Option A | Who Gets to Shape Public Space?
Facilitated by: City of Milwaukee Department of Parks
Session Overview: Public parks, plazas, and green spaces belong to everyone—so who decides how they are designed, used, and sustained? In this interactive session led by City of Milwaukee Parks staff, youth explore how municipal decisions impact public land and discuss how young residents can actively influence, reclaim, and co-create community spaces across Milwaukee.
Kayla Schultz and Joe Kaltenberg of the City of Milwaukee Department of Parks facilitate the session. They are responsible for managing and maintaining urban public spaces, parks, and community recreation environments while working toward equitable access and community engagement across the city.
Option B | Get Lit, Get Loud: Advocacy 101
Facilitated by: Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) Youth Leaders
Session Overview: LIT's High School Fellows lead this fast-paced workshop, which will equip participants with essential grassroots advocacy knowledge. Attendees will learn how to turn personal stories into powerful campaigns, use strategic messaging to speak truth to power, and mobilize peers around issues affecting young people in Milwaukee.
Facilitated by Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT): A youth-led social justice organization that engages and empowers Black and Brown youth to build collective power, advocate for racial and economic justice, and shape policies in their schools and communities.
Option C | Finding Your Path: Getting Started in Civic Leadership
Facilitated by: Project Kindred (Navigators Program)
Session Overview: For young people who want to make a difference in their communities but aren't sure where to begin, this session demystifies civic involvement. Project Kindred mentors walk participants through practical ways to step into leadership, navigate community networks, and find ongoing peer circles and resources that match their interests.
Facilitated by Project Kindred: A Milwaukee-based organization dedicated to youth leadership development and community connection through programs like Navigators, helping young people build identity, long-term peer networks, and real-world civic experience across the city.