Experience Our Impact

Thousands of Milwaukee young people have launched their bright futures at Seeds Schools over the past 40 years. Learn about a few of our recent graduates and the impact Seeds had on their journey.

When Gio Gutierrez-Diaz was a child at Seeds of Health, he was already surrounded by the small-school model that defines our mission. But for Gio, Seeds is more than a school -- it's a family legacy. Following in the footsteps of his sister, cousins, and aunt, Gio is the latest in his family to turn a Tenor education and his free year of college at MATC into a life-changing opportunity. 

Today, that foundation has led him to a remarkable milestone: being named a 2026 All-In Milwaukee Scholar.

This fall, Gio heads to Marquette University to study nursing. For Gio, being an alum of Tenor High School means being a leader and a team player, qualities he'll bring to his studies and career.

For John Keene (Class of ‘24), it started with a career assessment during his junior year at Tenor, a Seeds of Health School. That moment sparked a realization that his interests and skills were a perfect match for the world of finance. It wasn't just an assessment; it was the beginning of a plan that changed his future.

Today, John is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has already secured a prestigious internship at RitzHolman. He attended MATC for one year through Tenor’s partnership with the college, enrolling in preliminary Accounting courses and learning the fundamentals of the field. At the same time, he began to draw on the strong work ethic and people skills he had always possessed. 

“The impact Tenor has had on my life is making me realize that it’s always possible to change for the better at any time in your life as long as that’s what you strive to do.” 

John didn’t just learn accounting; with the help of Tenor’s guidance counselors, he learned that it’s always possible to reclaim your future. He credits Tenor with giving him the motivation to take advantage of his unique skills — to walk into career fairs with confidence, shake hands with prospective employers, and articulate his goals with clarity. John is on track to graduate in 2027 with dreams of one day opening his own accounting firm. There are many more like John currently in our classrooms—students with future goals who just need the tools, the certifications, and the guidance to find their path.

At Seeds of Health, we don’t just graduate students; we nurture a family. With your support, our schools become a "home" that students never truly leave. Many, like Diana Lopez and Erin Benson, not only find their footing here – they return to lead, inspire, and give back to the next generation.

Diana and Erin’s journey began as best friends in elementary school on Milwaukee’s south side. Drawn to the nurturing, small school environment of Veritas, a Seeds of Health School, they graduated together in 2017. Today, they've chosen to return, both as alumni and leaders – Diana as an Administrative Assistant at Veritas, and Erin who supports students with unique learning needs while preparing to assume the role of 4th grade teacher at Seeds of Health Elementary this fall.

The mentorship and one-on-one attention they received as students stayed with them. Now, they are the ones providing that stability. This isn’t just a job for Diana and Erin. It’s a heartfelt commitment to the community that shaped their lives.

For Diana, the small school environment is at the heart of what makes Seeds of Health schools so special. "I know every single student in the school, and I feel like I know their families," Diana shared. "I know a lot of their situations, so I feel that much more connected to them." This deep, personal bond has fostered an enduring community where connections last a lifetime.