Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council Meeting – September 24, 2026

Clifton Crump chaired the meeting in place of Chair Jose Perez. The council convened at 9:07 AM and adjourned at 10:38 AM on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at City Hall, Room 301-B. Members Mahan, Hogans, Nwagbaraocha, and Litzsey were present; Danyus and Kroupa were absent; Perez, Stamper, and Cruz were excused. New members Isabelle Smith, Salista Lawrence-Moore, Dr. Monique Liston, and Maritza Ugarte were introduced. The meeting covered youth-centered policy root causes, grant support letters, subcommittee updates, and the 2027 meeting schedule.

Consent Calendar

• Member Hogans moved approval of the July 16, 2026 meeting minutes; there were no objections, and the minutes were approved.

Discussion Items

• Root Cause Responses and Suggestions: Ms. Christie summarized three primary root causes identified for potential city policy: higher-quality urban green spaces, addressing unhoused youth, and closing gaps in youth mental health services. The board discussed Milwaukee County's Housing First model. Member Hogans requested city-specific data on impacted communities, and Member Mahan clarified that most relevant data is held at the county level through the continuum of care.
• Green Spaces and Tot Lots: The committee discussed the 52 to 54 city-owned tot lots and the lack of a clear mission for their maintenance compared with the county park system. Member Lawrence-Moore suggested repurposing vacant spaces into "third spaces" where youth can feel safe and relax without time limits, citing gardens and picnic areas as examples. The board agreed to route these issues through the newly forming Health and Wellness Subcommittee, which will include Hogans, Mahan, and Ugarte, to streamline feedback for the October 15 youth summit.
• Herb Kohl Foundation Letters of Support: Ms. Christie presented a letter of interest to the Herb Kohl Foundation for a civic engagement grant supporting a community ambassador program in BID 32. Chairman Crump introduced a second request for a letter of support for the Kellogg PEAK Initiative, seeking $100,000 over 24 months to provide paid leadership opportunities for 40 Milwaukee youth. Members emphasized the need for sustainability and security, suggesting that grant applications include plans for long-term maintenance and employment of local, diverse-owned businesses. Ms. Christie clarified that the current stage is only a letter of interest and that infrastructure details would be developed if invited to submit a full proposal.
• Subcommittee Updates: Dr. Velez reported that the Data Committee was accepted into a grant cohort to build out data infrastructure, adding Judge Derek Mosley for legal expertise. The committee is tracking chronic absenteeism; an upcoming Wisconsin Policy Forum report is expected, and a convening is scheduled for October 5. Ms. Christie reported that the Education and Workforce Development Committee is launching seven career and technical education pathways at North Division High School, including carpentry, welding, and IT. The committee is working to make North Division a "choice" school by engaging middle school students during summer programs and providing Employ Milwaukee mentors for 11th and 12th graders.
• StriveTogether Update: Ms. Christie is scheduled to travel to Baltimore for a StriveTogether conference to develop a 90-day plan for a Cradle-to-Career pipeline in partnership with Milwaukee Succeeds. The plan involves evaluating youth employment landscapes across city departments to identify funding gaps and better align career opportunities with youth interests.
• October 15 Collective Impact Summit: The EYAAC Collective Impact Summit is confirmed for October 15 at Concordia 27, with workshops on youth equity, nonprofit health, and data collection. Youth council members were encouraged to register; the regular October EYAAC meeting will take place during the lunch hour.
• Young Fathers Mentorship and Workforce Development: Mr. Trasus Wright introduced Christopher, a 19-year-old Washington High School graduate, as an example of active mentorship and youth engagement. Christopher shared his goal of opening a cleaning service while currently working in maintenance at Checkers, highlighting the impact of "credible messengers." The board discussed potential collaborations with Walnut Way, the North Division greenhouse, and construction cleaning opportunities for youth in vacant housing. Chairman Crump noted that approximately $20,000 remains in the board's budget for the year and could be allocated to support similar mentorship activities or carried over.

Key Outcomes

• The board voted unanimously to approve letters of support for both the BID 32 and PEAK Initiative applications; the motion was made by Member Mahan.
• The board approved the proposed 2027 meeting schedule: monthly meetings at 9:00 AM, with the exception of June 24, August, and November.
• Board Member Mahan announced that Member Nwagbaraocha has been nominated for the presidency of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC).
• Chairman Crump committed to sending a report of findings to all board members.
• The meeting adjourned at 10:38 AM.