New York, NY (August 15, 2006)--
The National Urban Technology Center is pleased to recognize Mr. Stanley Cole, Urban Tech’s chief collaborator in the Midwest, for his success in the deterrence of youth gang membership. For over twelve (12) years, Mr. Cole has served as a Youth Outreach worker in the streets of Milwaukee, and he is one of the most decorated and well trained youth workers in Milwaukee’s history. He has recruited and served over 5,500 youth in low income and gang-ridden neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin. His success in the region has earned his program a place on a short list for expansion into a national initiative championed by First Lady Laura Bush.
As a youth, Stanley endured many of the challenges that our youth face today. His life experiences and Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University have provided him an extensive knowledge base for his work as a consultant, to which he brings invaluable insight into current issues that create successful youth programming.
Mr. Cole has worked extensively with at-risk youth and gang members, because of which experience he has become a nationally sought-after trainer regarding gangs, youth leadership, youth and adult partnerships, coalition building, cognitive intervention, crime fighting, youth entrepreneurship, and Urban Tech software programs. He also gives educational and motivational speeches for personnel involved in youth and drug counseling, as well as for law enforcement and private sector audiences nationwide. He is frequently quoted in major periodicals, such as Madison Capitol Times, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Fox National News, Black Noveau Show and Wisconsin Supreme Court Law Journal. Recently, he was interviewed for a national public service announcement for “Power of Choice”.
In 2001, Mr. Cole was chosen as “Youth Worker of the Year” by the Wisconsin Association of Children and Youth Care Professionals (WACYCP). Mr. Cole created the “Young Milwaukee Leaders,” which received numerous awards for its Community Service Learning and Urban Entrepreneurship projects. While Assistant Director of Milwaukee Violence-Free Zone for the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, Mr. Cole received awards for his youth-driven “V- Free Low Rider Bike Club” at African World Festivals of Greater Milwaukee. In 2002, Mr. Cole received the “V100 Peace Achiever Award” for his work at the Private Industry Council as the coordinator of the “Reach for Peace” youth and adult community mobilization team, which organized Milwaukee’s largest urban clean up for Milwaukee’s Empowerment Zone.
