New civic initiative formed to help encourage educational success in Milwaukee

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, in partnership by the Greater Milwaukee Committee, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Urban League and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee recently formed Milwaukee Succeeds, an organization that will serve as a long-range civic initiative focused on educational success for all children in Milwaukee.
John Schlifske, chairman and CEO of Northwestern Mutual, Mike Lovell, chancellor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Jackie Herd-Barber, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Board member and civic volunteer, have been named chairs of the initiative.
“We may all have different ideas for how best to improve the outcomes for children in our community, but we all agree that we want every child, in every school to have success, cradle to career,” said Ellen Gilligan, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Milwaukee Succeeds gives the community a chance to come together to bring about lasting change to the way education works for our children.”
A leadership council, representing 38 different organizations from early childhood to postsecondary education, has crafted the framework for the partnership. Milwaukee Succeeds will work toward assuring that all children are prepared to enter school; all children succeed academically and graduate prepared for meaningful work and/or college; all young people use postsecondary education or training to advance their opportunities beyond high school and prepare for a successful career; all children and young people are healthy, supported socially and emotionally and contribute responsibly to the success of the Milwaukee community.
Over the next few months, council members are meeting to discuss different measures for each goal to track the progress over the long term. Regular feedback will be provided to the community on the outcomes.
“Great things can happen in communities because of community consensus and people who are willing to take the lead,” said Foundation Board Chair John W. Daniels Jr. “I am enthusiastic about this important work and grateful for the positive response to Milwaukee Succeeds.”