Wisconsin Union Directorate Holding Rise Up Week

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Wisconsin Union
Phone: (608) 262-8862
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu

WISCONSIN UNION DIRECTORATE HOLDING RISE UP WEEK

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) will hold education opportunities on many issues, such as racial justice, during WUD’s first-ever Rise Up Week Oct. 26-30, including some events in collaboration with campus partners.

WUD invites Rise Up Week participants to add their voices to the events and activities and encourages attendees to use their voices and to take action.

Rise Up Week will include a variety of events, including a lecture by a political science expert, a film showing, a photography exhibition, and more.

The full lineup is as follows:

• Oct. 26, 6 p.m., online: premiere of cooking demonstration and discussion on history behind election cakes, presented by the WUD Cuisine Committee
• Oct. 26, 7-8 p.m., online: lecture called “The Power of the Next President” by Vanderbilt University Associate Professor of Political Science Sharece Thrower, presented by WUD, the American Civil Liberties Union Student Alliance, Associated Students of Madison, and the BIPOC Coalition
• Oct. 26-30, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Gallery 1308 at Union South: “We Still Here” protest photography exhibition by Kenechi Unachukwu, presented by the WUD Art Committee
• Oct. 26-27, noon-6 p.m., Wheelhouse Studios at Memorial Union: therapeutic collaging, presented by the WUD Art and Alternative Breaks Committees
• Oct. 26, on-demand, online: streaming premiere of lecture by LaTosha Brown on voter suppression in the 21st century (available to UW-Madison students, staff and faculty only), presented by the WUD Distinguished Lecture Series Committee
• Oct. 26-30, online: Rise Up Week drawing to win a Terrace chair, presented by WUD
• Oct. 26-30, on-demand, online: showing of the film “Resisterhood,” presented by the WUD Film Committee with support from The James
• Oct. 27, on-demand, online: launch of PUBCAST, with an episode addressing the history and issues of voter suppression with student leaders and BIPOC Coalition, presented by the WUD Publications Committee
• Oct. 28 beginning at 4 p.m.-Oct. 29 at 4 p.m., on-demand, online: showing of the film “The Fight,” presented by the WUD Film Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union Student Alliance
• Oct. 28, 6-7 p.m., online: Rise Up with Dr. Lori Lopez: “The Intersection Of Media & Modern Day Social Justice Movements,” presented by the WUD Global Connections Committee
• Oct. 28, on-demand, online: streaming premiere of lecture called, “How to Heal the Nation with Dr. Celine Gounder” (available to UW-Madison students, staff and faculty only), presented by the WUD Distinguished Lecture Series Committee
• Oct. 29, 6-7 p.m., online: discussions on “The Fight” with American Civil Liberties Union Student Alliance at UW-Madison and on rights, presented by the WUD Film Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union Student Alliance
• Oct. 30, 7-9 p.m., online: Rock the Vote concert featuring Disq and Alexander Kain, presented by the WUD Society and Politics, Performing Arts, and Music Committees
• Oct. 30, 2-3 p.m. at Library Mall and 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Dejope lawn: “Rise Up for Environmental Justice,” presented by the Wisconsin Hoofers
• Oct. 30, 4-5 p.m., online: Voter Q&A With Madison Deputy City Clerk Jim Verbick, presented by the WUD Publications Committee
• Oct. 30, on-demand, online: streaming premiere of discussion on sexual and domestic violence survivors’ rights with Amanda Nguyen and Beverly Gooden (available to UW-Madison students, staff and faculty only), presented by the WUD Distinguished Lecture Series Committee

“With the most consequential election of our generation around the corner, WUD decided to focus efforts on covering a wide range of topics, including the pandemic as well as racial and social justice,” Wisconsin Union Vice President of External Relations Pradyumna Rao said. “Rise Up Week will serve as a springboard for many of our education efforts that WUD will continue the rest of the year.”

WUD includes 11 student-run committees and six Wisconsin Hoofers clubs that plan, organize and host a wide variety of programs and events.

For more information about Rise Up Week, visit union.wisc.edu/riseup.

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About the Wisconsin Union Directorate
The Wisconsin Union Directorate is the programming and leadership board of the Wisconsin Union. The Directorate’s student leaders plan, promote and implement more than 1,000 events and activities each year. Learn more about how the Wisconsin Union Directorate creates experiences and leads at union.wisc.edu/wud.

UW–Madison encourages students to be civically active and engaged. The university does not endorse candidates or political parties.

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/news/riseup.

Goodman Center sees record demand for Thanksgiving Baskets

Contact:
Amie Hoag, Asst. Dir. of Communications
Goodman Community Center
149 Waubesa Street | Madison, WI 53704
920-737-2445 | amie@goodmancenter.org 

Goodman Center sees record demand for Thanksgiving Baskets
The Center was forced to close registration two days early 

Madison, WI  Nov. 2, 2020 – The Goodman Community Center has closed registration for its Thanksgiving Baskets two days early, due to higher-than-ever demand. GCC plans to provide 4,000 families with all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, and those registration spots have all been filled. 

