College Readiness and Career Development programs are a central part of the Urban League’s three-point strategy. Carrying on the commitment to providing the best education for our children and fostering a joy in learning, the Urban League continues to raise the bar by energizing students with creative, engaging programs all of which are offered free of charge thanks to the sponsors listed below.
Schools of Hope: Middle School
One-on-one and small group tutoring assistance is available to Madison and Sun Prairie middle school students. Tutoring assistance is focused on preparing students to successfully complete algebra and other academic subjects when they enter high school.
Tutoring assistance is available both during the regular school day and afterschool at Blackhawk, Cherokee, Jefferson, O’Keeffe, Sennett, Sherman, Toki, Whitehorse, and Wright middle schools in Madison and Patrick Marsh and Prairie View middle schools in Sun Prairie. Contact the Tutor Coordinator at your local middle school for more details.
Major sponsorship of the Schools of Hope Middle School Program is provided by the City of Madison, Dane County Human Services, Madison Metropolitan School District, and United Way of Dane County.
Project Bootstrap
Project Bootstrap helps middle school students explore and understand the myriad of post-secondary and career possibilities. Tutoring and other academic support services help students make the link between their core academics and their career aspirations. Project Bootstrap encompasses two programs:
The 21st Century Careers Program offers instructor-led career development activities including: self discovery; post-secondary and career exploration; goal setting; guest speakers; company and college tours; guidance with the WiscCareers portfolio and; academic tutoring. The program is open to students in grades 6 through 8 and typically runs from 5:00pm-6:15pm.
Project REACH offers students their first work experience through a paid career awareness internship. In addition to participating in the 21st Century Careers Program, students are taught employment skills throughout their 8th grade year. Financial literacy education includes life skills training and budgeting practice. Students also learn how to understand their paycheck and open a savings account.
Students that successfully complete the school year program are placed at a career awareness internship with a local company or non-profit organization for 12 hours per week during the summer. Students also receive 8 hours of classroom instruction per week in core academic subjects with an emphasis on mathematics.
Project Bootstrap is offered at Cherokee, Sherman, Toki, and Wright middle schools in Madison and Patrick Marsh and Prairie View middle schools in Sun Prairie. Sponsors include Dane County, MMSD, and United Way of Dane County. Contact the Urban League Career Development Coordinator at your school for exact dates and times and to learn how to enroll.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Service Program
An Urban League led collaborative that brings together 500 middle and high school youth from diverse backgrounds and encourages them to make a commitment to community service. Program components include:
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: Held annually on the King Holiday, 500 youth come together to observe the King Holiday as a day of service… "A Day On, Not A Day Off." This includes an educational forum at the Monona Terrace followed by community service projects.
The 100 Hour Youth Volunteer Challenge: Encourages students to perform at least 100 hours of volunteer service. Students that complete the challenge receive the President’s Volunteers Service Award through the Urban League.
The MLK Youth Planning Council: Middle and high school students learn leadership skills by planning the MLK Day of Service activities and promoting civic engagement among their peers throughout the year.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Recognition Breakfast
For nearly 25 years, the Urban League has hosted one of the largest observances of the King Holiday. The breakfast, held on Sunday during the King Holiday weekend, attracts more than 700 youth, families, and community leaders. Nearly 170 middle and high school students are presented with the Outstanding Young Person Award and the MLK College Scholarships. Students are nominated by schools from all across Dane County based on their academic performance, community service, and extra-curricular participation.
MSCR Youth Resource Centers
The Urban League works closely with the MSCR Middle School Youth Resource Centers to align and support each agency’s efforts. At five MMSD middle schools, the two agencies have combined resources to fund a full-time Tutor Coordinator and After-School Director.