracking/documentation; training and mentor assignment expectations remain similar.
MENTOR does not currently have that cross-program data, but wants better data to understand needs (e.g., whether more male mentors are needed). Some programs focus on father engagement (examples mentioned: Father Making Progress; aspects within Running Rebels), but it is program-specific.
City of Milwaukee partnership: confirmed ongoing; support connected to CDBG, including free support/training for city employees.
City employees reportedly may have up to ~1.5 hours per month during the workday to mentor (policy attributed to Mayor Johnson); participation/success is tracked internally by the City, while MENTOR provides trainings upon request.
Funding sources for MENTOR Greater Milwaukee: foundations, contracts (e.g., corporate partners), some national foundation funding, CDBG, and previously ARPA (now ended).
MENTOR does not directly fund partner programs; partner orgs may receive state, foundation, or other funding.
Quality assurance for program partners: intake interview; requirements include Elements training and background checks for mentors; limits exist because programs are not required to share full data/results.
Evaluation tool discussed: National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS) as a potential assessment framework; idea raised that funders (e.g., via CDBG) could require NQMS/evaluation to strengthen accountability and outcomes.
Corporate support: some corporate partners support (Northwestern Mutual, Goodwill); others prefer funding direct-service orgs and may not understand MENTOR’s intermediary capacity-building role; outreach planned with MMAC to increase awareness.
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| | 5. | | Employee Milwaukee Presentation
Minutes note: Appearing:
Cody Harding - Employ Milwaukee
Romell Greer - Camp Rise Director / Special Projects Manager
Earn and Learn Community Work Experience as a fully subsidized summer youth work program
partnering with employers across Milwaukee city/county (faith-based, private, community-based, public sector).
Serves ages 14–24; provides first-time work experience plus on boarding support (I-9, W-4/WT-4) and orientation including financial literacy.
Participants can open free non-custodial bank accounts via Educators Credit Union. Wages are100% subsidized for 20 hours/week over 7 weeks at $12.21/hour; work sites supervise youth and submit weekly time
reporting.
Example work sites mentioned: creative art space at Bayshore Mall, Milwaukee County Park (cleanups/landscaping), Style Pop Café (Walker’s Point), and St. Morris Cathedral (food pantry support).
United Community Center (UCC) highlighted as a long-term south-side partner; they primarily place their own students but will take additional community participants.
Work Sites request a specific number of youth during the application process; placements are influenced by participant travel ability.
The main constraint discussed was funding: demand (2,276 applicants) far exceeds planned capacity (~800 slots). Estimated Earn and Learn budget as “a little over $1M” , but offered to confirm exact figures.
Cost per participant estimates ranged from “a little over $2,000” to about “$2,300” including taxes.
Most program dollars go directly to participant wages not employer reimbursement or training fees.
Funding sources come from State employment programs, CDBG funds, and additional restricted internal grant funding .
Tracking outcomes post-program is difficult; Employ Milwaukee relies heavily on work sites for follow-up info, with much of it currently anecdotal; a newer Camp Rise partnership aims to improve tracking.
Camp Rise started in 2022 as a work-based, life-skills enrichment summer program for MPS students ages 10–13. Program includes city exposure/field trips. programs does stipends, free bus transportation, and free lunch. 2026 dates: June 22–Aug 7; at North Division building (MPS provides the site); all participants
are from Milwaukee Public Schools.
Camp receives 500 applications; 245 new slots available plus ~114–115 returning participants, totaling roughly 350 served; youth separated by age groups; boys and girls separate and have different schedules
Staffing is mostly MPS staff (rec staff, teachers, counselors), 1:8 staff-to-youth ratio, director always on-site, MPS security on-site; corner bus pickup.
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| | | | Following items were postponed due to time constraints for the flood drill. | | | |
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| | 6. | | MPS Career and Technical Education Presentation
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| | 7. | | MPS COIN Presentation | | | |
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| | 8. | | Updates
Milwaukee Succeeds Partnership | | | |
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| | 9. | | Next Meeting May 14, 2026 | | | |
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| | | | This meeting will be webcast live at www.milwaukee.gov/channel25.
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| | | | In the event that Common Council members who are not members of this committee attend this meeting, this meeting may also simultaneously constitute a meeting of the Common Council or any of the following committees: Community and Economic Development, Finance and Personnel, Judiciary and Legislation, Licenses, Public Safety and Health, Public Works, Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development, and/or Steering and Rules. Whether a simultaneous meeting is occurring depends on whether the presence of one or more of the Common Council member results in a quorum of the Common Council or any of the above committees, and, if there is a quorum of another committee, whether any agenda items listed above involve matters within that committee’s realm of authority. In the event that a simultaneous meeting is occurring, no action other than information gathering will be taken at the simultaneous meeting.
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| | | | Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities through sign language interpreters or auxiliary aids. For additional information or to request this service, contact the City Clerk's Office ADA Coordinator at 286-2998, (FAX)286-3456, (TDD)286-2025 or by writing to the Coordinator at Room 205, City Hall, 200 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. | | | |
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| | | | City Hall and the Zeidler Municipal Building are accessible by "The Hop" City Hall Stations, the MCTS Green Line, Connect 1, 14, 15, 18, 19, 30, 33, and 57 bus routes. Visit https://www.ridemcts.com/ for more information.
Bike racks are available on Water Street, Market Street, and Broadway, and a Bublr Bike Share station is located on the northeast corner of Kilbourn Avenue and Water Street.
Limited parking for persons attending meetings during normal business hours is available at reduced rates (5 hour limit) at the Associated Bank River Center on the southwest corner of Kilbourn Avenue and Water Street. You must present a copy of the meeting notice to the parking cashier. | | | |
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| | | | Persons engaged in lobbying as defined in s. 305-43-4 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances are required to register with the City Clerk's Office License Division. Registered lobbyists appearing before a Common Council committee are required to identify themselves as such. More information is available at http://city.milwaukee.gov/Lobbying. | | | |
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