“The First Summer of the Rest of Your Life”: An Introduction

There are a couple different ways to think about Summer in Milwaukee.  As the celebratory City of Festivals … and as a city, like so many other American cities, that spends the Summer months dealing with an increase in violent crime and the consequences of high school drop-out rates and lack of employment opportunities, like teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and high incarceration rates.

This dichotomy is felt perhaps most acutely by at-risk Milwaukee youth.

This summer, we wanted to spend time with some members of this group, and learn how they navigate this tricky time in their life.  We chose six Milwaukee teens, once considered at-risk, all of them now 2009 high school grads with college plans in the Fall.  Each was nominated for participation in the series by a Milwaukee organization that works with at-risk Milwaukee youth.

Our profiles will be told in three parts, as we check in with them throughout the summer.  In June, an introduction; in July, a look at how and where they’re spending the long summer days; and in August, as they prepare for the next stage in their life.

Below, our Summer 2009 “First Summer of the Rest of Your Life” subjects, their high school, and the organization that nominated them:

Laquita Grinnage | Hamilton High School | Boys & Girls Club “Sista Pride”

Terry Anzueto | Riverside High School | YMCA’s Sponsor-A-Scholar [volunteer!]

La’Tavia Patterson | Milwaukee Academy of Science | PEARLS for Teen Girls [volunteer!]

Calvin Washington | West Division High School | SDC Youth & Family Services [volunteer!]

Shaqueda Jenkins | St. Joan Antida High School | PEARLS for Teen Girls [volunteer!]

Sylvester Stewart | Custer High School | Running Rebels/Violence Free Zone Milwaukee