Council creates Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council; president and multiple community leaders appointed

The Development Committee advanced a slate of appointments to the newly reimagined Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council, a body intended to replace and broaden the scope of the former Black Male Achievement Advisory Council.

President of the Common Council Jose Perez, whom the committee appointed to the council, described the council’s purpose as making recommendations to the common council on policies affecting “underrepresented youth, including but not limited to matters related to My Brother’s Keeper initiatives, Cities United, the National League of Cities, and the Divided Community Project.” Perez said the council “will use a data‑driven approach and lived experience of our youth in Milwaukee to make policy recommendations” and that it will focus on youth defined by the community block grant definition of up to 24 years of age.

Committee members confirmed a broad group of nominees representing education, health, business, community organizations and city departments. Among those who spoke about their backgrounds and priorities during the meeting were Amber Dias (education background in K‑12), Dr. Lindsey Hammes (executive director of a research center focused on women and girls), Commissioner Michael (surname in transcript unclear; health and violence‑prevention expertise), Dr. Anthony Cruz (30 years in education), Ugo/Hugo Wabarocha (business owner and president of the National Association of Minority Contractors, Wisconsin chapter), and Marcy Patterson (community engagement manager with the Milwaukee Police Department). Several nominees emphasized research, data, mentorship, workforce development, health, and building non‑enforcement relationships between youth and police.

Why it matters: The Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council is charged with recommending policies and practices aimed at improving education, employment, family supports and violence prevention for Milwaukee’s underrepresented youth. The council’s broad membership signals a multi‑sector approach involving city agencies, education institutions and community groups.

Selected actions and outcomes: - File 13241754 — Appointment of Jose Perez, President of the Common Council, to the Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council — motion to confirm; outcome: confirmed (no objections recorded). - Multiple mayoral and president appointments to the council (Amber Dias, Michael [commissioner], Dr. Lindsey Hammes, Dr. Anthony Cruz, Alderman Russell Stamper, Ugo/Hugo Wabarocha, Marcy Patterson and others) — motions to confirm; outcomes: confirmed by voice vote in committee with no recorded objections. Two nominees were held and will be rescheduled (Steve Mahan and Matt Maroney in related earlier items).

Appointees flagged several focus areas: data and research to inform policy (Perez, Dr. Hammes), workforce and training pathways (Dr. Cruz), health and violence prevention (commissioner nominee), mentorship and visible role models from the business community (Wabarocha), and police‑community relationship building (Marcy Patterson). Perez emphasized the council’s inclusiveness, noting the renamed body explicitly covers young women as well as young men.

Next steps: Confirmed appointees will participate in council convenings and begin developing policy recommendations for the common council. Committee members asked that the council coordinate with youth‑serving agencies and include youth voice and representation where feasible.