Youth

Local public arts program engages community and inspires at-risk youth

by Erin Green | 01/31/2018 - 10:07am

Students paint a mural for Madison's South Police Station at Hoyt School (Erin Green/Madison Commons).

A high-school student stood near the door of a classroom in Hoyt School, observing quietly as his classmates painted. He appeared nervous to join in. Artist Sonya Sankaran calmly handed him a paint brush and reassured him that mistakes could always be fixed.

Soon, the student was painting flowers alongside his classmates.

Tags: Education, Parks & Recreation, People, Services, Streets and Sidewalks, Youth

A Madison nonprofit is fighting to make Wisconsin schools inclusive for all members of the LGBTQ+ community

by Martha Morganstein | 01/04/2018 - 1:07pm

(Photo courtesy of GSAFE)

Shawn Fredricks, a former health and physical education teacher at Beloit Memorial High School in Beloit, described always separating her students between boys and girls.

Tags: City Life, Education, Diversity, People, Youth

The Mellowhood Game Changers

by Lauren Faust | 12/27/2017 - 2:48pm

(Photo courtesy of the Mellowhood Foundation)

Young intelligent people with potential and promise, in need of more opportunity, trapped in the day-to-day struggles of racial and class oppression, are often left at the margins of society.

The drive of Tutankhamum “Coach” Assad lay here, in these realities that link the fate of young residents of Meadowood, a neighborhood on the southside of Madison.

Tags: Food, Education, City, Parks & Recreation, People, Sports, Youth

Simpson Street Free Press celebrates its 25th anniversary with growth and innovation

by Lauren Thill | 12/12/2017 - 10:29am

SSFP Reporters Sammy Garduno (left) and Mariama Bah (right) working on stories about Madison communities (Photo Courtesy of SSFP)

Long-celebrated local out-of-school program Simpson Street Free Press is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018 with several programs that connect students with the greater Wisconsin community.

Tags: The Grid, City Life, Education, City, Youth

Dual-enrollment program aims to make STEM degrees more accessible and diverse

by Lauren Thill | 11/13/2017 - 2:23pm

Looking north with Monona Bay on the left, and Franklin Elementary School on the right (Aaron Hathaway/Madison Commons)

The Early College STEM Academy, created in partnership between the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and Madison Area Technical College (MATC), will help make pursuing a STEM degree more accessible to Madison high school students; especially for students of color.

Tags: Education, Diversity, Youth

Running for Change

by Lauren Faust | 11/08/2017 - 11:36am

(Photo courtesy of Girls on the Run South Central Wisconsin)

“Keep going, you’re doing great. Don’t give up!”

These are the words of 5^th grader Holly Kurian, who is cheering on her friends from the sidelines of a Girls on the Run practice on a beautiful sunny day at Randall Elementary School. Kurian is a runner with Girls on the Run, a program that builds self-confidence and leadership skills in young women. She enjoys every minute of it.

Tags: Parks & Recreation, Sports, Youth

Simpson Street Free Press Awarded Two Year Grant

by Lauren Thill | 08/14/2017 - 12:24pm

Even in the middle of the summer, the Simpson Street Free Press South Towne newsroom is busy with students learning and writing. The newsroom is filled with resources for students—from a library full of sources , to the volunteers who help students revise their articles.

The newsroom exemplifies SSFP’s mission to actively help students learn in out-of-school time in a high-impact, effective fashion.

Tags: Education, Local Media, People, Services, Voices, Youth

City of Madison Takes Efforts to Address Child Sex Trafficking

by Kate Jungers | 07/13/2017 - 2:40pm

A young girl walked into a Madison public high school one Monday morning this spring. Her hair had been done professionally, her nails were polished and manicured. She was sporting a new, expensive outfit, and she spoke to her friends about the hotels she had stayed in that weekend.

The girl was also homeless.

Tags: Education, Safety, Youth

Community centers work to help kids get active

by Karen Hess | 03/26/2015 - 1:49pm

Fit Youth Initiative works physical activity into afterschool programs

Tags: East, Education, Parks & Recreation, Youth, North

STAR Credit Union helps kids learn how to save

by Franco Latona | 10/15/2014 - 8:06am

World's only kids-chartered credit union operates at Boys and Girls Clubs and teaches financial literacy

Tags: City Life, Education, Youth, South Central

Project collects snapshots into how kids live today

by Rachel Schulze | 05/16/2014 - 5:37pm