More than 10 years ago, two very motivated women, Vanessa Kirsch and Katrina Brown, were determined to prove that despite stereotypes, their generation was not a gaggle of lazy "slackers." In 1992, Kirsch and Brown created Public Allies and made their point, loud and clear.

The mission of Public Allies, according to their Web site (www.publicallies.org), is to "advance the skills, networks and experience of diverse young leaders as they strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation."

Inspired young leaders are selected for full-time, paid apprenticeships in community organizations, team service projects, and weekly leadership training.

As Public Allies, young people learn how to envision change, take action, build diverse relationships, increase self-knowledge, work as a team, take responsibility and commit to lifelong learning. All Public Allies are AmeriCorps Members, entitling them to health care, childcare and a $4,725 education award.

In the Milwaukee program, there are currently 23 Allies and one leader. The Allies work four days of the week at a non-profit organization and one day a week they rally as a group for educational training and to work on a team service project. The Public Allies program has a partnership with 20 local organizations, including MPS, Impact and Milwaukee Public Theater.

"Through our partnerships, non-profit organizations experience increased and improved services, which in turn provide for members of our community," says Kate O'Keefe, Executive Director of the Milwaukee program. "We also develop teacher leaders in the community who will, upon graduation, continue to serve the community through non-profit work."

Recruitment for Public Allies begins in February and interviews are conducted over the summer. Once an applicant is accepted into the program, he or she begins serving their 10-month assignment in September. Graduation is held at the end of June.

Public Allies started its first program in Washington DC in September 1992, and the next year, the program was launched in Chicago. In 1994, young adults started chapters in Milwaukee, Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington, Delaware, and by 1999, programs existed in San Jose/Silicon Valley, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, New York City and Taos. By 2006, Public Allies plans to have programs in 20 cities.

1992, President Bush's Commission on National and Community Service named Public Allies a model program for getting young people involved in service. The Commission later provided funding for the Chicago program. President Clinton also identified Public Allies as a model for national service during his 1992 campaign.

To date, more than 1,000 young adults have participated in the program -- 70% of the participants are people of color. They have served in more than 400 nonprofit organizations across the country, helped more than 300,000 people, and recruited more than 30,000 volunteers.

Public Allies Milwaukee is located at 1737 N. Palmer St., Milwaukee, WI 53212. For more information about the program, call (414) 264-5616 or email

Milwaukee@publicallies.org.