The Common Ground Health Care Team of 30 members has been studying the healthcare system in southeastern Wisconsin for the past 18 months. The committee members have conducted over 100 research actions in order to understand how the healthcare system does and does not work.  With approval of the Delegates’ Assembly, the team has worked to develop a Health Insurance Cooperative.  This cooperative will be a member-owned, non-profit business, which will provide health insurance for small businesses, non-profits, the self-employed and unions.  The cooperative is not the answer to health care reform in America, but it is a piece of health care reform. The largest portion of the 47 million uninsured Americans work for small businesses. We call this effort “Health Care Reform – Midwest Style.”

At Common Ground we believe that improving job opportunities for Milwaukee youth will improve the economic and social well-being in our four-county area.  The City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn Summer Job Program addresses that goal by providing opportunities for qualified high school students to gain valuable workplace experience.  The program lays the foundation for a trained workforce, provides job readiness skills, offers real work experiences and a variety of career possibilities, and allows experienced employees to participate in positive change in their community.

Last year Common Ground successfully lobbied the City to increase the number of summer youth jobs from approximately 1,300 in 2008 to a record 3,000 in the summer of 2009.  We successfully campaigned for the City to provide $250,000 in flexible funding to the program. Working with the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), the Milwaukee Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB), and the City to increase private business participation in the project by establishing a goal of 1,000 private sector jobs in 2010, we are creating momentum for the development of a future workforce.

Fox 6 News was in attendance at our August 31st Sherman Park Public Action. Watch the video by clicking here.

On June 12 INVESTORS.com had an article regarding the difficulties of creating a Health Care Co-op – article.

The Youth Jobs Issue Campaign and The City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn Partnership

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At Common Ground we believe that improving job opportunities for Milwaukee youth will improve the economic and social well-being of the area.  Given the current crisis it is even more critical that opportunities are provided to our youth so they may participate in the economic recovery.  On behalf of Milwaukee youth, Common Ground is asking Milwaukee area businesses and foundations to participate in this program by providing jobs and/or by making grants to assure that Earn and Learn has adequate resources.

Provide a Job and Transform a Life

The City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn Summer Job Program provides opportunities for qualified high school students to gain valuable workplace experience, and puts a few dollars in some empty pockets.  By breaking the cycle of joblessness and exposing young adults to the culture of work, Earn & Learn:

- Lays the foundation for a trained workforce
- Provides job readiness skills
- Offers real work experiences and a variety of career possibilities
- Allows experienced employees to participate in positive change in their community

The Greater Milwaukee Committee and Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground, a broad-based citizen organization, have supported the expansion of the Earn & Learn program and are now helping to recruit businesses and area foundations involvement.  The goal of this effort is to increase the number of summer jobs from about 1300 last summer to 3000 in the summer of 2009.

Earn & Learn Program Information

Earn & Learn is a collaborative partnership of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB), the City of Milwaukee, businesses, and community based organizations.  Its mission is to assist young people from Milwaukee to make a successful transition from adolescence to productive adulthood.  The MAWIB staff works with employers to place students in meaningful work and ensures the program’s effectiveness.

All youth participating in private sector Earn and Learn jobs have at least one previous job experience and receive job readiness training prior to starting the job.  MAWIB staff provides support and service for the employer throughout the duration of the youth’s employment.  At the end of their job, students go through an evaluation that determines what they have learned and what they need to do to improve their work perfomance.

Participating employers are asked to provide summer jobs which:

- Provide student workers with a written job description
- Provide at least 20 hours of work per week for a minimum of seven weeks
- Pay at least minimum wage
- Are located in the Milwaukee County area for youth accessibility to the job location

After positions are posted MAWIB staff will assess the request, prescreen applicants and then recommend one or more youth that meet employer requirements to fill the position.

More Information on the Earn & Learn Program

City offers Options for Jobless Teens – December 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/business/36770639.html

Editorial:  Work for Kids – The Milwaukee Common Council should boost funding for the Summer Jobs Initiative to provide more opportunities for youth. – November 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/34054794.html

Hope in the Lives of Young People:  1500 gain experience through Earn and Learn – July 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/news/29411434.html

Youth to Get a Slice of the Pie:  Palermo Villa a Leader in City’s Summer Jobs Program – April 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/business/29588764.html

Open Letter from Earn & Learn Co-Chairs Mayor Tom Barrett and Giacomo Fallucca, President/CEO of Palermo’s Pizza – March 2008:  http://www.mkedcd.org/earnlearn/pdf/Letter031408.pdf

The mayor talks about the importance of the Youth Jobs program in his February 13th E-Newsletter:  http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/thebarrettreportarchives/Feb.06.09NewsFromTheMayor.htm

Earn & Learn Website at www.earnandlearnmke.com

Contact Information

Interested businesses can attain more information about the program and post a youth job opportunity by contacting:

Bill Malone, Youth Jobs Coordinator, via phone 414.286.5894 Email

Or Common Ground Issue Campaign Leaders:
- Debra Schneider:  414-550-2167 or Email
- Denise Fried:  414-333-0709 or Email

The Common Ground Health Care Reform Team is working on the development of a Health Insurance Cooperative for small businesses, non-profits, unions and the self-employed.  The Cooperative is getting closer to development.  We are hoping for a July 1 start.  The Committee is now approaching the State of Wisconsin for assistance in finding one time “seed money” to aid in the development of the Cooperative.  May 6th is our next date for visits with State legislators.

Common Ground Health Care Reform Committee is engaged in two potential campaigns to make health insurance more accessible for those who are self employed or work for small businesses or non-profit organizations.  In late January and early February CG will be conducting Information/Listening Sessions throughout the region (see Calendar of Events page.)  If you are interested in participating in the Wisconsin Health Care Cooperative please fill out the intention form and Email

The Milwaukee Common Council should boost funding to the Summer Jobs Initiative to provide more opportunities for youth.

Two years after Habitat for Humanity encountered a stumbling block trying to build affordable housing for low to moderate-income families in Grafton, the organization is trying again.

Thursday morning, October 30, the Finance & Personnel Committee of the City of Milwaukee Common Council approved an increase of $250,000 for the Summer Youth Jobs Program next year.   The Council will spend the money if it is matched by the private sector or other money.  City panel backs reversing cuts in proposed budget  (scroll down page to find article.)

This Friday, November 7, the full Common Council will rule on the budget.  Please let us know if you would be willing to contact your Alderperson to support this.