In 2021, Milwaukee County's youth justice agency noticed something remarkable: with fewer young people being sent to the state’s youth correctional facilities, it now had a $200,000 budget surplus to show for it. Instead of quietly absorbing the funds, county leaders asked a bolder question — what if we invested this money back into the communities where these young people live?

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That question sparked the Zero Youth Corrections (ZYC) Initiative, a first-of-its-kind public-private collaborative between Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee Turners, and the Public Welfare Foundation. Our newest case study in the From Punishment to Possibility series traces how a modest surplus grew into a movement, and what other jurisdictions can learn from it.

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In this report, you’ll see how Milwaukee County and its partners:

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• Invested $1.2 million in grassroots community organizations; 

• Awarded six community grants awarded across three rounds; and 

• Launched a new steering committee to give the community influence over policy and how resources are invested.​

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About the series

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From Punishment to Possibility is a storytelling series by Catalyze Justice documenting real examples of youth justice transformation in communities nationwide — to elevate solutions, demystify how change is made, and show the way to a positive future for youth. Catalyze Justice partners with government and community leaders to replace youth incarceration with community-centered approaches that keep young people safe, supported, and thriving at home.

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