Funding News!

Miller Brewing Co. Employee Fund to Award $130,000 to Nine Milwaukee-Area Non-Profit Organizations

The Miller Brewing Company Employee Fund (MBCEF) announced June 11, 2008, its first round of grant awards to nine Milwaukee-area non-profit organizations totaling more than $130,000. Our Next Generation, thankfully, being one of them. 

MBCEF will support our "Connections" Initiative, providing year-round academic and personal support programs to 125-150 at-risk youth and teens helping to close the academic proficiency gaps of minority children, strengthen the workforce and further the economic prosperity for the area.

“Our employees are passionate about giving back and MBCEF has been able to make an incredible impact with so many groups here in Milwaukee,” said Kim Marotta, senior director of corporate social responsibility for Miller Brewing Company. “These contributions are completely directed by employees and it’s another way that we are demonstrating our commitment to the community.”

More than 730 Miller employees contributed to MBCEF through the fall 2007 giving campaign or by designating a regular donation from each of their paychecks.

The other groups receiving grants are the Next Door Foundation Inc., America 's Second Harvest of Wisconsin, Salvation Army of Greater Milwaukee , Alma Center Inc., Hunger Task Force, Milwaukee Christian Center , Pearls for Teen Girls, and St. Marcus School .

The Wisconsin Arts Board supports Arts Partnership between Our Next Generation & Express Yourself Milwaukee

Our Next Generation was awarded a $10,000 grant to partner with Express Yourself Milwaukee to provide school-year visual and performance art experiences to middle and high school students enrolled in the agency's after-school programs.   This collaborative project between the community and the arts is supported in part by this grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of Wisconsin and the National Endowment of the Arts.

Year-End Celebration!

Our Next Generation just celebrated the accomplishments of its student participants at our Year-End Celebration Dinner, May 28, 2008.  Highlights included:

• 100% Graduation Rate of High School Participants.
• Recognition of elementary, middle and high school academic and personal achievements (assessment data will be posted online and available by hard copy by late June).
• Recognition of Community Collaborations, including the partnership with the more than 70 Homework Club Tutors & Mentors who participated this year and the more than 50 Business and Community Partners.

 

Check out our Celebration Photo Gallery (view the slideshow) at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ournextgeneration/show/

Healthcare Careers 101, hosted by Froedtert Hospital

Students in our High School Connection attended the Healthcare Careers 101 event, April 1st, presented by the professionals at Froedtert Hospital.  Our students spoke to doctors, nurses and technicians from different fields of study and learned about careers in rehabilitation and surgical services, emergency response, disease prevention and hospitality, as well as gained insight of the college programs specializing in health and wellness.

Our Next Generation Partnership with

Manpower Highlighted on the Volunteer Center of Milwaukee's Website.

Check out story at http://volunteermilwaukee.org/corporate.php

Annual Meeting 2008

Our Next Generation Celebrates 15 Years of Service

Student poets, founding members and community partners celebrated the agency’s 15th Year in Service at the Board of Director’s Annual Meeting February 26th.  The event, hosted at Manpower’s new world headquarters, began with a warm welcome by tutor and Manpower Executive Pamila Brown.

The evening was filled with special remarks from key supporters, including founding members Jim Gettel and Charlie Drake, and principal of Westside Academy Jim Sonnenberg – all speaking to the deprivation in our service area and the need for further stakeholder involvement. 

The outgoing Chair Dr. Susan Quandt introduced David Kuehl, Lubar & Co, as Chairman.  Mr. Kuehl will serve a two-year term and is focused to strengthen donor relations and improve program capacities to provide the most efficient and effective services to our more than 500 urban youth. 

A highlight of the evening was our student poets representing our Poetry Club led by Artist and Poetry Coach Nicole Janzen.  Their original poems reflected on their lives growing up in the central city and their personal fight against poverty, gangs and violence. 

We were honored to recognize our outbound tutoring programs in partnership with University School of Milwaukee and Manpower, Inc. Through their generosity and volunteer support we provide enhanced academic enrichment and career exploration programs to more students each year. 

Throughout the year, a series of 15th Anniversary Student Performances and Open Houses will be hosted at our Learning Centers.  Please check out our upcoming newsletters and website calendar for performance announcements. 

We look forward to your continued support and welcome you to visit our program sites and meet some of our youth.

Our Next Generation 2008 Officers (from Left to Right)

Chair

David Kuehl, Lubar & Co

Chair Elect

James S. Reeve, III, Northern Trust Bank

Treasurer

Julie Krey, Manpower

Secretary

Carla Washington, Froedtert Hospital

*A special thank you to Froedtert Hospital for underwriting our 2007 Report to the Community.

New Leadership Enhances Program

Our Next Generation, Inc. (ONG) welcomes Kiarra Reid and Tim Schermetzler to their education and program staff. 

Kiarra Reid joins the team as a full-time Education Coordinator and will work closely with the High School Connection and Homework Club (founding tutoring and academic support program) to develop and implement curriculum to meet the needs and expectations of student and volunteer participants.

As a graduate of Alverno College with a BA in Community Leadership and Development, Kiarra comes to ONG with more than seven years of youth service experience.  Most recently she worked as an Educational Specialist at the Mary Ryan Boys and Girls Club.  In addition to her years of classroom and community outreach experience, she also volunteers her time as a Lead Teacher of Children’s Ministry at the Christian Faith Fellowship Church.

Tim Schermetzler is a recent graduate of UW-Milwaukee with a degree in Economics.  Tim joins our staff as Site Coordinator and will primarily oversee the development and implementation of our Community Learning Center programming and off-site tutoring at University School of Milwaukee.  Over the last four years he has worked with youth programs in many capacities as a coach, volunteer coordinator and as a life skills advisor.  Tim has a passion for recreation and the outdoors and his knowledge in these areas will help to enhance our recreational and environmental efforts.