2023 FUL HBCU Experience
On March 31, Future Urban Leaders embarked on its 2nd Annual HBCU Tour with nineteen of our FUL fellows, three staff members (our Executive Director, Co-Founder, Program Director) and a Parent Advisory Board (PAB) member.
Together the group toured eight historically black college campuses and participated in a number of new experiences.
The trip was amazing, everyone had a great time. We were able to chat with a few of the students who participated. In our chat we discussed what they learned, things they liked about the trip, advice they had for younger scholars, and if the trip has helped them have a clearer view for their futures.
On March 31, Future Urban Leaders embarked on its 2nd Annual HBCU Tour with nineteen of our FUL Fellows, three staff members (our Executive Director, Co-Founder, and Program Director) and a Parent Advisory Board (PAB) member.
Together the group toured eight college campuses:
Harris Stowe State University
Fisk University
Tennessee State University
Meharry Medical College
Alabama A&M University
Morehouse College
Spelman College
Georgia State University
In addition to touring the college campuses we were able to plan a number of activities and site visits such as:
A visit to the memorial of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO
A visit to AND up the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO
A history lesson of black music at The Jefferson Street Sound Museum in Nashville, TN
A day of fun interacting with black NASA representatives from engineering, finance, and HR at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL
Reflective moments spent at the Historic Bethel Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, AL
A night strolling through Atlanta
An opportunity to dine with leaders in their respective industries of the Nashville community
The trip was amazing, everyone had a great time. We were able to chat with a few of the students who participated: Marquonnis, Nehemiah, and Neveah. In our chat we discussed what they learned, things they liked about the trip, advice they had for younger scholars, and if the trip has helped them have a clearer view for their futures. Below are their responses.
Our next HBCU trip will take place in 2024. Our goal is to bring over 20 scholars with us on the trip and to have a coach bus as our mode of transportation (in past years we have driven in a few separate vans). Our set budget at this time is approximately $40,000 for the trip, your donation supports everything from gas money, meals, transportation, accommodations, extracurricular experiences, and more - all with the goal of helping our scholars have a clearer view of what is possible for their futures.
See the impact of your donation!
$14,000 - Supports FUL's transportation for the annual HBCU Experience
$4,000 - Supports FUL's meal plan for the annual HBCU Experience
$2,500 - Supports the curation of educational activities for the annual HBCU Experience
$2,000 - Supports FUL's annual partnership with Greater Life Community Center
$2,000 - Supports FUL's ability to provide ACT/SAT prep for Fellows programming
$2,000 - Supports FUL's purchase of Chromebooks for Fellows programming
College Prep
Our high school scholars are our Leadership Fellows. In our high school programming we focus on comprehensive college and career readiness including; ACT prep, college exploration, and entrepreneurship.
In 2022, we were able to bring in a number of professionals from the community to educate our scholars on their careers and skill sets. The goal of all of our programming for our Fellows is to equip our scholars with tools for their toolboxes as they plan and begin to transition into the next phase of their lives.
Jamaria, a FUL senior and has also been involved with Future Urban Leaders since she was in sixth grade.
Over the years as a FUL scholar, the different experiences and opportunities she has been able to participate in is one of her favorite parts of Future Urban Leaders. In addition to new opportunities, the real relationships built within FUL have been most impactful.
“The staff talk to you outside of FUL programming, they truly care about me as a person. I know that if I would text Mr.Krueger or Mr. Romenesko for help, they would respond,” Jamaria shared.
Jamaria had known since she was young that she wanted to attend Howard University in Washington D.C. After attending the 2022 HBCU Trip, she was able to visit Howard University and learned quickly that the campus wasn’t the perfect fit she had dreamed it to be.
“I wanted to go to Howard and when we got there it wasn’t the area I wanted to be in.”
The HBCU Trip was one of Jamaria’s favorite experiences with FUL, along with Future Cities as a younger scholar, and College Prep as a high school scholar.
“I like the Wednesday night College Prep class for a number of reasons. Some weeks it is nice to have a place to go to chill and be with good people I haven’t seen in a while. Other weeks, I go into Wednesday nights needing help and I am able to sit down and focus on school work or other college prep materials.”