“This is bittersweet, really. On the one hand, we’re glad so many people knew about the program and see Goodman as a place they can rely on for help,” said Francesca Frisque, GCC Food Pantry Coordinator. “On the other hand, we worry about the people who weren’t able to register because we had to close. This is an exceptionally hard year for so many, and we truly wish we could provide every family who needs it with a full Thanksgiving meal.” 

As it is, the Center will work hard to provide the 4,000 people who registered with a meal, and they’ll need the help of the community to make that happen. “Achieving our goal feels more important this year than any other,” said Frisque. 

The Goodman Center recommends that community members who would like to help by donating food start gathering items now so that by the time donations are open, they will have a bag or two to drop off. Those who are interested can also host a food drive at their work, place of worship, club or neighborhood. A downloadable kit with tips, posters and shopping lists can be found at goodmancenter.org/thanksgiving. 

For those interested in making a financial contribution, the Center has created a virtual fundraiser kit, also available at goodmancenter.org/thanksgiving. Or, individuals can make financial donations at goodmancenter.org/donate. 

“We’ve got a big task in front of us,” said Frisque, “but we’ve seen our community come together to help their neighbors year after year. We’re confident we’ll be able to provide a little comfort to 4,000 Dane County families this Thanksgiving, and we’re so thankful for everyone who has already stepped up and who will step up to help.” 

For anyone who tried to register but could not, the Center will hand out left-over full and partial baskets, as well as turkeys on Tuesday, Nov. 24, starting at 10am. No appointment is necessary, and food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until the Center runs out. 

About the Goodman Community Center 

The Goodman Community Center is the largest community center in Dane County. The center offers many programs to strengthen the lives of preschoolers through teens, meals and social activities for older adults, a food pantry, a gymnasium and fitness center, catering services and community space. For more information about the Center, visit goodmancenter.org. 

Find Goodman Community Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

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Cellist Camille Thomas Will Kick Off Virtual Fall 2020 Concert Series With Performance From Paris, Live Q&A

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 20, 2020

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu 

CELLIST CAMILLE THOMAS WILL KICK OFF VIRTUAL FALL 2020 CONCERT SERIES WITH PERFORMANCE FROM PARIS, LIVE Q&A

Tickets to fall virtual performance by Camille Thomas now available for purchase

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union Theater’s fall virtual Concert Series performances will begin on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. CDT with a performance from Paris by Camille Thomas, featuring music by Claude Debussy, Nadia Boulanger, Maurice Ravel and Frédéric Chopin, and a live Q&A with Thomas and pianist Julien Brocal on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. CDT. 

Thomas, a Franco-Belgian cellist, says she uses her music to bring people together from a range of cultures and backgrounds. Thomas released her second album, called “Voice of Hope,” with the exclusive Deutsche Grammophon this past June.

Thomas studied with Frans Helmerson and Wolfgang-Emmanuel Schmidt at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, Germany, after working with Marcel Bardon and Philippe Muller in Paris and Stephan Forck in Berlin.

Camille plays the Feuermann Stradivarius cello (1730) with a bow by Eugène Sartory, who is regarded as one of the finest bowmakers in history. Joining her for this performance will be pianist Julien Brocal.

“Camille Thomas’s extraordinary talent makes her one of the most captivating artists of our time, as evidenced by being the first cellist in several decades to be signed by the major record label Deutsche Grammophon,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “Her ‘Midnight in Paris’ program brings us closer to her roots and reflects the beauty and charm of her personality as well as her musicality.”

The Camille Thomas performance marks the start of the fall Concert Series events, which includes a concert with Jeremy Denk on Dec. 11. Ticket purchase information as well as Thomas’s performance program can be found here. Tickets for this online event are $10 for UW-Madison students, $18 for Wisconsin Union members, and $20 for all other patrons. 

In its 101st year, the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Concert Series is one of the oldest uninterrupted series of its kind in the United States. The Wisconsin Union Theater team presents the Concert Series in collaboration with the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee, which, along with 10 other WUD committees and six clubs, promotes and runs more than 1,000 Wisconsin Union events each year. 

 The Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a cultural center for community members and visitors for more than 75 years. The WUD Performing Arts Committee plans many of the Theater’s events, including the Concert Series.

While usually held in-person and most often in Shannon Hall, the Wisconsin Union Theater team will hold this fall’s Theater events in a virtual format for the health and safety of patrons, artists, and team members in light of COVID-19. The team aims for all of its spaces, including online ones, to be accessible. Those that need accommodations can reach out to the Wisconsin Union Theater team at wisconsinuniontheater@union.wisc.edu. 

