BLMA Buddies

Program Overview

The Department of Black and Latino Male Achievement for Milwaukee Public Schools is excited to provide 4th and 5th grade Black and Latino young men an opportunity to become leaders in their schools and communities. The program is designed to work with 4th/5th grade male students of color to promote Black and Latino male mentorship and leadership through the use of six of our twelve guiding principles:

• Brotherhood: emphasizing the “village” concept, where Milwaukee’s Black and Latino men nobly, strategically, and collectively triumph over structural racism through mentorship and alliance

• Community: celebrating Black and Latino traditions of cooperation, justice, protection, and support; publicly recognizing achievements in service and responsibility

• Love: forging mutually healthy relationships, including relationships with women, individuals who are gender nonconforming, and people who identify as LGBTQ, while embracing conflict resolution and bias reduction

• Academic Success: learning and co-constructing knowledge, with high expectations, from a culturally responsive mindset that fosters a strong, mutual desire for educational achievement and excellence

• Cultural Dignity: validating our humanity while promoting self-esteem and identity, including linguistic awareness and pride

• Self-Care: promoting physical health, emotional awareness and management, mindfulness, and restorative practices

Celebrating Buddies at our BLMA Partner Elementary Schools

Current BLMA Buddies Partner Schools

• Auer Avenue Elementary
• Ben Franklin School
• Browning Elementary
• Congress School
• Forest Home Avenue Elementary
• Grantosa Drive Elementary
• Gwen T. Jackson Elementary
• H.W. Longfellow Elementary
• Hopkins Lloyd Community School
• Jeremiah Curtin Leadership Academy
• Lloyd Barbee Montessori School
• Maple Tree Elementary
• Marvin Pratt Elementary
• Milwaukee French Immersion School
• Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School
• Morgandale Elementary
• Neeskara School
• Riverwest Elementary