Preparing MKE's Future Workforce

Of the region’s 1.5 million residents, 36% have a two- or four-year degree. The next generation of talent needs high-quality schools, innovative education, and participation in career-based learning so they can find their future right here at home. MMAC is engaged in several K-12 and higher education initiatives to build the pipeline between education and employment:

Advocating for high quality education

MMAC has been working to close the achievement gap in the City of Milwaukee, our greatest source of future talent, for more than 25 years. Adding choice and charter schools has increased quality education options for students and their families, but there is far more work to be done.

MMAC is focused on providing more students with access to a highquality school, as defined by the state report card. And we lobby for equity in funding across school systems – pubic, charter and choice – to ensure exemplary schools have the resources they need to grow. MKEschoolmap.org/map

Early engagement with employers

Preparing for a career starts with building awareness of career options, is strengthened through intentionally designed student experiences and ideally leads to more Milwaukee students staying in the region to build their careers with Milwaukee Region companies.

MMAC’s Be the Spark program builds career awareness and experiences in high-demand regional industries: finance, manufacturing, construction, digital technology and patient care. MMAC member companies work with MPS high schools to create projects that provide real-world context for classroom learning. The goal is to create sustained partnerships that include job shadows, internships, apprenticeships and job offers post-graduation. www.mmac.org/spark.html

Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS)

MMAC supports the TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) program to build a pipeline of digital talent. TEALS places industry volunteers into high schools that otherwise would not have a computer science program to team-teach with classroom teachers. TEALS provides a short-term solution to the teacher shortage and helps schools build a long-term solution and sustainable computer science program. Find out more about the program, and how you and members of your team can serve as a volunteer teacher: MMAC.org/Technology-Education--Literacy-in-Schools-TEALS.html

Diverse internship programs

MMAC has partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on an internship program that connects MMAC member employers with students from diverse backgrounds. The first cohort placed more than 50 interns with 19 Milwaukee area employers, and there will be additional opportunities to participate in the program and host interns. Intern wages are paid through a state grant at no cost to the employer.

UWM.edu/community/students/the-uwm-student-success-talentpipeline-initiative/