The Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators’ (MMABSE) Community Agency of the Year Service Award is presented annually to a community organization for outstanding contributions in the area of service. The award honors an organization that has demonstrated a major commitment to addressing community needs through time, actions, talents, and dedication. The commitment is demonstrated through the development of exceptional programs that support youth and their families.
The STARBASE Wisconsin Academy received MMABSE’s 2017 Community Agency of the Year Service Award on Saturday, November 18th at a special ceremony. They were nominated by Marvin E. Pratt Elementary School based on their commitment to students and the following accomplishments:
- Annually, their 3 person staff partners with 35 Milwaukee Public Schools to provide a 25 hour, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math experience for students of which 63% of the student population are youth of African descent.
- STARBASE WI supports families by developing afterschool programs and teaches at outreach programs during out-of-school hours that youth attend with their parents or siblings like the Boy Scout of America’s STEM Merit Badge Sessions and 128th Air Refueling Wing’s military family day called the Wingman Day.
- STARBASE began a STARBASE 2.0 Aviators Club at Congress Year Round Elementary School with 10 middle school youth. The program is designed to immerse youth in the world of aviation through 30 hours of instruction by providing an abbreviated Private Pilot Ground School with Flight Performance Training using Flight Simulators.
- A non-profit entity for STARBASE Wisconsin was established in part to financially support the Aviators Club’s enrichment field trips and ease any financial obligation incurred by their families. The financial support will allow Aviators to attend a future overnight experience at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Airventure Museum in Oshkosh and other EAA events.
