MILWAUKEE -- A collaborative program with Milwauke Public Schools, MATC, and UW-Milwaukee help students learn how to grow fruits and vegetables, as well as learn about finance.
It is called Learn-Earn-Grow MKE, and gets kids engaged in food production.
Learn-Earn-Grow MKE was founded in 2017 as an M3 partnership including MPS, MATC, UWM, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Cream City Conservation Corps. There are more than a dozen additional partners and advisors from across Milwaukee's urban agriculture network. It was funded by a UWM Social Compact Grant.
Crew members Lynette Wheeler and Kayla Thomas joined us on live at Daybreak Sunday to share how they learned how to grow produce at three micro-farms located at Vincent High School, Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club in Sherman Park, and UWM Sandburg gardens. They then sell the produce to UWM Restaurant Operations, MATC Culinary program, and now Roots For The Home Team at Miller Park.
Bonnie Halvorson with UWM shared with us on TODAY'S TMJ4 how the students love knowing that college students are eating what they grow. Now, they meet Brewer fans face-to-face, which has a profound effect on them.
During the program they make multiple visits to UWM and MATC to get familiar and comfortable on college campuses. They also make service learning visits to various leaders in Milwaukee's urban agriculture network.
The program provides training in interviewing skills, workplace etiquette, financial literacy, food system literacy, conflict resolution, and much more!
