
Police & Youth Program
Program Overview
The Zeidler Center's Police and Youth program (MPYP) is a pilot program that is starting in 2018 in both Milwaukee and Madison that involves beat officers and youth from 13 to 24 years of age! The goal of this new program is to strengthen youth and police relations, as well as to foster trust between beat officers and youth residents in different neighborhoods of Milwaukee and Madison. Read below to learn about the program's 3 components and sign-up to participate!
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Our partners in Milwaukee include the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Police Department, NAFI, and other local partners. Partners in Madison include the Center for Community Stewardship (C4CS), the Madison Police Department, the Northside Planning Council, and other local partners.
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We deeply appreciate the program's funders: Ron & Micky Sadoff, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the City of Madison through their Safe and Thriving Grant, the Madison Community Foundation through the John A. Johnson Fund, a field of interest endowment fund, and other anonymous funders.
Program Components
Youth & Police Initiative
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These week-long workshops provide the opportunity for youth and officers to get together and exchange individual stories, as well as exploring ways to improve youth and police relations in various areas of Milwaukee.
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The participating youth will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the work of officers in their neighborhood, to learn more about the officers patrolling their neighborhood, as well as to gain new tools in goal settings, leadership and decision making.
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Each youth who completes the workshop will have the opportunity to attend a graduation celebration (diploma and $80 stipend presented to each youth), and to potentially continue working closely with the Zeidler Center on other programs.
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Participants should be between 13 and 18 years old, and have a written authorization to participate in the workshop from parents or legal guardian.
The workshop schedule does not conflict with school attendance.

Youth Facilitator Training
The Zeidler Center’s Youth Facilitator Training is a program that combines:
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1. Training – a day-long intensive youth training program to gain skills in the art of leading group conversations
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2. Mentoring – A mentoring program during which each youth is paired with a facilitator mentor who will support them in developing and using the skills learnt during the training
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3. Practicing – The opportunity to lead group discussions during our Police and Youth Listening Circles, and receive stipends.
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Full scholarships are limited. The Listening Circles schedule does not conflict with school attendance.
Candidates must be youth ages 13-20 and have exhibited leadership qualities and community engagement.
Each candidate must have a sponsor who will offer a recommendation for their participation.

Police & Youth Listening Circles
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The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion is organizing Police and Youth Listening Circles across Milwaukee and the Northside of Madison.
These Listening Circles start with a shared meal and ice breaker activities, following by small circle discussions that include both officers and youth residents.
During each event, officer and youth participants have the opportunity to meet, get to know each other on an individual basis, and share experiences and ideas about how to better interact and improve their relationship.
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Come share your experience and ideas about your community and get to know officers.
Participants should be between 13 to 24 years old.
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The Listening Circles schedule does not conflict with school attendance.
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This program generously funded by:
Ron & Micky Sadoff




Partners for this program include:









