Youth ROC honored guests at lunch with Governor

Governor Doyle listens to concerns of Youth ROC students over lunch

Twelve members of Youth ROC represented students from across Wisconsin at the June Milwaukee Unity Lunch with Governor Jim Doyle, several state legislators, members of Milwaukee’s business community, and more than a dozen elected officials from the greater Milwaukee area.

Youth ROC—or Youth Reclaiming Our Communities—is a statewide program for high school students who are committed to access quality education for all students. It includes students from Milwaukee, suburban, and out-state schools who believe the only way to achieve the group’s goal is through reform of Wisconsin’s school-funding system.

The students were invited to be Gov. Doyle’s guests after presenting him with their survey report, “What’s Going Down in Our Schools,” earlier this month. Not only were members of Youth ROC the only people invited to sit at the Gov. Doyle’s table, but they were also the only high school students present at the lunch.

“In a way we felt honored, but the Unity Lunch also showed us that we have to work to involve more young people in city politics,” said Ashley Moore, a recent graduate of Shorewood High School.

The focus of the Youth ROC effort, however, was to push for reform of the state’s school-funding system. At the lunch, students were able to talk about their concerns and about the reform effort.

“We were able to talk directly to the people who have the power to change the way schools are funded. For most of our elected officials, this was the first time they truly understood how budget cuts are affecting students. Now it’s our responsibility to make sure they take leadership on this issue,” said Maggie Formoe, a junior at Milwaukee Rufus King High School.

Montreal Cain, a senior at Bradley Tech High School in Milwaukee, spoke on behalf of Youth ROC.

Montreal Cain, a senior at Bradley Tech High School in Milwaukee, was introduced by the Governor and spoke on behalf of Youth ROC: “We need all of our leaders to put aside their political differences, like we did, and work together to find a long-term solution to the school funding crisis. Never before have students joined together across racial, district, and class lines. We will not go away and our voices will only get stronger.”

Youth ROC members plan on becoming even more active in the school finance debate by organizing in their communities through the use of civil disobedience. “We told the governor that we supported his education proposals in all of the traditional ways, but most members of the Joint Finance Committee chose to ignore us. If a legislator refuses to support public education, we are going to make sure that everyone in our community
knows it. We are only getting stronger, and we are not going to let student’s voices be ignored again,” said Christina Johnson, of Milwaukee’s Rufus King High School.

For more information about how to join Youth ROC contact Jennifer Epps at 414-384-9094.

Learn more about Youth ROC or request a school funding presentation

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