The Theater team continues to evaluate what changes may need to occur related to the spring Concert Series events as well as other spring Theater season performances.

The Wisconsin Union Theater has made multiple commitments to take a stand against racial injustice, including being more than allies, being activists; using the arts to create social justice; remembering students are future leaders and must be part of the change; using its voice to influence leadership and being firm in its resolve; and making space, stepping back, and learning how to give up undeserved or unnecessary power and privilege.

For more information about the performance by Camille Thomas, including how to purchase tickets, visit union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/camille-thomas.  

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an expansive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Theater: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee plans and promotes events for the historic Wisconsin Union Theater stages. The student-led committee programs a variety of events to provide a diverse and cultural experience for students, faculty, alumni, community members and visitors. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/camille-thomas.

WPS Health Solutions donates $20,000 to The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness to improve health and reduce disparities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-977-7343
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS Health Solutions donates $20,000 to The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness to improve health and reduce disparities

MADISON, Wis.—Oct. 16, 2020—WPS Health Solutions today announced a $20,000 gift to The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, a Madison-based nonprofit organization that works to eliminate health disparities impacting African American women and their families. The gift will support the Foundation’s health and wellness education and heart disease prevention efforts.

WPS Health Solutions has a long history of investment in local efforts that build strong, healthy communities. The Madison-based company has nearly 4,000 team members throughout much of the United Sates, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, and Virginia.

“In considering our giving priorities this year, WPS chose to support The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness based on its strong record of work and leadership to improve Black women’s health outcomes, and to drive health equity in Wisconsin where racial disparities are among the highest in the nation,” said Scott Kowalski, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications.

Established in 2012, The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness engages and supports over 5,000 women and girls each year to build healthier lives through education, outreach, support circles, powerful partnerships, and by influencing systemic change. The organization has gained statewide and national recognition for its advocacy to advance Black women’s well-being as a public health priority.

“We are honored and excited that WPS chose us as one of its giving partners and at this crucial time where the need is so great,” says Foundation CEO and President Lisa Peyton-Caire. “As we confront long-standing health disparities compounded by COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on Black women and families here in Wisconsin and across the nation, never has it been more urgent to support Black women to live their healthiest lives. We look forward to the powerful impacts we will make with WPS’ generous support.”

About WPS Health Solutions

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions) is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans, and their families. Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation has been based in Madison, Wis., for nearly 75 years. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

About The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness

Established in June 2012, The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization committed to mobilizing African American women to pursue and sustain mind-body-spirit wellness, and to raise the visibility and support of Black women’s health as a community and public health priority. To learn more, please visit ffbww.org.

Left to right: Lisa Peyton-Caire, founding CEO and President of the Foundation; Scott Kowalski, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications at WPS; Janine Stephens, Chief Operations Officer of the Foundation; Megan Willauer, Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships at WPS; and Alia Stevenson, Chief Programs Officer of the Foundation.

KW2 Announces Account Director Promotion, New Hires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Andy Wallman, President
awallman@kw2madison.com
608-232-2300 

Growing Agency Announces Account Director Promotion, New Hires 

Madison, WI, October 15, 2020 — KW2, a 34-year-old full-service digital and marketing firm based in Madison, announces the promotion of Michelle Sweet to Account Director. She will lead the team with planning, training, hiring and account team mentorship.  

“Michelle excels at this work and I’m so excited to have her step into this role,” says KW2 Vice President and co-owner Jennifer Savino. “KW2 will be even better with of Michelle’s leadership and passion for what we do.”

KW2 also announces five new hires as the Madison marketing and digital firm is continuing their growth throughout 2020. The KW2 team grew quickly since May with the addition of new clients and work from longtime clients.

Longtime ad executive, Kelly Mlsna, has been hired as Account Manager. As veteran a marketer and creative collaborator, she brings deep experience to the agency, and will lead teams on KW2’s public health and business accounts.

Kelly brings big brand experience from companies like Lands’ End, Honeywell, LaCrosse Footwear, Descente, Erbert and Gerbert’s, Glanbia Nutritionals and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

“Kelly’s depth of experience really adds to our incredible team’s skill set,” Savino said. “She will use her 20 years of strategic problem solving in the industry to drive actionable results for our clients. We are very excited to welcome Kelly to the team.”

About KW2
KW2 is a 34-year-old marketing and digital agency in Madison, Wisconsin. We create change that helps public health, higher education and business organizations empower and improve lives. Research-based insights, strategies and creative have driven the agency’s successes for dozens of higher ed and public health clients and businesses like The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison College, UW-Madison, The Wisconsin Technical College System, The City of Columbus, OH Department of Public Health and Zerology.