Madworks Accelerator powered by StartingBlock

We’re thrilled to announce that StartingBlock has partnered with Madworks to offer a 10-week accelerator program this Spring.

• Applications are open through April 7th
• We help founders create a strong, sustainable foundation for their growing companies
• Get your strategic financials in order, learn to run an effective board meeting, tackle legal issues, learn about raising capital, and more – all while working with experienced mentors and Madworks + StartingBlock staff
• Companies must be based in WI

SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2023

• April 26 – June 29 (10 weeks)
• Weekly group meeting on Wednesday afternoons
• Individual team meetings on Thursday afternoons

PROGRAM BENEFITS

• $6,500 in grant funding per participating team
• 1 year membership to StartingBlock (24×7 access), with an exclusive space at StartingBlock dedicated to Madworks companies
• Access to StartingBlock member benefits, including 90% discount on Hubspot CRM
• Regular access to Madworks & StartingBlock staff and connections to their network of mentors and experts

LOCATION

StartingBlock, 821 East Washington, Madison

MORE INFORMATION 

Expectations and further details are available on our website at madworksaccelerator.org. Contact Program Manager Susie Younkle with questions or to learn more: support@madworksaccelerator.org or sign up for her virtual office hours.

Apply to the accelerator here.

The StartingBlock Program Team

StartingBlock Madison

programs@startingblockmadison.org

UW–Madison welcomes Eve L. Ewing for Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program and Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Media Contact: aryn kresol, Arts Residency Programs Coordinator at UW–Madison Division of the Arts, akresol@wisc.edu

URL: go.wisc.edu/Ewing 

Link to media assets: https://uwmadison.box.com/s/j03maxlwcrojyct38wxpe2dpb9qmalpg 

Link to article: https://artsdivision.wisc.edu/2023/03/13/ewing-iarp/ 

UW–Madison welcomes Eve L. Ewing for Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program and Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival

Madison, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) welcome writer, sociologist, poet and professor Dr. Eve L. Ewing as Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence and featured performer for the 2023 Line Breaks Festival.

An academic year-long partnership between the Division of the Arts and OMAI, the collaboration presents a series of short-term residencies with interdisciplinary artists who represent the three pillars of OMAI: academics, arts and activism. The residency series has brought Jay Adana and Zeniba Now, Jasmine Mans and Porsha Olayiwola to UW–Madison. 

The fourth and last in the academic year-long series, Ewing’s residency will be from March 30–April 1, 2023 and will include a public conversation with poet and UW–Madison faculty Paul Tran on Thursday, March 30, and feature and headline performances at the annual Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1.

OMAI’s Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival consists of performances, lectures and discussions by First Wave artist-scholars and invited professional artists engaging with the Madison community, on and off campus. Inaugurated through OMAI’s sponsored Interdisciplinary Arts Residency with Marc Bamuthi Joseph in the spring of 2007, the Line Breaks project culminated in a final performance of student work called “Just Bust!.” Now running for 15 years, “Just Bust!” has evolved into an open mic. Line Breaks brings the top new aesthetics in contemporary hip hop and interdisciplinary performance art to the UW–Madison campus and the surrounding community. It has evolved into a space for the investigation of contemporary American culture through the lens of hip hop performance. Line Breaks is now one of the largest hip hop-centered performance festivals in the Midwest and continues to be a space for the cultivation and presentation of independent and collaborative work by First Wave artist-scholars. Here, unique responses to common human experiences are explored. The narratives, myths and legends, specific to these diverse communities, are unearthed, distilled and presented in an environment that encourages discussion and continued investigation.

Public Events

Thursday, March 30 | 5:30–7:00 p.m.

Page & Stage: An Evening with Eve L. Ewing and Paul Tran

A Room of One’s Own (2717 Atwood Avenue)

UW–Madison’s Division of the Arts, the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives and A Room of One’s Own are thrilled to welcome Eve L. Ewing to Madison in conversation with poet and UW–Madison Assistant Professor of English and Asian American Studies Paul Tran. 

