Steve Jagler
SBT Executive Editor
In the wake of the downfall of many civic leaders, a disturbing mob beating by a gang of youths in the inner city and an ugly and contentious governor’s race, Wisconsin is at a definitive crossroads.
To be sure, it’s easy to be cynical these days. Milwaukee County’s executive and seven county board members have been driven out of office after a pension scandal, an alderwoman has been charged with fraud, the local Catholic archbishop resigned amidst a sex scandal, state legislative leaders are being investigated for "pay-for-play" schemes and the city’s mayor is on his way out after an aide alleged sexual harassment.
Whew!
The changing of the guard has prompted many pundits and the radio talk show choir in town to suck their thumbs and ponder the question: Where are the community’s next leaders?
The answer is: right here. And more often than not, leadership is being provided by Milwaukee’s businesses (big and small), its scholastic community and its nonprofit sector.
In particular, business leaders are stepping to the forefront in addressing the challenges that must be overcome for southeastern Wisconsin to prosper.
Consider the following initiatives:
– While gubernatorial candidates were squabbling over bingo games and plane rides, the Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation was conducting a meeting of the minds to promote regional cooperation.
– The new Lynde & Harry Bradley Technical & Trade School opened its doors to 1,500 students this month, with businesses taking the lead in financing and providing the resources for the new school on the city’s south side.
– The Milwaukee County Private Industry Council, featuring many local captains of business, is administering its Reach Milwaukee Program, which is helping inner city youth explore skills that will help them become employable.
– Nancy Zimpher, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s whirling dervish of a chancellor, and vice chancellor Joan Prince are bringing businesses and nonprofits together for the common good of the community – an approach that is at the heart of Zimpher’s "Milwaukee Idea."
– The George Karl Friends of Hoop Center, partnering with local businesses, will be built at the former Pabst Brewing Co. site and will also help youth become employable. The Friends of Hoop played the pivotal role in bringing a Cleveland real estate magnate to the table to develop the most ambitious downtown project in decades.
– Future Milwaukee and leadership groups in other communities are helping to develop new sets of leaders from a demographic base that more fully represents the community’s diversity.
– Leadership institutes have been formed at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee and Cardinal Stritch University in Fox Point.
– Countless other nonprofit organizations, supported by businesses, are offering programs that help youth master computers, explore the arts and develop skills that will lead to employment.
– Harley-Davidson Inc. is investing $1 million to improve the neighborhood surrounding its headquarters.
Indeed, with state and local governments and school districts strapped by a budget crisis, the city’s business community is being relied upon to carry the water in the crusade to prepare tomorrow’s workforce.
Ready for college
The newest jewel to this chain of ventures with real-world impact is the Wisconsin Foundation for Independent Colleges’ College Readiness 21 Program, which has enrolled 56 youth from the inner city.
College Readiness 21 quite simply is a bold new program to help Milwaukee youth become eligible for college.
The venture, which is modeled after a very successful program in Chicago, helps 15-year-olds attain the high school classes, grades and test scores they will need to be admitted into college.
The program takes the youth to campuses to sample a taste of college life. It’s a taste they otherwise wouldn’t have sampled.
"The majority of the students are first-generation college prospects," notes Libby Thurston, director of College Readiness 21. "No one in their families has gone to college, which can make it difficult. Some are doing well in school. Others are not."
The demographics of the program reflect those of the city: 60% are African-American, 25% are Latino and the remainder of the students are a variety of races.
The program, which will be unveiled to the community in a reception Dec. 2, could not happen without the support of the business community, Thurston says.
In particular, United Parcel Service Inc., through its foundation, has contributed $116,000 to the effort. Other supporters include Best Buy Co., Harley-Davidson, Journal Communications Inc., Marshall & Ilsley Corp., Payne & Dolan Inc., Pentair Inc., Rockwell Automation Inc. and Wisconsin Energy Corp.
Some of those companies have committed volunteer hours. Others are hosting career days for the youth in the program.
"The volunteers have been huge for us. We’ve been able to call a couple of times when we needed them to help out," Thurston says. "We’ve gotten huge support from the business community so far."
The payoff
At the end of the rainbow, students completing the College Readiness 21 program will have access to more than $500,000 in scholarship funds.
When this slow economy turns around, southeastern Wisconsin’s businesses will again face the worker shortage and brain-drain problems that plagued them in the late 1990s.
Joint efforts between business, the scholastic community and the nonprofit sector are doing their parts to prepare the region to prosper.
It would be nice if our governmental officials joined the crusade, or at least stayed out of the way.
Nov. 22, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
