Community Fund: Mikayla & City Year

Mikayla remembers middle school fondly. Specifically, she remembers her City Year mentor, Mr. Ben. He made her learning fun and taught Mikayla to come out of her shell. 

City Year Milwaukee helps students in eight MPS schools with educational curricula as well as helping them develop their social and emotional learning. Staff act as tutors and mentors in third to ninth-grade classrooms, ensuring that students receive equitable opportunities in education. 

Mikayla is now in her third year as a mentor to students, teaching City Year curricula in math and English, which enhances the education that students receive in the school. For alumni of City Year, like Mikayla, the organization offers roles that help them further develop leadership skills. Mentors understand the needs of their students, and in turn, students feel safe and can confide in their mentors. City Year’s Whole School, Whole Child approach is holistic, focusing on building relationships and preparing students for success.  

"The impact from my City Year – with how Mr. Ben was with me to how I am now – I want this to continue," reflected Mikayla. "Like a cycle of learning from a mentor and implementing what they taught going into the future."

Together, we can continue to support programs like Whole School Whole Child at City Year Milwaukee, and other programs throughout our community. Your donation to United Way’s Community Fund, makes this possible. Mikayla is passing on to younger generations what it means to Live United.

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