MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL Associated Bank sponsors MIAD Pre-College VOL. XXXVIII NO.8 JULY 9, 2021 50 CENTS program EDITIONEDITIONBULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN PERMIT 4668 WEEKENDWEEKENDfamily Siebert Lutheran Foundation, time We Raise Foundation Awards $300,000 Grant to St. Marcus Lutheran School received a $300,000 grant on Thursday, June 10, 2021 the We Raise Foundation and the Saint Siebert Lutheran Foundation that will be used to expand communitybuilding efforts Marcus designed to provide stable households and productive learning environments for students. Pictured presenting Lutheran a ceremonial check to St. Marcus scholars are (from left) Paul Miles, president of We Raise Foundation; Avana Kelly, 2021 graduate of St. Marcus; Donte Edwards, 2021 graduate of St. School Marcus; ShaRonn Kelly, fifth-grade scholar at St. Marcus; and Charlotte John-Gomez, president of the to expand community Siebert Luterhan Foundation. engagement work stable households and productive learning envi- be influenced by life events unrelated to school. ronments. These include: A stable home, employment, and abundance of Project aims to build stable ● Financial literacy classes healthy food all affect a child’s academics. ● One-on-one financial “We Raise Foundation is pleased to partner households that support coaching/accountability with Siebert Lutheran Foundation to invest in ● Homeownership workshops the work being done at St. Marcus Lutheran productive learning ● Job networking School,” said Paul Miles, President and CEO of ● Peer-to-Peer Community Support We Raise Foundation. environments ● Crisis Stabilization (healthy food, “Under the extraordinary leadership of Henry supplies, shelter) Tyson and his team, St. Marcus sets the highest St. Marcus Lutheran School an- The community engagement specialist will fur- standards of academic performance and then ther engage leaders and organizations in the creates innovative solutions to help its students nounced Thursday, June 10th, a community to build effective collaborations and meet them. $300,000, three-year grant from Siebert partnerships internally and externally for the We are proud to support their work and Lutheran Foundation and We Raise good of the whole community. equally proud to be a leading voice for founda- Foundation for the school’s “Building These opportunities will give families the foun- tion partnerships like the one designed with Stability and Prosperity for Community dation for financial stability, independence, and Siebert. prosperity and allow students to excel in the We believe we are stronger when we work to- Transformation” project that will expand classroom. gether to create healthy communities and en- support services available to school With the planned opening of its third Haram- courage other funders to consider how they families. bee Campus in August, St. Marcus will be able could do more through partnerships.” Support services launched by St. Marcus in to use its three geographically close campuses Since 2017, more than 650 individuals have 2017 are working to build a more diverse to serve more than 1,500 students as a platform received services through this project in collab- Harambee neighborhood, both racially and eco- to support families more broadly. oration with community partners such as Wis- nomically, allowing children and families to St. Marcus recognizes that an excellent edu- consin Women's Business Initiative Corporation thrive. cation addresses social, emotional, spiritual, (WWBIC), ACTS Housing, Milwaukee Job- The funding announced today will create one and academic needs of students and is critical sWork, The Joseph Project, and Habitat for Hu- new staff position at the school and strengthen for future success in life. Oftentimes, however, it manity. two existing positions that will provide services is not enough. “This collaborative grant to St. Marcus embod- to school families that are designed to create Students’ performance in the classroom can (continued on page 2) The Weekend Edition • July 9, 2021 • Page 2 job opportunities. St. Marcus “Any time two leading receives foundations collaborate on an essential vision with the $300,000 grant central city of Milwaukee as to expand its focus is an incredible community blessing,” said Henry Tyson, Superintendent of engagement St. Marcus School. “It is a work huge win no matter how (continued from cover page) you look at it. When a lot of ies the Siebert Lutheran entities are content to turn a Foundation’s core value of blind eye to what is educating youth while shar- happening in our city, ing the Gospel of Jesus Siebert and We Raise Christ. stand out in sharp contrast. ABOUT “And, the partnership with We are grateful for their St. Marcus School is a Christian, college-prep, 5-star school, “significantly ex- We Raise reflects our partnership and the im- ceeding expectations” serving 570 students (K4-8th grades) at its Main Campus shared value of aligning re- pact it will have on the at 2215 N Palmer Street and 350 students (K3-8th grades) at its North Campus at sources to create additional Harambee community.” 2669 N Richards Street, five blocks north of the main campus. The new Haram- collective impact,” said Photo caption: St. Marcus bee Campus at 110 W Burleigh Street, five blocks north of the North Campus will Charlotte John-Gomez, Lutheran School received a Siebert’s President. $300,000 grant on Thurs- open in August 2021 with 200 students and will eventually grow to serve over “We are grateful for the day, June 10, 2021 the We 600 students (K4-8th grades). time and attention St. Mar- Raise Foundation and the Students are predominantly low-income African-American students. As a na- cus gave to developing its Siebert Lutheran Founda- tionally recognized leader in urban education reform, St. Marcus empowers indi- three-year vision for this tion that will be used to ex- viduals, children and families to overcome challenges and reach their full program and are excited to pand communitybuilding see the positive impact it potential. Graduating students are fully prepared for high school and positioned efforts designed to provide will have on the community to excel in higher education, including university academics and as leaders in stable households and pro- for many years to come.” A ductive learning environ- their communities. platform for a thriving ments for students. Academic Achievements school is created when Pictured presenting a cer- ● 95% daily attendance school staff and parents are emonial check to St. Mar- ● 87% high school graduation rate spiritually supported and cus scholars are (from left) ● 87% student return rate have access to 1:1 life Paul Miles, president of We The Christian focus and no-excuses approach coaching and community Raise Foundation; Avana resources to break the encourages growth in Kelly, 2021 graduate of St. cycle of poverty and Marcus; Donte Edwards, wisdom, dedication and selfdiscipline. achieve stability followed by 2021 graduate of St. Mar- For more information about the mission of St. Marcus School, please visit prosperity. The community cus; ShaRonn Kelly, fifth- www.stmarcus.org/school. will have access to high- grade scholar at St. quality education, financial Marcus; and Charlotte literacy, crisis stabiliza- John-Gomez, president of tion, safe affordable hous- the Siebert Luterhan Foun- ing, home ownership and dation. The Weekend Edition • July 9, 2021 • Page 3 Associated Bank commits to multi-year sponsorship of MIAD Pre-College program Funding Supports Scholarships for Low-income High School Students Associated Bank is now the presenting sponsor of MIAD’s popular Pre-College program for high school students. Associated Bank has committed to a multi-year agreement that will support the program and provide scholarships for low-income youth to attend Pre-College. “Associated Bank is proud to fund MIAD’s Pre-College pro- gram to ensure that students in underserved communities are able to pursue their art and design dreams,” said John Utz, Ex- ecutive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking and Mil- waukee Market President, “The Pre-College Associated Bank. “Throughout our 160-year history, Associ- program is im- ated Bank has been proud to play an active role in helping portant because our communities grow and it can change prosper.” the trajectory This summer, MIAD’s two- week Core Studio Concepts of students’ runs July 12 – 23 and the three-week Advanced Studio lives by opening Concepts takes place July 12 them up to a – 30. The majority of classes are being conducted in person world of op- with select classes delivered portunity in the online for a limited number of students. fields of art and Altogether, the sessions bring more than 150 high design. Many of school students to the MIAD the students are campus in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. able to attend “The Pre-College program is the Pre-College important because it can change the trajectory of stu- program thanks dents’ lives by opening them to scholarship up to a world of opportunity in the fields of art and design,” assistance pro- said MIAD President Jeff vided by Associ- Morin. “Many of the students are able to attend the Pre-Col- ated Bank.” lege program thanks to schol- arship assistance provided by —MIAD President Associated Bank.” Jeff Morin For more than 25 years, MIAD’s Pre-College program has been helping students make the transition from high school to college. The rigorous summer program provides college-level instruction, exhibition opportu- nities, development of a portfolio for use in applying to colleges (continued on page 5) To make a lasting gift to health research, consider joining the NIH's "ALL OF US" RESEARCH PROGRAM (414) 955-2689 JoinAllofUs.org/wisconsin [email protected] The Weekend Edition • July 9, 2021 • Page 4 Malone is well known for building complex, relatable characters, whether she is writing a play for the stage or a script for a television se- ries. “As a writer, you don’t just want to tell a story; you don’t just want to tell an African American story; you want to tell a human story,” Malone said during a recent interview.