Bader Philanthropies

Since its founding in 1992, Bader Philanthropies has committed more than $500 million in grants and program related investments in a variety of issue areas that improve the quality of life of people — young and old — living in neighborhoods in Milwaukee, rural Wisconsin and abroad. Bader Philanthropies supports student learning and student well-being at Holmes School through grant funding for mental-wellness initiatives, field trips, and more.

COA Youth & Family Centers

Milwaukee Recreation and COA Youth & Family Centers partner to provide after-school enrichment at the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center at Holmes School. Mission driven, COA Youth & Family Centers nurtures children, supports families, and builds strong and resilient communities — one child, one family, one community at a time. COA’s programs are designed to meet the needs of Amani, Riverwest, and Harambee families through the advancement of three core areas of focus: early education, youth development, and community development.

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center at Holmes School provides K4 through eighth-grade students with a healthy snack or light dinner and supervised, structured academic enrichment opportunities that reinforce what students learn during the school day.

Families & Schools Together (FAST)

The FAST Program is an internationally acclaimed, evidence-based family engagement program that supports child well-being and learning readiness, empowers parents, and builds social capital so children can thrive. It is designed to:

• Strengthen family relationships and increase cohesion
• Engage parents more with the school and enable them to advocate for their children’s education
• Connect families to other families and community resources to reduce isolation and stress.

FAST supports and empowers families, guides school staff, and promotes well-being for students and staff to help create a welcoming environment at O.W. Holmes.

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast provides friendship, adventure, give back opportunities, leadership, new skills, and fun for Girl Scouts in grades K5-12. As a Girl Scout, you can discover what you’re passionate about, take fun trips, and find the space to unapologetically be yourself with a squad ready to cheer you on. Holmes School students in our after-school enrichment program can participate in the new Girl Scout Promise partnership program.

Greater Milwaukee Urban League

For more than a century, the Greater Milwaukee Urban League has stood in the gap, working hard to empower communities and change lives for African Americans living in the greater Milwaukee area. Greater Milwaukee Urban League sponsors tutoring and peer mediation programs for Holmes School students in grades six through eight, including the National Urban League’s Project Ready.

Growing Minds

Growing Minds makes well-being, mental health, and mindfulness concepts relatable and actionable. By focusing on the abilities to pause and ground oneself in the moment, one can create space to savor the good, respond thoughtfully to the challenging, and feel more nourished and content throughout each day. Students in our after-school enrichment program learn to prioritize their social-emotional health using the Growing Minds curriculum.

HeyTutor

HeyTutor works with school districts across the country to serve students with a range of academic backgrounds and socioemotional skills. This collaboration with schools fosters a connection between tutoring lessons and school curriculum that has led to improved outcomes for students. Holmes School partners with HeyTutor to provide as-needed additional, individualized learning support to students in all grades and every subject.

Junior Achievement USA

Junior Achievement USA is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement’s programs in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership

Holmes School is proud to be a member of the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership (MCSP). Through MCSP, our students, families, teachers, staff, neighbors, and partners come together to form a strategy that best meets the needs of our students.

The MCSP is made up of three key partners with the core values of shared leadership, equity, and cultural relevance:

• Milwaukee Public Schools
• Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association
• United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

Milwaukee Public Museum

The mission of the Milwaukee Public Museum is to inspire curiosity, excite minds, and increase desire to preserve and protect the world’s natural and cultural diversity through exhibitions, educational programs, collections, and research. The Milwaukee Public Museum is Holmes School’s key partner organization through the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership.

Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA)

Members of the MTEA are the educators who work directly with the students who attend Milwaukee’s public schools. Collectively they advocate for quality public education in Milwaukee. As advocates for educators, they are advocates for all children. They are here to lead the dialogue, to challenge, to support and work for change — ensuring a better future for their members and the students and families they serve. The MTEA is a lead partner of the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership.

Nefertari African Dance Company

Founded in 1968 at North Division High School, Nefertari African Dance Company teaches dance and drum to students of all ages who perform at venues and events across Milwaukee. Holmes School students can participate in Nefertari dance and drum classes as an after-school activity. School social worker Marilynn Douglass directs the company.

