MILWAUKEE_ Residents of Sherman Park and nearby neighborhoods have a new place
to meet and enjoy being outdoors, thanks to a group of Milwaukee Public Schools
students working with local universities and neighborhood organizations.
Students in the NAF Future Ready Scholars summer camp helped design and build a new
community gathering spot at 55th and Center streets. It will be dedicated Friday, June 16,
with a welcoming reception beginning at 2:30 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting and award
presentation at 3 p.m.

NAF Future Ready Scholars is a two-week summer camp, now in its second year at
UWM, which gives high school juniors and seniors the chance to learn STEM (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics) skills while learning how architecture and
engineering are used in real-life projects.
With the help of university, community and business mentors, students in the summer
camp are collaborating with community members to turn a vacant lot next to a post office

into a gathering place by making a structure for benches and adding planters, signs and a
Little Free Library. The students also designed a site plan to help the community work
toward its goal of making the empty lot into a place where neighbors can meet, relax and
enjoy being outdoors.
The summer camp program included partners from UWM’s School of Architecture &
Urban Planning, UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science, Milwaukee Public
Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College,NAF, Sherman Park Community Association,
and Sherman Park ECO.

MPS, UWM and MATC collaborate through the M3 (pronounced M-cubed) initiative. NAF
is a national network of education, business and community leaders that transforms the
high school experience to prepare students for college, career and future success.
In addition to the hands-on construction experience under the guidance of faculty, staff
and mentors, students participated in college and career readiness sessions. The 20
students spent a night in a UWM residence hall to get a glimpse of college life.
Additional support and mentorship for the project was provided by Milwaukee Tool,
Gilbane, Eppstein Uhen Architects, Women in Design Students and the American Institute
of Architecture Students (AIAS).
Students in the camp last summer built structures at a community garden in Milwaukee’s Metcalfe Neighborhood.