Register here. This event is all ages, free and open to the public. Space is limited: register to guarantee a spot. Masks are required at this venue.

Friday, March 31 | 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Pre-Show Reception

Sunset Lounge, Memorial Union (800 Langdon Street)

Join the Division of the Arts and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) in celebrating the opening of the 2023 Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival! Doors for Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival Showcase open at 5:30 p.m. Register here for the Friday evening Showcase.

Friday, March 31 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival Showcase  

Shannon Hall, Wisconsin Union Theater, Memorial Union (800 Langdon Street)

Join the Division of the Arts and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) for the 2023 Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival! This Friday night Showcase features performances by First Wave artist-scholars in the 15th Cohort; Diya Abbas (14th Cohort) and Azura Tyabji (13th Cohort); Jackson Neal (12th Cohort); and featured performances by guests of Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Eve L. Ewing including Jamila Woods and Nate Marshall. The Showcase will conclude with a talkback with the featured performers and Eve L. Ewing, moderated by Amanda Torres.

Register here! This event is all ages, free and open to the public. Masks are encouraged.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

A pre-show reception will take place from 4:30–5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Sunset Lounge.

Saturday, April 1 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival Showcase  

Shannon Hall, Wisconsin Union Theater  (800 Langdon Street)

Join the Division of the Arts and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) for the 2023 Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival! This Saturday night Showcase features performances by First Wave artist-scholars in the 15th Cohort; First Wave alumna, Shasparay Irvin; the First Wave Touring Ensemble; and headlining performance by Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Eve L. Ewing. The Showcase will conclude with a talkback with select performers and OMAI Artistic Director Mark H. 

Register here! This event is all ages, free and open to the public. Masks are encouraged.

A post-show reception will take place 8–9:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Sunset Lounge.

Saturday, April 1 | 8:00–9:30 p.m.

Post-Show Reception 

Sunset Lounge, Memorial Union (800 Langdon Street)

Join the Division of the Arts and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) to close out the 2023 Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival! 

Learn more and register here for the Saturday evening Showcase.

About the Artist

Dr. Eve L. Ewing is a sociologist of education and a writer from Chicago. She is the author of a book for young readers, “Maya and the Robot,” the poetry collection “1919” and the nonfiction work, “Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago’s South Side.” Her first book, the poetry collection “Electric Arches,” received awards from the American Library Association and the Poetry Society of America, and was named one of the year’s best books by NPR and the “Chicago Tribune.” She is the co-author (with Nate Marshall) of the play “No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks.” She also currently writes the “Champions” series for Marvel Comics, and previously wrote the acclaimed “Ironheart” series, as well as other projects. Ewing is an assistant professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. Her work has been published in “The New Yorker,” “The Atlantic,” “The New York Times,” and many other venues. Currently she is working on her next book, “Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism,” which will be published by One World.

About the Presenters

The Division of the Arts’ Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP), originated through the Cluster Hiring Initiative of the Office of the Provost, brings innovative, world-class artists to the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Since 1999, the program has hosted over 40 residencies involving more than 100 guest artists from 20 different countries, engaging over 60 university units and community organizations. 

All residencies center interdisciplinary arts, recognizing that interdisciplinarity can break down barriers and silos, advance intellectual artistic diversity and give opportunities to people who do not fit into the traditional modes of inquiry and practice (see the Division of the Arts’ guiding principle of The Arts for Everyone, Everywhere). The program often brings together artists, faculty, staff and students from various disciplines across the arts, sciences and humanities. Integrated with curricular activities, all arts residencies in this program are proposed by academic departments or officially recognized interdepartmental programs, centers or institutes at UW–Madison.

While in residence, artists teach interdisciplinary workshops and participate in public programming with campus and Madison communities. The program provides students with extended learning experiences with a working artist, including options to earn course credit; increases diversity of teaching staff on campus; and strengthens programmatic ties among individual departments, programs and other campus and community arts entities.

The Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) within the Division of Diversity, Equity, & Educational Achievement provides culturally relevant and transformative arts programming to promote positive social dialogue and to give cultural art forms a legitimate academic forum. By harnessing the broad cultural influence of spoken word, hip hop and emerging as well as traditional art forms, OMAI’s events and programming create learning environments that directly affect UW–Madison’s campus climate, improving retention and graduation success, preparing future leaders to reinvest in their communities. By continually refreshing this paradigm that integrates traditional academics and cutting edge arts activism, OMAI empowers transnational leaders with new tools for inclusive community building.

One of OMAI’s most prominent initiatives is the First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts Learning Community, a cutting-edge multicultural artistic program for incoming students which offers a four-year full tuition scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Bringing together young artists and leaders from across the United States and beyond, the First Wave Learning Community offers students the opportunity to live, study and create together in a close-knit, dynamic campus community. First Wave is the first university program in the country centered on urban arts, spoken word and hip-hop culture.

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WPS Health Solutions partners with Milwaukee Brewers™ to offer the Senior Stroll and Senior Ticket Discount

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS partners with Milwaukee Brewers™ to offer the Senior Stroll and Senior Ticket Discount

MADISON, Wis.—March 10, 2023— The Senior Stroll and Senior Ticket Discount, both Milwaukee Brewers™ promotions presented by WPS Health Insurance®, are returning to American Family Field for select weekday afternoon games during the 2023 regular season.

Fans 60 and older can purchase tickets for 50% off, presented by WPS Health Insurance. They are then invited to stick around after the game to stroll along the outfield warning track. Stroll participants can enter to win a Brewers™ jersey or autographed baseball.

The Senior Stroll dates coincide with the team’s Senior Ticket Discount. To save 50% on tickets for these games, visit brewers.com/wps.

The discounts and Senior Strolls are scheduled for the following games:

• April 5 vs. NYM
• April 26 vs. DET
• May 10 vs. LAD
• May 24 vs. HOU
• June 8 vs. BAL
• June 21 vs. ARI
• July 3 vs. CHC (no Senior Stroll)
• July 4 vs. CHC (no Senior Stroll)
• July 26 vs. CIN
• Aug. 9 vs. COL
• Aug. 23 vs. MIN
• Sept. 14 vs. MIA

The postgame Senior Stroll line begins behind section 111, along the first-base side of the stadium on the Field Level.

“WPS Health Insurance began presenting the Senior Stroll and Senior Ticket Discount in 2019. We are eager to offer our seniors this unique and enjoyable benefit,” said Megan Willauer, Manager of Corporate Affairs at WPS. “It’s an experience of a lifetime for some of these individuals, and WPS is proud to partner with the Brewers to provide this opportunity.”

When fans complete their stroll, WPS employees will be on hand to thank them for their participation and offer them the chance to enter a drawing to win a Brewers™ jersey or a baseball signed by a Brewers™ player.

About WPS Health Insurance^®

As one of the largest health benefits providers in the state, Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Insurance) offers a variety of services and coverage with Preferred Provider Organization health plans for individuals and groups, third-party administrator services, and Medicare supplement insurance plans. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., and with employees throughout the state, WPS Health Insurance is deeply committed to Wisconsin and its residents. Visit wpshealth.com for more information.

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Dane Buy Local announces Madison’s first Shop Local Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2023

Available for interviews
Colin Murray, Executive Director of Dane Buy Local
2801 International Lane, Suite 110
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 712-3440
colin@danebuylocal.com
www.danebuylocal.com

Madison, WI – Dane Buy Local, a nonprofit organization promoting local business, announces Madison’s first Shop Local Tour. The 2023 Tour will visit ten different Madison community destinations, each occurring throughout the year.

The Tour promotes the positive impact of shopping locally and showcases a diverse range of local businesses. The Wednesday, March 22^nd Tour provides participants an opportunity to explore six wonderful food destinations: Bandit Tacos & Coffee, The Deliciouser, FEED Kitchen, Orange Tree Imports, Migrants, and Bandung.

