The Social Development Commission created the Youth Empowerment Summit as an opportunity to teach our youth that they are the future and have the power to overcome the challenges they face. The point of this summit is to equip youth with the tools to break the cycles of poverty and trauma in their communities, and to walk away as empowered leaders and change-makers for their generation. The 2023 Youth Empowerment Summit hosted a number of very dynamic keynote speakers including: Kwabena Nixon, Tarsha Wiggins, Ajamou Butler, and Sunne Perry. Also present was the inspirational poet Narrator. Kids and adults were able to attend various educational workshops as part of our community engagement series.

The Social Development Commission regrets to inform our community that we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Youth Empowerment Summit until 2025 due to unforeseen financial constraints. The decision to postpone the Youth Empowerment Summit was not taken lightly, and we understand the disappointment and frustration this may cause. Please know that this decision was made after careful consideration of all available options, and we believe it is the most responsible course of action given the circumstances.

We are committed to our mission of empowering Milwaukee County residents with the resources to move beyond poverty in addition to encouraging the youth of our community to recognize their own empowerment. Please stay tuned for more information as we release dates for 2025.