School Community Partnership for Mental Health

Since 2009, the School Community Partnership for Mental Health (SCPMH) has provided intensive, on-site mental wellness programs and mental health services to students and families in Milwaukee Public Schools. The partnership began in just four schools and has expanded to nearly 40 schools, including Holmes School.

Scooter Foundation

With a mission of Making Memories Matter, the foundation is a living remembrance of Scott “Scooter” Schmidt, a victim of gun violence in 2005. Scooter was known in the Water Street community and beyond for his kind heart and generosity toward others. The Scooter Foundation was formed to keep Scooter’s vibrant spirit alive, to raise awareness of the toll gun violence inflicts, and to inspire change among our community’s youth. Located across the street from Holmes School, Scooter’s Garden of Hope welcomes students for moments of reflection and relaxation. They also provides financial support for school field trips.

Sebastian Family Psychology Practice, LLC

As Holmes School’s partner organization through the School Community Partnership for Mental Health, therapists from Sebastian Family Psychology Practice, LLC spend four days per week at Holmes School. Working with teachers, the school social worker, psychologist, counselor, and parent coordinator, Sebastian Family therapists get to know Holmes School students and families. As trusted members of our school community, therapists bring age appropriate, evidence-based wellness workshops and therapies to our students and families.

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

An independently-governed 501(c)3 nonprofit organization connected to a network of more than 1,400 local United Ways through United Way Worldwide, the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County has its own board of directors and focuses its work on local solutions for local problems. The United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County is a lead partner of the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership.

Urban Ecology Center

The Neighborhood Environmental Education Project (NEEP) engages classes through field trips to local green spaces that enrich the classroom curriculum. Urban Ecology Center educators engage students through hands-on activities, indoors and outdoors. Students may learn about local habitats, identifying plants, finding signs of animal life, or building forts with classmates! Rain or shine, snow or wind, every trip has a portion outdoors and is engaging for all students and parent chaperones. Urban Ecology Center has outerwear available to borrow so all participants may explore in any weather. There are three Urban Ecology Center locations; most schools partner with one less than two miles from their school.

UW System Institute for Urban Education

Research on school reform consistently demonstrates that the presence of an effective teacher is an influential factor in the success of a student. The mission of the UW System Institute for Urban Education (IUE) is to prepare highly effective, culturally relevant and culturally responsive teachers who can serve the needs of culturally diverse youth in PK-12 schools and their surrounding communities. Education majors and researchers from UW System schools participate in field studies at Holmes School, from observing our experienced educators at work in classrooms to providing small-group instruction to Holmes students under the supervision of a certified educator from our school.

Verizon Innovative Learning

The Verizon Innovative Learning program is helping millions of students thrive with access to tech, tools and free skills training. Locally, Verizon Innovative Learning partners with twelve Milwaukee Public Schools to promote digital inclusion and help prepare students for today’s digital economy. With the goal to fundamentally change the way teachers teach and students learn, Verizon Innovative Learning is giving students hands-on experiences with emerging technologies. The Verizon Innovative Learning Lab at Holmes School gives our students and teachers access to emerging technology such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), 3D printing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Effective fall 2024, Holmes School is an alumni member of the Verizon Innovative Learning network.

We Energies

We Energies provides affordable, reliable and clean energy to more than 2.2 million customers in Wisconsin, and supports initiatives for community and neighborhood development, health and human services, arts and culture, education and environment. We Energies sponsors the Project Lead The Way engineering laboratory and curriculum at Holmes School.

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Wisconsin Lutheran College is an independent, residential, nationally ranked Christian college in Milwaukee that serves nearly 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students through its on-campus and online programming. Education majors from Wisconsin Lutheran College participate in field studies at Holmes School, from observing our experienced educators at work in classrooms to providing small-group instruction to Holmes students under the supervision of a certified educator from our school.

Wisconsin Reading Corps

In order to help as many students as possible, Reading Corps is designed to support America’s schools. In 2017, Reading Corps was recognized by the Library of Congress for best practices in literacy promotion. As an honoree, Reading Corps is just one of four organizations worldwide to be recognized in reading instruction and tutoring! Wisconsin Reading Corps tutors work one-on-one with Holmes School students who need extra help with reading; conduct tutoring sessions that are 20 minutes long, so each student is tutored 100 minutes per week; and track student progress and regularly meet with coaches to assess data and work toward learning targets.