Together, We're Better‪!‬ Building Our Future in Kenosha County

In this episode, we expand our focus beyond Kenosha County to explore an initiative spanning Racine and Walworth counties. Building Our Future sits down with Zyaire Strowder, Student Engagement Associate at Higher
Expectations of Racine County; Marie Hargrove, Managing Director of Mission Programs for the YWCA of Southeastern Wisconsin; and Shayla Malone, Transition
Specialist at Gateway Technical College. They discuss a tri-county HSED initiative. The YWCA’s 5.09 HSED program, approved by the Department of Public Instruction, is centered on coursework instead of testing. Participants attend classes for 12 hours per week over 20 weeks, with a curriculum that emphasizes workforce skills and real-life applications. Join us as we delve into the
significance of high school attainment and how organizations across three counties are collaborating to create pathways for economic mobility.

Join us this month on the Together, We’re Better Podcast as we delve into the invaluable initiative known as Help Me Grow (HMG) with special guests from KAC. HMG is a nationwide system model designed to support parents and caregivers in accessing the best resources for child development and family wellness. Discover how this FREE helpline provides vital information and assistance tailored to children aged from birth to 5 years old, helping parents track their child’s growth and development at every stage. Learn about KAC's integral role in this program within Kenosha and how it originated from the Building Our Future’s Smart Beginnings Network, a collective of early
childhood professionals dedicated to ensuring all children in Kenosha County enter kindergarten ready to learn on the first day of school. Don't miss out on this enlightening episode!

Learn more about Help Me Grow (HMG) here: helpmegrowkenosha.org



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Sparkler is more than just an app—it's a lifeline for parents, offering essential information and resources to ensure their children's developmental success, all at their fingertips and completely free of charge. Aligned with Help Me Grow's mission of supporting families to improve child developmental outcomes, Sparkler is poised to make a significant impact.

In recent years, literacy has emerged as a prominent national issue, prompting a call to action in communities across the country. Building Our Future has stepped forward to confront the reading crisis in our own Kenosha County. Through strategic partnerships with schools, agencies, and organizations, an important initiative unfolded, leading to the introduction of Wisconsin Reading Corps as a literacy support at Brass Community School and Wilson Elementary School during the 2021-2022 academic year. The success story continues, with its expansion to additional schools:
Jefferson Elementary, Grewenow Elementary, Somers Elementary School, Frank Elementary and Riverview School in Silver Lake.

In this episode, we sit down with Felicia Dalton, Director of Strategic Initiatives with Building Our Future, Eric Hoffman, Director of Wisconsin programs with Wisconsin Reading Corps, and Kristy Makowka, Interim Principal from Jefferson Elementary. Together, they shed light on the power of literacy and the strides being made to equip K-3 students with the essential reading skills they need.

Discover the passion, dedication, and impact of these literacy champions as they discuss their experiences, the challenges faced, and the victories achieved in the pursuit of a more literate
and empowered future for the youth in Kenosha County.

Tune in, be inspired, and share this episode with others to spread the word about the efforts underway to build a brighter, more literate future for our community.

Step into the New Year with Episode 28 of The Together We're Better podcast: 'New Year, New Library!' This month, we sat down with our partners from the Kenosha Public Library to explore the highly anticipated Uptown Children's Library project. Join Barb, Brandi, and Kahlil as they share the strides, they're making to ensure the Kenosha Public Library remains a vital community space. From innovative projects to heartwarming stories, this
episode is a celebration of community, creativity, and collaboration. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that's sure to resonate with library lovers and community enthusiasts alike. Don't keep the excitement to yourself – hit play, listen in, and share with others!

Learn more about KPL by visiting their website here: https://mykpl.info/

Welcome to Together, We’re Better, where we dive deep into conversations that matter. In this episode, join us for a discussion with Chief Chris Bigley and members Ezekiel Thompkins and Tim Lewis from the Kenosha Fire Department's Diversity & Recruitment Committee.

Discover how this committee is reshaping the landscape of fire department recruitment in Kenosha. In partnership with Building Our Future, UW-Parkside, and other community collaborators, they've embarked on a journey to reimagine recruitment strategies, striving to reflect the demographics of the community they serve.

This episode is a testament to the power of collaboration and community-driven initiatives. Chief Chris Bigley and his team showcase how a forward-thinking mindset can bring about positive change in an essential public service sector. Join us as we explore the inspiring story of the Kenosha Fire Department's Diversity & Recruitment Committee and discover that anything is possible when we work together!

Learn more about the fire department here: https://www.kenosha.org/departments/fire-department

Visit the Kenosha Fire Department YouTube page here:
kenosha.org/departments/fire-department

Welcome to the Together, We're Better Podcast, sponsored by Building Our Future (BOF), a place-based partnership dedicated to supporting young people in Kenosha. In this episode, we delve into BOF's Continuous Improvement Cohort, featuring representatives from three local organizations: April Gunther from
KAFASI, Jasmine Alvarez from the LGBT Center of Southeast Wisconsin, and Jennifer Pain from Women and Children’s Horizon. These organizations received roughly 24 hours of training and coaching on the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Results
Count framework, exploring crucial questions about their services. In the cohort we explored the answers to hard questions like, who is benefiting the least from your services? And from there identifying the reasons, deeply understanding them, and then developing solutions.

Tune in and be inspired by their dedication to continuous improvement. Don't forget to share this episode with your networks!