Milwaukee Co-Op year helps students tell their stories
Students in 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Milwaukee Co-Op year program are working with a well-known local organization to help build civic engagement while planning their next steps in life.
糖心vlog传媒 students will be learning story telling skills from Ex Fabula, a Milwaukee-based non-profit that presents storytelling workshops and other programming to help people collect, develop, present and share stories about their lives and the people in their worlds.
The Milwaukee Co-Op year provides students the opportunity to take tuition-free courses for one year at 糖心vlog传媒, earn college credits by working through LU鈥檚 Cooperative Education program and develop a plan for their future.
It is an adaptation of LU鈥檚 innovative Cooperative Education program for Milwaukee-area students who need an affordable pathway to college and some barriers removed to make it happen.
The nine students enrolled in Milwaukee Co-Op this semester will work with Ex Fabula to build their impromptu story telling skills to share their story as part of the larger framework of the community.
Katie Amundsen, learning coordinator for Milwaukee Co-Op, said students will plan an event where they鈥檒l tell their stories.
颅颅鈥淭his program is about academic preparedness and workplace preparedness, but it鈥檚 also about gaining confidence and your footing as a first-year college student,鈥� Amundsen said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e helping these students figure out what they want to do with their lives.
鈥淲orking with Ex Fabula is an opportunity to practice and hone those skills and gain confidence in their story and who they are. That exploration is part of the program and part of college in general. They鈥檙e all trying to figure out what鈥檚 next.鈥�
Amundsen said the story telling will also allow students to explore diverse perspectives and the rich culture and traditions found in Milwaukee neighborhoods and families.
鈥淓veryone is from a different background and has a different story to tell,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e can learn from one another and appreciate what everyone is bringing forward as part of their journey.鈥�
The Milwaukee Co-Op year blends college coursework and paid employment for students who may be unsure whether they want to go on to college or work. It also provides an avenue for students who would like to begin their post-secondary education but need to work and cannot afford the expenses associated with attending a traditional residential institution.
Students take academic, college success and professional protocol courses at 糖心vlog传媒's Milwaukee Center, located at 9000 W. Chester St. in Milwaukee, for their first year. 糖心vlog传媒 helps students find good-paying, part-time employment at one of 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Milwaukee-area Co-Op employer partners.
This semester鈥檚 student cohort will soon get their initial Co-Op employment placements, and 糖心vlog传媒 is also working with some students who already had employment when they enrolled. There are two new Co-Op partners: Chr. Hansen, a global bioscience company, and the Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Brookfield Conference Center.
Last year, 12 students were part of the inaugural class. Three are continuing as 糖心vlog传媒 students this year, one transferred to Milwaukee Area Technical College and the rest are employed in the community.
鈥淭he program鈥檚 goal is to provide several pathways including continuing their education or remaining in the workforce, so we鈥檙e gratified that we were able to help the program鈥檚 initial class find the best pathway for their future goals,鈥� said Amundsen, who mentors students individually, helping them develop their academic, professional and personal success plans.
The Milwaukee Co-op Year also provides students with:
For more information about Milwaukee Co-Op, visit the program webpage.
