Madison Children’s Museum tackles loneliness epidemic with friend-making event

(Madison, Wis.) —If you’ve ever scrolled through Madison’s Reddit forum, you’ve seen the posts from newcomers, recent grads, and young professionals all asking the same question: “How do I make friends as an adult?” Madison Children’s Museum has been paying attention, and they’re doing something about it.

On Friday, February 6 from 5:30-9:00 pm, the museum will host “Adult Swim: How to Make Friends in Madison,” a specially designed event for adults 21 and over who are looking to build connections in their community. The event responds directly to a recurring query on local social media: outside of work, where can adult professionals meet new friends?

“We know that people everywhere are struggling with making meaningful connections,” said event organizer Amanda Strobel, manager of strategic initiatives at Madison Children’s Museum. “We kept seeing these posts on the Madison subreddit from people who had just moved here for work or had aged out of the college scene and genuinely didn’t know how to meet people. We wanted to create a fun space where making friends feels a little less intimidating.”

The event will feature friendship-focused activities throughout the museum’s four floors and rooftop, including Friend Speed Dating with conversation prompts, Meet a Friend Bingo, collaborative games, and Premiere Trivia sessions at 6, 7, and 8 pm. The evening will also feature a pop-up performance by Madison Shakespeare Company at 7 pm, specialty cocktails and beer from State Line Distillery and Delta Beer Lab, and Filipino cuisine from Kanto Fiesta food truck. 

“People meet new friends at the museum every day,” said Molly Backes, communications specialist. “Granted, they’re usually children, but we’re excited to share our friend-making expertise with grownups, too. Bringing people together and building community feels more important than ever. The good news is that it can also be really fun.”

Event Details:

• What: Adult Swim: How to Make Friends in Madison
• When: Friday, February 6, 2026; 5:30–9 pm
• Where: Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St.
• Tickets: $20 advance, $25 day-of; groups of 10+ save 10%
• Info & Tickets: MadisonChildrensMuseum.org
• Age Requirement: 21+

Madison Children’s Museum:

• Connects children with their families, their community and the world beyond through creative learning and discovery play
• Strives to make all families feel welcome, valued, and included by living the ideals of Access, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Is a community hub for children and families from every corner of Madison, and serves more than 200,000 visitors per year
• Is a community partner and gateway for families to access and participate in other cultural institutions and community programs

Founded in 1980, the museum’s hands-on exhibits and programs celebrate and encourage children’s imaginations and the power of play as cornerstones of learning. The museum is a proud recipient of the 2011 National Medal for Museum Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. To learn more, visit MadisonChildrensMuseum.org, call (608) 256-6445, and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Community Input Sessions for MMSD Phase 2 Facilities Referendum Set for This Week

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) will host a series of upcoming public input sessions focused on Phase 2 projects included in the district’s facilities referendum work.

Session dates, times and locations are as follow:

• Orchard Ridge Elementary School/Akira R. Toki Middle School
  5602 Russett Rd., Madison, WI 53711
  Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Cafeteria
  
• Cherokee Heights Middle School
  4301 Cherokee Dr., Madison, WI 53711
  Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Library
  
• Ray F. Sennett Middle School
  502 Pflaum Rd., Madison, WI 53716
  Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Cafeteria

The sessions will provide an opportunity for community members to learn more about planned upgrades at these schools and to share feedback directly with the teams responsible for designing and building them.

“Community voice has been central to every step of this work,” said Scott Chehak, MMSD senior executive director of building services. “These sessions give families, neighbors and community members a meaningful opportunity to help shape learning environments that will serve students and the broader public for decades to come.”

Phase 2 projects were made possible by strong community support for the district’s facilities referendum. In addition to improving learning spaces for students, the upgraded schools are designed to function as community assets, supporting neighborhood use and strengthening connections between schools and the communities they serve.

Community members are encouraged to attend the session associated with their school or neighborhood, though all are welcome to participate in any meeting. 

Additional information about MMSD’s facilities referendum projects is available on the district’s website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Pack the Pantry on State Street! (Jan. 16–Feb. 14)

The River Food Pantry is currently moving to its new home at 3301 Packers Ave on Madison’s Northside. This larger facility will allow The River—Dane County’s busiest food pantry—to expand their services and reach even more people as the need for food assistance continues to rise.

Before opening their doors in late January, The River needs our help to fill their new warehouse with food and essentials for our community.

