History of Black Madison story series by Madison365 sponsored by National Guardian Life Insurance Company

Madison, Wis. (February 1, 2021) – Through a partnership with Madison365, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is sponsoring a series of articles throughout February highlighting notable African Americans in Wisconsin’s past and present.

Sponsoring Madison365’s story series is one of the ways NGL is supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) not only in the workplace but also throughout the community. NGL is proud to support these critical features on the works and impact of some of Wisconsin’s most prominent Black residents.

“We are fortunate to partner with Madison365, a leading media outlet for people of color in the Midwest, to celebrate Black History Month. This article series is an excellent way to highlight and honor the history of Madison’s Black residents who have made significant contributions to our city since 1839,” said Dave Anderson, NGL Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

There will be a total of four stories on the history of Black Madison that will be distributed each week during Black History Month featuring:

• The founders of Madison, including John Hill of Hill’s Grocery, Wisconsin Weekly Blade, Free African Methodist Church and first Black University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates.
• Madison’s first Black women highlighting the first Black woman police officer, firefighter, first (and still only) mayor.
• Black educators, including Helen McLean, John Odom, Milt McPike, Geraldine Bernard who impacted the community.
• Influential Black musicians, including Clyde Stubblefield, Richard Davis, Hanah Jon Taylor.

“We are inspired by the creativity and vision of the Madison365 team in developing The History of Black Madison series. NGL is thankful for the for the opportunity to support such rich and important content and storytelling,” said Dwayne Maddox, NGL Marketing Director.

The story series can be found at: Madison365.com.

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products. Information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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Wisconsin Union Theater Patrons to Experience a Night of Storytelling Through Music with Singer-Songwriter Okaidja Afroso on Feb. 11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 28, 2021

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

WISCONSIN UNION THEATER PATRONS TO EXPERIENCE A NIGHT OF STORYTELLING THROUGH MUSIC WITH SINGER-SONGWRITER OKAIDJA AFROSO ON FEB. 11

MADISON –  Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Okaidja Afroso believes in bringing together diverse forms of expression to create global harmony. He will bring his genre-defying approach to music to Wisconsin Union Theater patrons during a virtual performance on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

Audience members can enjoy this special solo performance recorded just for the Wisconsin Union Theater audience, which will include Ghanaian music infused with cross-cultural influences.

Tickets for this online event cost $10 for UW-Madison students; $17 for Wisconsin Union members, UW-Madison staff and faculty, and students that do not attend UW-Madison; and $20 for all other Theater patrons.

“Okaidja Afroso effortlessly weaves fascinating stories into this intimate musical performance,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “I recommend turning the lights low, relaxing back in your favorite chair, and letting Okaidja transport you to another place with the beautiful sounds from Ghana.”

Afroso will perform “Nshorke,” “Afterlife Voyage,” “Kpehe,” “Akamo Nnane,” “Siak,” “The Palm Wine Sea,” “Faako,” and “State of Mind.” He will sing in English and Ga.

Wisconsin Union Theater presents music from around the globe as part of every season to provide patrons with an opportunity to learn and experience art from many different cultures.

The Wisconsin Union Theater presents Afroso’s performance in collaboration with the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee. The Theater, often in collaboration with the Committee, creates more than a dozen arts performances each year. For more than 75 years, the Theater has served as a center for cultural activity.

The Theater works to create accessible performing arts experiences, including virtual spaces. Those that need accommodations can reach out to the Wisconsin Union Theater at wisconsinuniontheater@union.wisc.edu.

The Wisconsin Union Theater stands against racial inequities and is taking steps to address those inequalities, including commissioning programming that highlights BIPOC stories. For a full statement on the Theater’s stance and efforts, click here.

This performance is presented in part through Wisconsin Arts Board funding from the State of Wisconsin and financial assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about Afroso’s performance, click here.

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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/visit/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.

[Click here to download a photo of Okaidja Afroso. Photo by Lisa Monet Photography.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/okaidja-afroso.

The Wisconsin Union Team Will Hold Winter Carnival With In-Person and Virtual Events Feb. 3-7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 25, 2021     

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

THE WISCONSIN UNION TEAM WILL HOLD WINTER CARNIVAL WITH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS FEB. 3-7

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union’s Winter Carnival will return Feb. 3-7 with new events to help attendees enjoy the outdoors during Wisconsin’s winter season while practicing physical distancing and other public health guidance related to COVID-19.

The Wisconsin Union team invites all, including UW-Madison students, staff and faculty, Wisconsin Union members, and guests, to experience the Carnival. Some events and activities require pre-registration and have limited capacities.

This season, some community favorites will return with changes to ensure the health and safety of patrons in light of COVID-19.

