Milwaukee Leaders Connect Youth with Summer Jobs and Resources

City and community efforts aim to provide positive options and prevent trouble for young people this summer

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:10pm

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A vibrant, abstract silkscreen illustration depicting a group of diverse teenagers gathered together, their faces rendered in bold, overlapping outlines and neon colors, conveying the energy and potential of Milwaukee's youth.Milwaukee's youth-focused summer programs aim to connect young people with meaningful work and positive mentors, building a brighter future for the city.Today in Milwaukee

As Milwaukee heads into the summer months, city and community leaders are focusing on prevention by connecting young people with jobs, apprenticeships, and mentorships. Hundreds of kids and teens gathered at an event at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee to sign up for summer opportunities, explore careers, and discover future possibilities.

Why it matters

Large teen gatherings have raised concerns in Milwaukee during past summers, so leaders are taking a proactive approach to keep youth surrounded by positive influences and opportunities. The goal is to provide young people with structured activities and meaningful work to prevent trouble and help build their futures.

The details

The event at the Baird Center brought together dozens of organizations to connect young people with summer jobs, apprenticeships, and mentorships. Students moved from table to table, signing up for positions, exploring careers, and discovering their future possibilities. For some, the motivation was simply to earn money, while others saw it as a way to stay out of trouble and develop their skills.

  • The event took place on April 2, 2026 in downtown Milwaukee.
  • The event was held as Milwaukee heads into the summer months.

The players

Alderwoman Sharlen Moore

Represents the 10th District and helped bring together the organizations for the event.

Amir Diaz

A student who attended the event and felt there were opportunities for everyone to find something they're interested in.

Lucas Rogerio Bonato

A student who attended the event primarily to find a summer job and earn money.

Navarrio Lacy

A parent who attended the event to find resources and get their child involved in positive activities this summer.

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What they’re saying

“Every young person should be able to be involved in an opportunity for the summer; there's no reason why any young person should be at home doing nothing.”

— Alderwoman Sharlen Moore, 10th District Alderwoman

“It looks like there's stuff for everyone, so I feel like they'll find opportunities for what they could do, or even if they don't know what they're interested in, to see what they probably could do.”

— Amir Diaz, Student

“Uh, money, I wanna get a job.”

— Lucas Rogerio Bonato, Student

“We just wanted to get, you know, resources on, you know, helping the youth, you know, wanna be proactive this summer and get things going, you know, on a positive note.”

— Navarrio Lacy, Parent

“Use the skills you've been given, and find something that interests you.”

— Lucas Rogerio Bonato, Student

What’s next

Leaders emphasized that the effort extends beyond a single day, focusing on ensuring every young person knows they have options and that the city will continue to provide resources and opportunities throughout the summer.

The takeaway

This event highlights Milwaukee's proactive approach to engaging youth and providing them with positive alternatives to trouble, demonstrating the city's commitment to investing in the futures of its young people and building a stronger, safer community.