Growth Opportunities (GO MKE)

Growth Opportunities (GO MKE) provides services to youth and young adults aged 15-18 who are at a high risk of involvement in violence. This includes:

• Current or previously justice-involved individuals
• Individuals who dropped out of high school before completion without prior involvement in the juvenile justice system
• Individuals referred from a juvenile justice system or mandatory violence prevention partner with no prior involvement in the juvenile justice system

The skills, support, and opportunities will work to build long-term career success while developing strategies that promote safety and well-being within the community. Participants will identify career interests, learn relevant skills, gain work experience, and gain income to start down the path of earning living wages and getting high quality jobs.

The program also offers:

• Occupational education and training in in-demand industries, like construction, technology, and public service
• Leadership development
• Mentorship
• Post-work experience placement into unsubsidized employment and/or education
• Supportive services 
• Development of conflict resolution skills and strategies to prevent and avoid violence

Apply here

GO MKE serves residents of the following zip codes: 

Employ Milwaukee is determined to break down the barriers and change the culture for justice involved individuals, their families, and the community. Employ Milwaukee uses collaborative and evidence-based strategies that promote a greater likelihood of success after release and provides effective interventions to enhance public safety, increase employment, and reduce recidivism. Employ Milwaukee is intentionally at the forefront of workforce development for re-entry - offering thought leadership and leading on collaboration, innovation and diversified funding strategies to ensure effective cross-system intersections to cultivate wholistic systematic improvement.  

Growth Opportunities Grant program is supported by the U.S Department of Labor. A total of $2,000,000 or 88% of the program is financed with federal funds.