During past Carnivals, the team has placed inflatable portions of Lady Liberty on Lake Mendota; instead, this year, the team will host a new Winter Lady Liberty DIY Contest. The Union team invites participants to create Lady Liberty out of any materials and to submit photos of their creations to the Wisconsin Union team by messaging or tagging the Wisconsin Union on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or by completing this Google Form between Feb. 3 and Feb. 14.

The Wisconsin Union team has added a new, free experience to the 2021 Winter Carnival: an Ice Fishing Derby on Feb. 6 from noon-7 p.m. Patrons can participate as competitors or as learners in the Union’s first ever educational fishing competition. The Union team will provide equipment and free hot chocolate for participants.

The Carnival will include a flurry of additional events throughout the week, including the following:

• Virtual Flannel Day, Feb. 3: The first 50 people to submit a photo of themselves in a flannel via a form here on Feb. 3 will receive a coupon for a small order of deep fried cheese curds from der Rathskeller in Memorial Union.
• Avalanche Awareness Workshop, Feb. 3, 8-10 p.m.: Individuals can learn about avalanches, including gear, how to avoid avalanche terrain, and training.
• Terrace Sweatshirt Bundle Up Sale, Feb. 3-7: The Wisconsin Union team will offer a 20 percent discount on new sweatshirts in its online Terrace Store and is currently offering free shipping on most store items for a limited time.
• Sledding, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or Feb. 4, 3 p.m.-Feb. 5 with sled drop-off on Feb. 5 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.: The Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club will provide University of Wisconsin-Madison students with rental sleds and maps of sledding spots at the UW-Madison campus.
• Snowshoe Rentals
  • Hourly rentals for $5 per hour, pick-up on Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • 10 percent discount on weekend rentals, pick-up on Feb. 5 from 9 a.m.-noon and drop-off by Feb. 9
• Adventure Learning Programs (ALPs) Virtual Scavenger Hunt, Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.: ALPs will host a web-based scavenger hunt of puzzles, brain teasers and more.
• Free Art Friday, Feb. 5, 1 p.m., while supplies last: Wheelhouse Studios invites community members and visitors to get crafty with take-to-make snowman luminary kits.
• Lakefront Ice Climbing, Feb. 5, 3-5 p.m.: Hoofer Mountaineering Club members will share the basics of ice climbing on an ice block set up by Memorial Union.
• Night Snowshoe Hike on Lake Mendota, Feb. 5, 4-5:30 p.m.: Attendees can join the Hoofer Outing Club for a physically distanced snowshoe experience on Lake Mendota.
• Nordic Skiing 101, Feb. 6, noon-1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m.: Hoofer Outing Club members will lead an introductory, hands-on Nordic skiing lesson.
• Student Leadership Program (SLP) Scavenger Hunt, Feb. 6, noon-5 p.m.: SLP will host a scavenger hunt around various campus locations, such as Alumni Park and the Memorial Union Terrace. This event is presented by Associated Students of Madison, SLP at UW-Madison, and the Wisconsin Union.
• Kites on Mendota, Feb. 6-7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Guests can enjoy the sight of large show kites on Lake Mendota. Kites on Mendota is produced by the Clean Lakes Alliance, with support from the Wisconsin Union and the Edgewater Hotel.
• Curling Tournament, Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: UW-Madison students can take part in a curling tournament on Lake Mendota for the chance to win a championship t-shirt. This event is presented by University Recreation and Wellbeing and the Wisconsin Union.

“Wintertime presents many unique opportunities to be outside and stay active, some of which people can experience during our Winter Carnival,” Outdoor UW Director Joe Webb said. “We have held Winter Carnivals for more than 80 years, but this year required a whole new level of creativity that our team was happy to take on to make the Carnival possible.”

Winter Carnival events are subject to change. For the most up to date Winter Carnival information, including registration links, visit union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival.

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About the Wisconsin Union

The Wisconsin Union enhances the lives of members and visitors through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities. Formed in 1907, the Wisconsin Union is a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.  

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/winter-carnival-2021.

Wisconsin Union: Wisconsin Sound, a New Event Series Featuring Wisconsin Artists, Will Begin Jan. 24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 19, 2021

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

WISCONSIN SOUND, A NEW EVENT SERIES FEATURING WISCONSIN ARTISTS, WILL BEGIN JAN. 24

MADISON –  The Wisconsin Union Theater’s new online event series, called Wisconsin Sound, will exclusively feature Wisconsin artists, beginning with the virtual streaming of a concert by the Willy Street Chamber Players on Jan. 24 at noon CDT.

In addition to the Willy Street Chamber Players performance, the series will include performances by flutist Iva Ugrčić and pianist Satoko Hayami on Feb. 21, the Johannes Wallmann Quintet on March 21, modern classical band Mr. Chair on April 11, and the Pro Arte Quartet on May 2. All performances will take place at noon CDT on their respective dates.

