LEADERSHIP TRAINING CAN HELP MILWAUKEE'S YOUTH

June 3, 2008 - OnMilwaukee.com

Almost three years ago, Jenifer and Joe Tate (an investor in OnMilwaukee.com) invested in a company called Rapport Leadership International. Rapport, a company devoted to leadership development programs, was an inspiration to Tate and countless others. "I witnessed first-hand the stunning improvements employees can make at their companies after taking our classes and working with more passion, enthusiasm, focus, and purpose," he said.

Presently, Tate is collaborating with a group of leaders to bring Rapport's leadership training for 14 to 18-year-olds to Milwaukee. "It is this area that connects with me personally, with my desire to improve the lives of youth in Milwaukee and to improve the economic future of our city," said Tate. To this end, last week the Tates held two learning sessions at their Milwaukee home. The purpose was to introduce the community and local leaders to a school in Calgary that improved outcomes for youth by adding leadership training for students and educators. Deanna Werklund, director of the Werklund Foundation and the Werklund Group in Calgary and Bridgit Barainca, executive director of educational programs for Rapport, presented at the meetings. .

The Werklund Foundation dubbed its Canadian pilot program E3a to create enthusiastic, engaged, and empowered students, teachers, and administrators. In addition to financing the classes, the foundation had the University of Calgary conduct an independent study of the impact of the training. The results were remarkable. Students who had participated in the Teen Leadership Breakthrough program from Rapport had improved performance in the areas of emotional intelligence and self-concept. The study showed that when coupled with traditional education, leadership training for teens works and helps them excel.

Next year four or five schools in Canada will send more than 850 teens and educators through Teen Leadership Breakthrough. Now, the Tates and others want to send Milwaukee-area teens through this innovative leadership program. A report by the Werklund Foundation states, "Over the past decade educators have increasingly acknowledged that academic skill development is best fostered in optimal learning environments that encourage the development of youths' social skills." Rapport believes that an emphasis on self-concept, resiliency, and emotional intelligence is essential.

Already, Rapport Teen Leadership Breakthrough has worked at Pearls for Teen Girls in Milwaukee and St. Joan Antida, an all-girl high school in Milwaukee. The Tates hope to send even more students through this program and are actively seeking educational relationships and donations to help create a brighter future for Milwaukee area’s youth.