MKE Tech Hub Coalition and The Commons
Milwaukee
Industry: Technology and education
On the forefront of Milwaukee’s “lost summer” was the cancellation of festivals, shutdown of restaurants and a Democratic National Convention turned virtual.
But what loomed in the background was hundreds of lost opportunities for aspiring professionals tasked with leading the next generation of Milwaukee’s workforce.
Hundreds of Milwaukee-area students lost their internship opportunities that would have provided a bridge from the academic to the professional world.
Realizing that the advancement of students would be stalled without action, Milwaukee-based nonprofit organizations MKE Tech Hub and The Commons spun out an 8-week virtual and paid internship program designed to provide students with in-demand tech skills.
The program provided project-based learning experiences as well as career advancement opportunities that included a networking day with regional employers, a technical conference, peer-to-peer mentoring and an advanced technical cohort.
“We had really positive outcomes and ratings from the students,” said Kathy Henrich, MKE Tech Hub Coalition chief executive officer. “Frankly, neither of our organizations could have done this independently.”