Tickets for this online series cost $15 per event or $50 for a subscription to all Wisconsin Sound performances. Each event will be available for ticket holders to enjoy on-demand for one week following its initial livestream, with the program becoming unavailable at 1 p.m. CDT one week after its initial livestream. For example, the first event will be available to ticket holders until 1 p.m. CDT on Jan. 31.

The Theater team created this new series both for its patrons as well as to help support performance artists, many of whom have experienced canceled performances due to COVID-19.

“We, at the Wisconsin Union Theater, want to do our part to support the great talent right here in Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “We want artists to have the opportunity to continue to create art and enrich lives with their artistry.”

The debut event with the Willy Street Chamber Players will include a performance of Fantasiestücke for Cello and Piano, Op. 73 by Robert Schumann; Fantasy No. 2 for Violin and Piano by Florence Price; Kiép Nào Có Yeu Nhau for Violin and Piano by Rachel Eubank; and Adagio and Allegro for Cello and Piano, Op. 70 by Robert Schumann.

The Players’ performers include violinists Paran Amirinazari and Eleanor Bartsch, cellists Mark Bridges and Lindsey Crabb, and pianist Thomas Kasdorf. The Players aim to create community through music and bring imaginative approaches to classical music.

On Feb. 21, the Theater team will livestream Ugrčić and Hayami performing Flute Sonata, Op. 167 “Undine” by Carl Reinecke, “Chant de Linos” by André Jolivet, and “Fanmi Imen” by Valerie Coleman.

Serbia-born Ugrčić, a University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna, is known not only for her incredible talent as a flutist and teacher but also for her work to make a difference for women in the arts. Hayami, a native of Japan, won the Paul Collins Wisconsin Distinguished Fellowship and has performed at venues throughout the world. She is currently working toward her doctorate in musical arts at UW-Madison.

The series will continue on March 21 with a performance by the Johannes Wallmann Quintet. The Quintet includes pianist Johannes Wallmann, trumpeter Russ Johnson, tenor saxophonist Tony Barba, bassist Peter Dominguez, and drummer Jon Deitemyer. Wallmann works not only as a pianist but also as a composer and the UW-Madison director of jazz studies. The in-demand winner of many national scholarships and competitions has gained a reputation as a versatile performer adept at a wide range of musical styles.

The next performance by Mr. Chair on April 11 will include “Abandoned Cities,” “Appellation Spring,” and “Better Days” by Mark Hetzler; “Britten’s Written Rhythm” and “March” by Jason Kutz; “Elegy” by Ben Ferris; and “Fuchsia” by Jason Kutz with a poetry and reading performance by Buzz Kemper.

The group features trombonist Mark Hetzler, pianist Jason Kutz, drummer Mike Koszewski, and bassist Ben Ferris. Established in 2016, Mr. Chair does not limit itself to one genre; it fuses jazz, classical, rock and more, making it a band enjoyed by people of many musical interests.

The series will conclude on May 2 with Pro Arte Quartet’s performance of quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven in connection with the Quartet’s celebration of the composer’s 250th birthday in the 2020/2021 season. The celebrated Quartet began in 1912 and boasts a long history of accomplishments, including serving as the court quartet to the queen of Belgium. Stranded in the United States when Nazi forces invaded Belgium in 1940, the Quintet began a residency at UW-Madison, where it continues today. The group is the first and only quartet to reach its 100th anniversary.

“We are committed to our mission of delivering high quality performing arts to our community, despite the challenges we face this year and even if our shared experience can only be through a virtual space right now,” Snodgrass said.

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a cultural center for community members and visitors.

The Theater team strives for all of its spaces to be accessible. Those that need accommodations can email wisconsinuniontheater@union.wisc.edu.

The Wisconsin Union Theater team has committed to taking action in standing against racial inequities. For a full statement on the Theater’s stance and efforts, click here.

This season of Wisconsin Union Theater programming is made possible in part by Wisconsin Arts Board funding from the State of Wisconsin and financial assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about Wisconsin Sound, visit union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-sound-series.

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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.

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/wisconsin-sound-2021.

gener8tor: Black and Brown Founders Invited to Pitch to Investors During Lightning Rounds

MADISON, WISCONSIN – Nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor announced today an exciting opportunity for startups to pitch to investors through its Lightning Rounds pitch event on March 4, 2021. Lightning Rounds is gener8tor’s quarterly event that connects startups with accelerators and investors via quick-pitch opportunities. Through Lighting Rounds, gener8tor’s goal is to create an industry-leading pitching series centered on investing in underrepresented founders. gener8tor believes a gold-standard pitch event that connects diverse-led innovation, venture capitalists and thought leaders is long overdue.

Read more here