Federal Grant To Reduce Youth Violence Includes UW-Madison Component

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Milwaukee social services agency will team up to try to reduce youth violence in Wisconsin’s largest city.

A $1.7 million federal grant is going to Milwaukee’s Center for Self-Sufficiency. The organization will work with 75 racial minority or at-risk Milwaukee public high school students for up to four years. UW-Madison will provide the high schoolers summer and after-school academic programs, career exploration and other activities. There will be field trips, including to northern Wisconsin. Milwaukee police officers will be available as mentors.

Center president Carl Wesley said if the young people stay out of trouble and get accepted to UW-Madison, they’ll be eligible for a tuition scholarship.

“It’s a four-year — at no cost them — ride,” he said to laughter during a news conference this week. “It ain’t free,” Wesley added, referring to the grant coming from federal tax money.