Talent results 2017-2019

The objective of MMAC's Blueprint for Economic Prosperity for TALENT is to develop and attract life-long learners.

2017-2019 Results

Education Pipeline
Objective: Increase educational attainment
and inspire the next generation of our work force.

Updated an interactive map of school quality for all schools in Milwaukee County with publicly funded students. This online tool allows parents and school leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of individual schools.
Increased per-pupil funding for students in all sectors – MPS District, Choice and Charter – so high-performing schools have the resources they need to expand.
Secured $1 billion in new state K-12 school aids.
Created a corporate income tax credit for monies paid into an employee’s college savings account.
Secured state funding for College Possible, helping more low-income students gain admission to and succeed in college.
Secured additional state funding to expand the Wisconsin Reading Corps, which provides one-on-one literacy tutoring to low-income students.
Increased funding for Special Education Aids by $97 million, raising the reimbursement rate from 26% to 30%.
Through the M7 GROW HERE campaign, documented more than 200,000 career-based learning experiences for students in the region. Mapping these student experiences can help scale innovative practices and reveal gaps.
Expanded MMAC's Be the Spark Business Education tour program to connect classroom learning to real-life jobs. A total of 115 member businesses provided tours to more than 3,800 Milwaukee Public Schools seventh graders in the 2018-19 school year.
Supported Southeastern Wisconsin TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) initiative, a Microsoft Philanthropies program that connects and trains classroom teachers with tech industry volunteers to create sustainable computer science courses in high schools. Recruited 92 volunteer co-teachers to reach 600+ students in 20 schools during the 2019-20 school year.
Launched Manufacturing CAREERx to connect high school educators, students and parents with manufacturers to showcase the spectrum of career opportunities in manufacturing. In its first year, the program included 15 employers, 20 high schools, 40 teachers and 500 students. CareerX is designed to increase positive perceptions of advanced manufacturing careers, grow enrollment in related academic programs and establish a pipeline of candidates for applied work experiences.

Current Talent
Objective: Develop and retain talented employees through skill building and engagement.

Through MMAC affiliate FUEL Milwaukee, supported the professional development efforts of Millennials and Gen Zers throughout the Milwaukee Region:
- Hosted the 5th annual Professional Development Bootcamp, engaging 1,000-plus young professionals in a wide range of career enhancement workshops.
- Engaged more than 500 early- to mid-career professionals in monthly Leadership Luncheons highlighting accomplished business and community members’ lessons for cultivating careers.
Fostered diversity in the FUEL membership through a series of events putting culture and inclusion center stage:
- Hosted the 4-month Mosaic Music series gathering 600-plus professionals from different backgrounds enjoying a mash-up of musical genres and popular local musicians.
Boosted community engagement through the Adopt-a-Nonprofit program, which connects 300-plus young professionals to non-profit volunteer and board positions.

Untapped Potential
Objective: Help companies bring more residents into our work force, including those who did not complete high school and formerly incarcerated people.

Worked with a bi-partisan coalition of state lawmakers to develop options for reforming Wisconsin’s criminal record expungement process to make it more accountable for the community, more accessible for ex-offenders, and reduce liability risk for employers hiring ex-offenders.
Worked on measures to design fair, legal pathways to education, employment and citizenship for undocumented immigrants residing in our region.

Out of market
Objective: Promote and market jobs and quality of life to talented workers outside the region.

Secured a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Association expanding efforts to attract and retain IT and supply chain talent.
Supported WEDC in obtaining $6.8 million in state funding for talent attraction activities.
Served as fiscal agent to support Milwaukee’s successful bid to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention, providing a platform to elevate the metro area’s image and relevance on an international stage.