You and your business are invited to support this effort by participating in Pack the Pantry on Packers Ave. There are several ways to get involved:

1.     Donate Food Directly: Drop off nonperishable donations at either of the following locations:

• 127 State Street: Volunteers will collect donations starting Friday, Jan. 16–Saturday, Feb. 14, at the following times:
  • Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 am–1:30 pm
  • Fridays from 4–7 pm
  • Saturdays from 12–7 pm
• The River, 3301 Packers Ave: Look for the black donation drop-off bin near the loading docks, available Monday–Friday from 10 am–2 pm starting Jan. 9. A drive-thru donation drop-off will also be held on Monday, Jan. 26 from 10 am–4 pm.

2.     Host a Food Drive: Use your business to collect food and supplies in one of The River’s donation barrels or your own containers. You can focus on collecting 1 type of item or a variety of nonperishables.

3.     Host a Round-Up Campaign: Offer customers the opportunity to round up their purchase at checkout to support The River.

4.     Sponsor Cases of Food and Supplies: Make a financial contribution to help The River purchase cases at wholesale pricing to fill pallets in the new warehouse.

Businesses that donate $1,500 or more will receive sponsorship benefits, including recognition on our website, at 127 State Street, and more!

Learn more and give today at www.riverfoodpantry.org/pack-the-pantry.

Stories of Campus and Culture Celebrates Black History, Storytelling, and UW–Madison Alumni Community

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Black Affinity Group will host Legacy & Libations: Stories of Campus and Culture on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at the Urban League Black Business Hub in Madison. The free event invites alumni and community members to gather for an afternoon celebrating Black legacy, cultural storytelling, and connection within the UW–Madison community.

The program will feature a cultural presentation by the SoulFolk Collective, highlighting narratives rooted in Black history and campus experience, along with wine education led by the Milwaukee Wine Academy, spotlighting Black-owned producers and the cultural significance of wine. Guests will also enjoy curated snacks and opportunities for alumni networking and community engagement.

The event is free and open to alumni and the public, with advance registration encouraged.

Event Details:
What: Legacy & Libations: Stories of Campus and Culture
When: Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 PM
Where: Urban League Hub, TruStage Entrepreneurship Event Center, 2222 S. Park Street, Madison, WI
Cost: Free with RSVP
Register: https://www.uwalumni.com/events/black-ag-legacy-libation-campus-stories/

MMSD Human Resources Team Strengthens Staffing Stability, Recruitment and Talent Development

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) continues to strengthen its workforce through strategic recruitment, improved staffing stability and targeted talent development, according to a recent update from the district’s Human Resources team. Together, these efforts support consistent learning environments for students and help schools operate more effectively day to day.

So far in the 2025–26 school year, MMSD has filled more than 700 positions across elementary, middle and high schools, including teachers, educational assistants, custodial staff, food service workers and coaches. Having key roles filled allows for uninterrupted instruction, ensures students have access to essential services and reduces disruptions that can affect teaching and learning. These efforts reflect sustained progress in attracting and retaining staff to support students across the district.

“Our Human Resources team is focused on both meeting immediate staffing needs and building a strong, diverse pipeline for the future,” said Jennifer Trendel, MMSD senior executive director of human resources. “Every hire represents an investment in students, schools and long-term operational health across our system.”

In addition to filling vacancies, the district has made steady gains in workforce retention. Over the past several years, MMSD has seen gradual improvement in employee longevity, reversing trends that intensified during and immediately following the pandemic. When staff remain in their roles, schools are better able to maintain strong instructional teams throughout the year.

An area of significant progress has been the expansion of building-based substitute teachers at 10 MMSD schools. Principals report that consistent, on-site substitute coverage has improved both student routines and staff morale by limiting the need to reassign educators from their primary roles.

The district has also seen strong engagement across multiple recruitment channels, with employee referrals emerging as the leading source of successful hires this year. MMSD continues to recruit through colleges and universities, community job fairs and partnerships with local organizations, while also preparing for additional districtwide recruitment events in 2026.

“Recruitment and retention are strongest when people feel supported, valued and connected to the work,” Trendel said. “We are seeing the impact of intentional outreach, internal referrals and grow-your-own strategies that center our current staff and community.”

Long-term workforce development remains a central priority. MMSD’s Grow Your Own to Associate Degree program and Accelerated Licensure in Special Education initiative continue to create pathways for current employees to become licensed educators, while also helping diversify the district’s workforce. Together, these programs support academic achievement, equity and access, and college and career readiness for students.

For a complete listing of the district’s open positions, please visit MMSD’s careers portal.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.