News
Where Education Meets Employment
Author: Chris Crawley
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2006
. . . adolescence is the age of the final establishment of a dominant positive ego identity. It is then that a future within reach becomes part of the conscious plan. It is then that the question arises whether or not the future was anticipated in earlier expectations . . .from Childhood and Society - Erik H. Erickson
After the September 11th tragedy, many people in the US began searching for more fulfilling ways to make a difference in the lives of others. While many people began volunteer efforts, still others even started searching for full-time employment that would bring their lives more meaning.
This is very much the case with the National Work-Based Schools Initiative (NWBSI), a project of the Milwaukee University Graduate School Cooperative (MUGS). MUGS is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, organized as a Wisconsin Chapter 185 Cooperative and provides educational and employment services to hundreds of at-risk high school students and young adults in the Milwaukee area.
MUGS is a work-based school whose students work for pay, earn course credits, improve health and fitness and learn to help their community. The MUGS 2006 Summer & Fall School supports students to find jobs, catch up in school or get ahead, develop strength and speed, and volunteer work with non-profit organizations. Last year’s summer pilot program planned for 25 student participants and significantly surpassed its goals with nearly 150 participants. While this summer’s program planned for 250 students, nearly 600 students, young adults, and parents have been able to participate in the effort so far. After, this summer, the initiative hopes to continue operations year-round. They are actively seeking additional funding to ensure that happens. Their primary funding sources are the Elizabeth Brinn Foundation, the Bradley Foundation, small contracts, and private individuals.
At MUGS, each student is instructed to develop good work habits, write a resume, and create a Personal Development Plan. Personal Development Plans establish and document each student’s goals for work -including earnings and savings; academics - catching up getting ahead; health/fitness - swimming, running, calisthenics, weight gain/loss, strength, stamina, diet and nutrition, addictions; civics and community service - volunteer work and building resumes that reflect their capabilities and potential.
MUGS sponsors the National Work-Based Schools Initiative and serves as its financial fiduciary. The National Work-Based Schools Initiative (NWBSI) functions as a national information and referral clearinghouse, support network for independent and confederated sponsors of work-based schools, and a service cooperative for students, teachers, employers, voluntary organizations, governmental agencies, and schools. The Milwaukee Work-Based Schools Initiative is the local affiliate. Operations with varying levels of complexity and development now exist in 14 other cities and 7 states.
Dorothy Beamon is the President of the MUGS Board of Directors and a long time volunteer. Ms. Beamon is also the Executive Director of the Montessori-based Human Growth and Development Center, an institute that provides orientation, training, and professional development for inner-city parents and young adults to learn the basics of Montessori materials and methods in teaching infants and early childhood students. “The most important thing is belief in the mission of the organization. MUGS is a non-profit organization with an educational focus combined with paid work. MUGS provides previously inaccessible work, academic, health and civic opportunities for the young people in our communities." She believes the long hours and hard work with little or no pay are a small price to pay. “When you work for an organization where you feel your personal effort helps to make a difference in the lives and futures of our young people – it’s worth it."
