Youth and Pre-College Programs at UCC serve approximately 2,000 young students annually. Teens attending more than two dozen area high schools benefit from mentoring, meaningful volunteer service, prevention programming, academic guidance and much more.
With seed funds from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, UCC launched the “Achievers Academy,” a subset of BGCS alumni, in spring 2004 as a bridge for Bruce-Guadalupe Community School (BGCS) alumni between elementary/middle school and college. Recognizing that leadership is an acquired skill, Hispanic and south side Milwaukee youth needed opportunities to learn, develop and practice leadership skills. The UCC Achievers Academy was launched as a means to build Hispanic self-sufficiency by assisting Latino adolescents and youth to develop academic, leadership, and personal enrichment skills while preparing them for high school, higher education and career success.
The number of programs and services available for BGCS alumni has expanded in reach and effectiveness in the years since its inception. UCC currently offers a wide variety of Pre-College Programs and Prevention Programs in the Community Learning Center, which include volunteer opportunities and academic support as well as financial education and social/behavioral encouragement.