Milwaukee Urban League 2018 Annual Report Empowering Communities and Changing Lives National Urban League Mission Statement The mission of the Urban League movement is to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights. Urban League Movement Every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits. Every American child is ready for college, work, and life. Every American lives in safe, decent, affordable and energy-efficient housing on fair terms. Every American has access to affordable, quality healthcare solutions. Local Efforts To empower individuals to improve the quality of their lives through education, employment, and economic development. PAGE 2 Milwaukee Urban League 2018 Annual Report REMARKS Chairwoman’s Remarks We have arrived! It is an honor to serve as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors as Milwaukee Urban League celebrates 100 years of providing critical services to Milwaukee’s African-American community. As we look forward, our challenge is to create a platform that enables Milwaukee Urban League to continue to serve Milwaukee residents each year. Our goal is to remain the go-to organization for providing education, employment and empowerment to African Americans in Milwaukee. Whether it is helping our clients obtain a high school diploma, restore a revoked or lost driver’s license or address child support issues, we are making a difference and serving as change agents in our community. We are grateful to everyone who supports the mission of MUL, from our staff and volunteers to civic leaders and corporate partners. Your ongoing support will help us continue this mission of advancing equity and equality to all of Milwaukee’s residents for another 100 years. Jocelyn Johnson Chairwoman of the Board President’s Remarks History is in the making this year as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Milwaukee Urban League. We have accomplished a great deal through improved access to education, health care, housing, jobs and social justice, yet the need for our services and leadership have never been greater as critical racial gaps and disparities continue to exist. The decline of American manufacturing over the years has thrown growing numbers of once thriving African-American families and communities into cultural and economic isolation. Too many families are trapped in poverty and poor housing, along with youth dropping out of school at a time when employers in southeastern Wisconsin are desperate for new employees. The Milwaukee Urban League is committed to changing the narrative. With your support, we can create and expand programs to advance economic stability, and improve educational outcomes. We invite everyone to join our movement and share in the progress that we strive to achieve each and every day. Our message is simple: “We can, and we will succeed by working together.” Come join us! Dr. Eve M. Hall President & CEO PAGE 3 Milwaukee Urban League 2018 Annual Report WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Employment Services Employment Services assists community residents prepare a resume, learn to interview, upgrade computer skills, and attain financial literacy on their way to economic self-sufficiency. Financial Opportunity Center Healthy and sustainable communities are comprised of people who are gainfully employed, earn a living wage, and are confident about their economic future. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC-Milwaukee) and MUL have partnered to offer employment and career services at the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). The FOC provides one-on-one financial education, coaching, and low-cost financial products that help build Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - LISC-Milwaukee announces two additional credit, savings, and assets. Financial Opportunity Centers at Milwaukee Urban League & Milwaukee JobsWork. Workforce Technology Center Driver’s License Permit Class Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - With the generous support of In cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Northwestern Mutual and their employees, MUL revealed a and Division of Motor Vehicles, MUL’s Adult Driver’s Education redesigned Workforce Technology Center. participants complete a 12-hour program that prepares them to be responsible drivers, and attain a Driver’s License Permit upon successful completion of classroom instruction. Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) - MATC In partnership with MATC, the Class A Truck Driver Certification program prepares students for entry-level positions as local or over-the-road truck drivers. Students have the opportunity to attain a Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) upon graduation. Angela Sellenheim came to the Milwaukee Angela worked to improve her financial SUCCESS STORY Urban League in May 2018, seeking a job literacy through Milwaukee Urban League’s after a long period of unemployment. Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). Working Employment Specialist Brandy Murrell with FOC staff, Angela opened savings and helped Angela find a job as an assistant checking accounts, and learned about the teacher at Nurturing Nature childcare center, pros and cons of car ownership and long- through the six-month Transform Milwaukee term savings options. Her participation in the Jobs (TMJ) program. Upon completion of FOC enabled Angela to become financially TMJ, Nurturing Nature retained Angela as secure enough to move out of her mother’s a full-time employee and promoted her to home, and establish independent living Lead Teacher. UMOS recognized Angela for arrangements. The FOC was instrumental her outstanding attendance, work ethic, and in Angela’s economic self-sufficiency and cooperation as a TMJ participant. During that creating a better quality of life for her and time, she also attended Manpower’s Women’s her children. Seminar, a professional development conference for working women. PAGE 4 Milwaukee Urban League 2018 Annual Report EDUCATION & YOUTH Project Ready & STEM Community Schools Partnership Using evidence-based standards and tools, Project Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership is Ready has been helping African American and other a collective strategy to create an environment urban youth prepare for college, work, and life since where students, families, staff, and the surrounding 2006. community can work together to ensure every student is successful. Core values include: Shared Leadership, Equity, and Cultural Relevance. Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - A generous contribution of $15,000 Monday, November 5, 2018 - MPS North Division High School from GE Healthcare, in partnership with MUL, supported Science, announced Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership with Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at Oliver Wendell Holmes Milwaukee Urban League and United Way of Greater Milwaukee as well as professional development and after school programming. & Waukesha County. Youth Leadership Summit Initially launched by the MUL Guild, the Youth Summit is a collaboration between Pathways Milwaukee, Milwaukee Urban League, and MUL Young Professionals. The summit brings together an array of students throughout the Milwaukee area to address relevant topics in today’s society. Equity & Excellence Project May 5th, 2018 - The 2nd Youth Leadership Summit, held at the Harley- Tuesday, August 21, 2018 - At UW-Milwaukee, MUL celebrated Davidson University Building, hosted students in grades 9-12. Thirty community stakeholders in their initiative to secure equity and outstanding seniors were awarded laptops, thanks to the generosity access to opportunities and better futures for urban youth. of Johnson Controls. Throughout her journey at North Division development workshops, Raniya has seen her SUCCESS STORY High School, Raniya Bunkley struggled GPA increase from 1.5 to 3.5, and she feels with shyness and lack of confidence in her confident in her ability to handle challenges academic abilities. She reluctantly began and achieve her goals. She credits the guest attending Project Ready sessions in fall speakers at Project Ready sessions with 2018 after being recommended by her nurturing her interest in a career in law. school counselor. Today, Raniya is one of the top participants in the Project Ready With the marked improvement in her program and she looks forward to self-esteem and the turnaround in her attending college and law school as academics, Raniya feels secure in her ability her path to financial stability. to succeed in college and law school. She is scheduled to graduate one semester ahead After consistently attending sessions of her peers and on track to be valedictorian and participating in career and social of her class. PAGE 5 Milwaukee Urban League 2018 Annual Report BUSINESS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Brown Bag Lecture Series Tuesday, February 20, 2018 - A Brown Bag Lecture about Milwaukee Thursday, July 19, 2018 - Jamaal E. Smith, YWCA Racial Justice Bronzeville 1900-1960 with Sheri Williams Pannell. Community Engagement Manager, discussed information and data on the prevalent disconnect between job seekers and employers in Milwaukee. On the Table Business & Community Forum Tuesday, October 9, 2018 - Dr. Howard L. Fuller, Director of the Saturday, October 13, 2018 - Marc H. Morial, President & CEO of the Institute for the Transformation of Learning, and Distinguished National Urban League (lower left), spoke on “National Perspectives Professor of Education at Marquette University led a discussion and Observations on Today’s Urban Landscape” at the Wisconsin entitled “Education: Emergency, Not Excuses!” at On the Table,