Earn & Learn is a summer youth employment program started by Mayor Tom Barrett to prepare young people in the City of Milwaukee to enter the workforce through authentic work experience with local businesses, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations. Earn & Learn's mission is to support young people in their transition from adolescence to adulthood by providing an opportunity to develop practical workforce skills.
According to a 2018 report by The National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 13 percent of young people are neither in school nor working. Additionally, a US Conference of Mayors survey found that 51.6% of employers had no interest in hiring young adults, even when assisted by agencies that gather work-ready individuals. The lack of educational and workforce experience coupled with the highly competitive job market creates substantial barriers in young people's pursuit of employment and competitive wages.
Mayor Barrett has made a priority of creating hope and opportunities in the lives of young people in Milwaukee and the Earn & Learn Program does exactly this by empowering young people to take charge of their future. Not only does the Earn & Learn program advance the lives of young people, but it is also a key factor in strengthening our communities and local economy.
Youth living in the Metro Milwaukee area between the ages of 14-24.
Shana Anderson CWE Coordinator Employ Milwaukee Workforce Development (414) 270-7550
The Community Work Experience (CWE) component of EARN & LEARN is a specialized entry-level work opportunity and is the sole recipient of donations from the Mayor's EARN & LEARN Fund. CWE provides youth employed through EARN & LEARN with a 7-week work experience that will cover the processing of their applications and work permits; a subsidized wage rate of $7.50 per hour for 20 hours each week; and, work-readiness skill development and training to make the job successful for both the youth worker and their nonprofit employer. Employ Milwaukee Workforce Development acts as the lead administration team for the CWE component.
Youth ages 16-19 years old.
Vanessa Armstrong Department of City Development (DCD)
The Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) component of EARN & LEARN is a specialized work opportunity where youth are assigned to various work assignments in departments within city government through exclusive funding from the City of Milwaukee's Community Development Block Grant funding. SYIP provides youth hired by the program with a 8-week work experience. They receive a subsidized wage rate of $15.00 per hour for 20 hours each week for a maximum of 160 hours during the summer work cycle.
A strategic partnership with ManpowerGroup, the lead employer partner for SYIP, provides invaluable support to the administration of the program. ManpowerGroup provides a host site for interviews, volunteers to conduct interviews, and process all payroll for SYIP youth in the program. The Department of City Development acts as the lead administration team for the SYIP component of EARN & LEARN.
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"I'm very passionate about EARN & LEARN, it's one of my favorite initiatives because it helps young people and their families."
—Mayor Tom Barrett
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Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance Routing: #075900575 MAWFA PO Box 1452 Milwaukee, WI 53201
"I need every available resource to create these jobs. Without question, I could not make good on the promise of our youth working during the summer months without the tremendous generosity of corporate, foundation, and private gifts that make our EARN & LEARN jobs a reality."
— Mayor Tom Barrett