Youth Workforce Development
Investing in Young People Early
Common Wealth Development has been working with Madison and Dane County youth since 1991, serving over 9,000 youth since that time through a spectrum of tailored experiential learning opportunities, collaborative partnerships, and workforce readiness programs. Through programs such as the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program, the Youth Advisory Board, and the Youth Business Mentorship Program, we help young people build work skills, civic understanding, and confidence through structured experiential learning.
Youth Business Mentoring Program (YBMP)
As the foundation of Common Wealth’s continuum of youth-serving programs, YBMP supports teens with their pre-employment skill development, applied-learning opportunities, mentorship, and a supportive job placement. YBMP is a two-week training hosted at the four comprehensive high schools in Madison (East, West, LaFollette, and Vel Phillips Memorial High schools) once each fall and spring semesters. Following the two-week training, students earn a stipend of $100 for investing their time in their development, connect with a staff mentor, and outline their immediate and long-term employment goals.
Financial Literacy Workshops
In addition to our Youth-Business Mentoring Program, we hold Employment and Financial Literacy Workshops at schools and other community agencies. These workshops can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of a unique group and adapted to a timeline that supports youth’s schedules. Recent workshops have included topics such as resume development, financial literacy education, and post-secondary pathway planning. Each workshop varies based on scheduling needs but often includes hour-long sessions across three to eight weeks.
Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program (WFYIP)
Initiated by Mayor Paul Soglin, this program aims to expose Madison youth, particularly BIPOC youth, to employment opportunities with the City of Madison and to City of Madison processes. The program has evolved since its inception into a premier experiential learning opportunity, providing youth access to real-time projects and activities while also providing paid structured internship opportunities, replete with a rigorous professional development curriculum.
The Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program impacted me in many wonderful ways. I was able to make amazing connections with many other interns along with the wonderful staff at Common Wealth. I was able to develop many workplace soft skills since the program was my first employment opportunity. The positive environment at the Central Library influenced me to work as a library shelver at the Fitchburg Public Library during my senior year of high school.
- Shreepriya, Past Wanda Fullmore Participant
