Associated Bank and Boys and Girls Clubs of Milwaukee pilot AI and financial literacy program for middle schoolers
Launching this summer, the six-week AI Academy pilot will introduce middle school students to artificial intelligence, money management, and entrepreneurship.
Associated Banc-Corp has announced the launch of AI Academy, a six-week educational pilot focused on artificial intelligence and financial literacy. The initiative will be delivered in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Milky Way Tech Hub, beginning July 7 with an initial cohort of 15 to 20 students in grades six through eight.
Curriculum combines AI tools, entrepreneurship, and incentives
Students will participate in weekly sessions exploring AI concepts, prompt engineering using platforms like ChatGPT, and fundamentals of data science. Financial literacy and entrepreneurship modules will be included throughout, and students will receive “Associated Bank Bucks” as part of an incentive system tied to program participation. The bucks can be exchanged for merchandise and rewards.
Sessions will be led by facilitators from Milky Way Tech Hub, with support from Associated Bank employees. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee will host and manage on-site delivery of the program.
Terry L. Williams, chief information officer at Associated Bank, says: “Supporting innovation in youth education is a core part of Associated Bank's commitment to the community. This program blends financial literacy with emerging technology to give young minds a head start in understanding how artificial intelligence will shape their ongoing education and future—and we're proud to partner with Boys and Girls Club and Milky Way Tech Hub to bring it to Milwaukee.”
Partnership model to be evaluated post-pilot
The AI Academy is intended as a testbed for a broader rollout. Planning for expansion is already underway. Co-branded materials are being developed for promotion, and a celebration will be held at the Associated Bank River Center at the program’s conclusion.
Nadiyah Johnson, founder and CEO of Milky Way Tech Hub, says: “This partnership embodies what Milky Way Tech Hub stands for—equity, education and empowering future innovators. We're thrilled to work alongside Associated Bank to provide young people with tools to build wealth and navigate the future of tech.”
Jeff Snell, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, adds: “Our youth development work at the Boys & Girls Clubs will rise or fall on our ability to innovate. Our offerings must be engaging, fun, relevant, and genuinely life changing. Otherwise, kids vote with their feet, and we lose them. Associated Bank's AI Academy available to our members—the first such AI learning experience as a career pathway for Boys & Girls Clubs members in Wisconsin—is a perfect example, capturing young imaginations, providing a context to aspire, and then equipping them in new ways to be productive, responsible, caring citizens. We are very grateful.”