Future Urban Leaders Kicks Off Women's History Month
On Monday, February 27th, Future Urban Leaders kicked off Women's History Month by participating in Milwaukee Business Journal's 10th Annual Mentoring Monday event at Alverno College.
Ten of our amazing female scholars got the opportunity to engage with over 30 mentors, some of the most influential women in Milwaukee's professional community. Our young ladies, along with four of our FUL mothers, interacted with the leaders of several different industries: marketing, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, education, healthcare, and media.
With events like this, FUL strives to expose young scholars to a vast network outside of the classroom, where they can explore a multitude of opportunities of interest to them.
Take a bow scholars! This is one of many moments of greatness that awaits you!
2022 Summertime Programming at FUL
Summer programming is essential for FUL, as it provides our scholars and our staff the open opportunity to deepen the bonds built through after-school programming. Here is an overview of FUL’s 2022 Summer Programming!
Creating bonds to empower scholars
School may not be in session during the summer, but for Future Urban Leaders summer is a time for us to: focus on providing our scholars with new experiences, build connections with fellow scholars, provide opportunities for them to learn more about themselves, and include fun in all of our activities. Summer programming is essential for FUL, as it provides our scholars and our staff the open opportunity to deepen the bonds built through after-school programming. Here is an overview of FUL’s 2022 Summer Programming!
June 14 - Scholar Showcase Event
Our Scholar Showcase Event is a culmination of FUL’s 2021-22 After-School Programming. Scholars have the opportunity to share what they have been busy learning about/working on throughout the school year’s programming. A few examples of what was shared by scholars;
Entrepreneurs pitched their business enterprises and sold their products to guests
Artists exhibited their individual work, while also debuting the group mural they collaborated on
Engineers showcased their knowledge of machination concepts through the use of Legos
Third graders led the audience in a few mindfulness strategies to clear our minds of outside stresses
Middle schoolers demonstrated for the audience how to center your body, soul, and mind through the practice of yoga
June 17 - FUL Graduation Celebration
FUL’s Graduation Celebration was for our 8th graders transitioning to high school as well as our two high school seniors transitioning to college. At the event, our high school scholars were able to write letters of advice and encouragement to the incoming ninth graders.
June 24-26- Kettle Moraine Camping Trip
Our high school scholars had the opportunity to collectively set up tents, build the campfire and prepare meals. During the weekend, scholars engaged in group discussions about high school, participated in night hikes, and experienced the peace and tranquility the outdoors provide a person's soul.
July 11-15 - HBCU Trip
We were able to take 12 FUL high school scholars on a week-long trip along the East Coast. We toured five historically black colleges and universities and visited a few historical African American sites across states.
Through all of the driving, our group experienced several "firsts", including experiencing Washington D.C.'s many wonders, and immersing ourselves in the Atlantic Ocean. Though we were drained upon our return to Milwaukee, the excitement from the experience with the scholars keeps us looking towards their endless possibilities.
July 20th - Devils Lake Hiking Trip
We were able to take a group of scholars ranging from incoming fourth to seventh graders on a camping trip to Devil’s Lake. The trip was a blast! We spent our weekend hiking, swimming, grilling out, and bonding as a group.
August 6 - Registration Cookout
Our registration cookout is a tradition for FUL to get our staff, scholars, and families together before the start of the new school year. This year we were able to introduce FUL’s new Executive Director, Darnell Hamilton, as well as reconnect with some scholars and their families.
Summer is a special time for Future Urban Leaders. We are very happy we were able to bring back a number of our summer programs this year, as they were canceled due to the COVID pandemic the past few summers. We are more excited than ever to begin a new school year with our scholars and to continue to watch them as they embrace and realize their full potential.
2022 Kettle Moraine Camping Trip
In June, we took 21 FUL high school students to Kettle Moraine State Park.
In June, we took 21 FUL high school students to Kettle Moraine State Park. Our students had the opportunity to set up their own tents, helped build the campfire and prepare meals, engaged in group discussions about high school, went on a few night hikes, and simply enjoyed the peace and tranquility that being outdoors has on a person's soul.
Here are a few photos from the trip.