The $49 ticket price includes transportation, samples at each location, a swag bag of goodies, and ends with drink and pizza at Delta Beer Lab. The 4:00‒8:00 p.m. Tour is expected to sell out, so sign up early with friends and family!

The Shop Local Tour is made possible through presenting sponsor Madison Top Company, plus the support of Kavanaugh Restaurant Supply and Bank of Sun Prairie.

For tickets and more information on this and other Tours, visit danebuylocal.com or call (608) 729-7346.

Dane Buy Local is affiliated with the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and is part of a national movement of communities rallying to support their independent businesses and ensuring the opportunity to operate an independent business endures. Dane Buy Local creates a sustainable, vital local economy through education, collaboration, and promotion, as a non-profit member organization.

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Sustain Dane: Middleton Building Energy Efficiency Upgrade Funding Funding Now Open for Applications

PRESS RELEASE | March 3, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Valora Gutierrez | Navigator & Outreach Specialist
lorenza@sustaindane.org | (608) 285-2454

MIDDLETON BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADE FUNDING NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS
Sustain Dane is now accepting applications for the Efficiency Navigator program to help affordable rental housing in Middleton become more energy efficient and resilient, while reducing operating costs and utility bills for residents.

Dane County, WI – Working closely with the City of Middleton, the Efficiency Navigator program helps small apartment housing become more energy efficient, while reducing operating costs for owners and utility bills for residents.

Selected buildings are eligible to receive funding for energy efficiency upgrades such as improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, improved insulation, air sealing, water softener optimization, tune-ups or replacement, and recommendations to improve home health (e.g. asthma triggers).

“Reducing monthly expenses for utility costs can help keep rental units affordable and reduce the expense for residents” said Sustain Dane Executive Director Claire Oleksiak. “Plus, energy efficiency upgrades can lead to more comfortable and healthy homes to live in.”

Eligibility

• 2-8 units, renter-occupied
• Unsubsidized (buildings with Section 8 voucher holders are eligible for the program)
• Address in Middleton
• Tenants pay for gas and electric utilities
• Properties are current on property tax payments
• Property owner commits to maintaining affordable rent at HUD Fair Market Rent Value for at least 5 years post-implementation

We strongly encourage applications for buildings where utility bills are a challenge for residents, and for those that house children, seniors, or otherwise vulnerable populations.

Program Highlights

• Grant funding for recommended energy improvements
• Team member walks you through each step to completion
• Contractor selection and scheduling
• Sustain Dane pays contractors directly for eligible measures
• Reduce tenant turnover with lower energy bills and more comfortable units

A past participating owner attests “We are so appreciative and impressed with the quality and speed of the work. When we went into the units, we could tell how much warmer it was and how much tighter the airflow felt in there. It sounds like the tenants also had a great experience, so we are super grateful for that as well.”

Apply – Learn more, recommend your building as a resident, or apply as a property owner at www.SustainDane.org. Rolling application review starts March 1, 2023. Apply now.

About Sustain Dane Is a local non-profit with the vision for a thriving and inclusive community with a sustainable environment and economy we are proud to pass on to future generations. For over 20 years, Sustain Dane has worked to inspire, connect, and support people to accelerate equity and sustainable actions for community wellbeing.

Partners – This opportunity is made possible in partnership with the City of Middleton, Elevate, the Middleton Senior Center and the Middleton Outreach Ministry. Additional funding from our public health partners, Healthy Babies Bright Futures and the Mayor’s Innovation Project.

ABOUT SUSTAIN DANE:
Sustain Dane’s vision is a thriving and connected community with a sustainable environment and economy we are proud to pass on to future generations. Our mission is to inspire, connect, and support people to accelerate sustainable actions for community wellbeing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.sustaindane.org
hello@sustaindane.org
(608) 285 – 2454
P.O. Box 144, Madison, WI 53701