The Milwaukee County Office of Equity is collaborating with the Milwaukee County Youth Commission to bring a new award category for local teens. They’re adding the category ahead of the office’s third annual Milwaukee County Health Equity Champion Awards.
The county created the awards in 2024 to honor individuals and organizations that have shown efforts to develop healthier communities and bring fairness.
This year’s new category is called the “Equity in Action Youth Leadership Award,” and is open to teens 13 to 18 who have shown efforts to improve their community. Examples of potential actions include addressing food access, participating in neighborhood cleanups, assisting with the elderly, violence interruption and more.
“Oftentimes, the challenges that we see in the community are unfairly placed on the backs of young people,” said Milwaukee County Chief Equity Officer Sumaiyah Clark. “I definitely believe in the importance of showcasing young people who are doing the right thing, which is actually the vast majority of them.”
Clark said that Milwaukee County and County Executive David Crowley have always been committed to youth development.
“It was during my teen years that I developed a strong desire to improve the quality of life in my community,” Crowley said. “That passion was nurtured by supportive adults and organizations who encouraged me to grow as a young leader.”
Allowing youths to lead the way
Young adults like Alivia Allen, who’s on the planning committee for the Office of Equity Health Champion Awards and works alongside the Milwaukee Youth Commission, feels that adults in the city are supportive of youth-driven impact.
“The real challenge of our time isn’t that adults underestimate the youth, but that young people often underestimate themselves,” Allen said. “Right now, youth need to be inspired.”
Clark said adults sometimes underestimate the impact youths can have on their community.
“People think they haven’t lived long enough or don’t know enough, which isn’t true,” Clark said. “Young people’s experiences, creativity and their energy are assets.”
Clark and Allen said the goal with equity is making sure that people across all communities have what they need to be healthy and that social change doesn’t have an age limit.
“Too many young people look at societal change and community advocacy as responsibilities meant only for adults, and we need to break that stigma,” Allen said.
Meeting the criteria
With the nomination window now closed, Clark will be sitting with the Milwaukee County Youth Commission to review the submissions.
Sarah Bruett, 17, who is the Milwaukee County Youth Commission co-chair, said her group is honored to contribute because one of its goals is to increase youth civic engagement.
“It’s important for the Milwaukee County Youth Commission to be involved as it allows us to recognize and celebrate our peers,” Bruett said.
So far, Bruett notices passion is a common quality among the nominees as their hard work and impact is extending beyond the classroom.
“Passion is one of the greatest assets a young person can have as finding what matters to you is the first step in making change,” she said.
Allen said she admires the work each teen has been doing with actively empowering and educating other youths in their community.
“That leadership aligns perfectly with the mission of the Youth Commission,” she said.
Allen said the applications submitted by youths show a true commitment to equity over just equality.
“Their applications articulate that equity means recognizing that not everyone starts from the same place,” she said. “It is not about giving everyone the exact same resources, but instead identifying individual needs and providing the specific tools required so that everyone has a genuine opportunity to thrive.”
Crowley said he’s excited to honor youths for their deeply rooted impact on major community issues.
“This expansion of the Milwaukee County Health Equity Awards is an awesome opportunity to salute our teens and recognize their contributions to creating a healthier community for all residents,” Crowley said.
Winners of the Milwaukee County Health Equity Champion Awards will be notified on Wednesday, July 15, followed by an awards brunch and ceremony from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center’s Bradley Pavilion, 929 N. Water St.
If interested in attending, click here to register by July 31. Registration is free.
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