Black and Latino Male Achievement (BLMA)

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) supports Black and Latino male students through specific programming for students of all ages, such as our elementary BLMA Buddies program and our high school mentorship program. 

All Black and Latino Male Achievement (BLMA) programming is based upon these 12 Guiding Principles:

BLMA Buddies (Grades 4 and 5)

Black and Latino students in grades four and five can become leaders in their schools and communities through the BLMA Buddies program.

Manhood Development Academy

As a school district, we owe it to our young men to provide an environment where they can explore, validate, and affirm their identity. A positive racial/ethnic identity is an important factor for resilience; current literature suggests that when students of color internalize a sense of pride about their racial/ethnic identity, they will be more likely to:

• Feel connected to school
• Experience positive mental health
• Have positive relationships in life
• Overcome stereotype threat
• Succeed academically

To promote positive racial/ethnic identity for our students, the BLMA Manhood Development Academy is an elective course currently offered in four MPS schools. The course uses culturally relevant materials and texts and incorporates the 12 Guiding Principles for our young men to live by. It is intended to foster leadership and help improve schools’ overall culture and climate. 

Mentorship (Grades 9–12)

According to Bernadette Sanchez, PhD in Community Prevention Research, both formal and informal mentoring for Black and Latino boys can:

• Promote racial identity and lessen the negative effects of racial discrimination
• Provide a range of benefits, including academic achievement, social-emotional well-being, mental health, and the prevention of risky behaviors

We partner with Mentor Greater Milwaukee (MGM) and selected school personnel to bring Black and Latino male community mentors into high schools every month. These mentors have real, honest conversations with youth, including talking about their goals and how they can apply the 12 Guiding Principles in their lives. A typical hour-long session includes:

• An opening self-care activity that incorporates mindfulness and journaling
• Discussion questions where mentors and mentees engage in a combination of informal and formal dialogue
• Catered lunch (if applicable)

Are you interested in joining us as a mentor? We are always looking for Black and Latino males to participate in our monthly sessions.

Register to Be a Mentor

Ambassador Opportunity

Mentees who are interested in leadership can become Ambassadors who engage, organize, and advance the voice of their peers. Ambassadors inform the decisions made by MPS administration regarding Black and Latino students at their schools, and they also guide the strategy and provide support for ongoing and/or future BLMA initiatives. Students gain experience in the following areas:

• School Culture and Climate: Student Council/advisory boards, near-peer mentoring, school events, cultural celebrations
• Arts and Communication: Video/music production, drawing/painting, social media, poetry/spoken word
• Activism and Social Justice: Community outreach, student organizing, volunteering, enhancing awareness in schools and community
• Post-Secondary Success: Pre-college programs, FAFSA, scholarships, entrepreneurship, military pathways
• Literary Societies: "Shaking up" the English curriculum in schools, social justice book fairs, BLMA newsletter, pathways to publication