COA Youth and Family Centers has ended a 30-year partnership with Milwaukee Recreation that provided after-school programs, summer programming, access to overnight camps and family events through Community Learning Centers.
In February, the agency’s staff members were notified that COA would terminate its contract at the end of the academic school year, forcing Milwaukee Recreation, also known as MKE REC, to look for new partnerships.
“This came as a surprise to us,” said Leighton Cooper, MKE REC’s recreation coordinator. “But we are working to remedy the situation. We are always committed to ensuring young people have safe spaces to be.”
Impacted schools include Auer Avenue School, 2319 W. Auer Ave.; Oliver Wendell Holmes School, 2463 N. Buffum St.; Hopkins Lloyd Community School, 1503 W. Hopkins St.; Doerfler Public School, 3014 W Scott St.; and Westside Academy,1945 N. 31st St.
Here’s what we know
MKE REC is working with Milwaukee Public Schools to ensure students at the five MPS schools will still have summer programs.
Cooper said with summer right around the corner, the immediate concern is keeping young people safe.
“Right now, we’re working to keep the program as is at three of the schools,” he said. “The other two are more unique, so the goal is to create a partnership that keeps those going or provide transportation for families impacted.”
Why are the contracts ending?
COA programs serve families in the Amani, Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods of Milwaukee. Agency staff focus on three core areas: early education, youth development and community development.
The termination of contracts is part of a series of changes at COA, including the pause of its teen program housed at its Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St.
In addition, COA leaders have paused programming at its overnight summer camp, Camp Helen Brachman, which has run every summer for over 100 years.
Amy Rowell, the executive director of COA, said the agency is prioritizing services at its primary locations at 909 E. Garfield Ave. and 2320 W. Burleigh St.
“We are shifting our focus to core and direct programming and building up the capacity of both of our primary locations, with a lot of my attention being given to reimagining and developing the full potential of Goldin,” said Rowell, who assumed her position in February.
What’s next
Cooper said the Childhood Learning Centers, or CLCs, run on five-year grants, adding that the ones COA operates are in year three.
He said because funding is available, it’s just a matter of finding the right partners to run the centers.
“That’s something we can find exciting in this situation,” he said. “Getting to create those new partnerships with organizations interested in facilitating CLCs.”
For more information
MKE REC will update its website with available summer programming by mid-April and keep impacted families updated as best as possible through connecting with school leadership.
If your agency or anyone you know is interested in what it means or looks like to run a Childhood Learning Center, you can reach out to Cooper at cooperld@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.
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