City of Milwaukee (Milwaukee Public Library)

The Milwaukee Public Library in Wisconsin will implement a program to provide youth with increased communication and conflict resolution skills. The library will hire a full-time Circle Keeping consultant to lead biweekly youth programs at all of its locations, giving special focus to programming at three branches located in under resourced neighborhoods. The Circle Keeping practice develops community and builds relationships to create trust and help people work together, and the consultant also will facilitate the training of library staff in this practice. The program will address behavioral issues caused by the stress of the pandemic and help the library restore a sense of community in an increasingly disconnected world.