Common Wealth Development's quarterly newsletter for residents, commercial tenants, workforce participants, and supporters LIKE YOU.
|
|
|
|
Letter from the Executive Director |
Greetings Common Wealth Family.
Pondering my letter for this quarter’s newsletter has left me in an endless search for a silver lining. I always try to keep these notes as upbeat as possible, however with current events at the national level around the attacks on women’s rights, increasingly dismal news relating to our efforts to mitigate the severe effects of climate change, and the seemingly incessant senseless shootings and violence coupled with a frustrating lack of political will around addressing gun safety, this becomes increasingly challenging. As a team, Common Wealth stands in solidarity with women everywhere who are seeing their human rights and dignity continuously questioned, attacked and denied. We recognize that individual autonomy over our bodies is a fundamental issue that affects everyone, yet women continue to bear the brunt of an increasingly aggressive infringement over corporeal autonomy in the United States.
Common Wealth’s staff, residents, commercial tenants, program participants and community partners give me the strength and critical optimism to continue to work in solidarity with the residents of Madison.
Moving through the summer, we appreciate all of our residents for their continued patience and support as we move through the summer turn season, while continuing to address the deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects that have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The residents and families are the heart of our housing work, and we take great pride in continuing to offer below-market rent to the people of Madison. Additionally, Common Wealth welcomed new businesses bernie & zuzu, Dinsart Design, Ali Lockery Photography and Anna Marie Photography to our Business Incubators as commercial tenants. We are looking forward to seeing these local small businesses thrive as part of the growing small business community.
Common Wealth is fortunate to have some amazing student-interns from the University of Wisconsin (undergraduate and graduate students) and Marquette University come aboard as part of our 4th cohort of our structured community development internship. The town-gown collaboration has been great for us and we are always proud to watch these students as they graduate and move on into their professional careers.
In that same vein, we are extremely proud of Megan Diaz-Ricks, who will be moving on from Common Wealth Development to take a position as the Community Partnerships Director for Community Shares of Wisconsin. Community Shares is a phenomenal organization, and while Megan will be missed at Common Wealth, we are excited to see everything she will accomplish as part of the Community Shares team. Congratulations Megan!!!
Lastly, we hope everyone has been able to muster up the energy and spirit to get out to the festivals and fairs this summer! It was so great to be back out to Waterfront and La Fete de Marquette in their full glory---a truly Madison experience!! With AtwoodFest, Orton Park Festival and our own Willy Street Fair still on the horizon, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy our community!!
In the words of an old mentor and educator, we continue to do the work we do because we hope, audaciously.
Happy Summer, and I will see you at the Willy Street Fair!!!
In solidarity,
|
Justice Castañeda
Executive Director
Common Wealth Development, Inc.
|
|
|
|
The exuberance of spring, with blooms bullying each other for sunlight and verdant eruptions of leaves cascading over all surfaces, sky and earth, mirrors the frenetic energy around the housing operation offices this time of year. Living in a temperate climate, we are challenged by time and seasons to attend to the multitude of maintenance tasks we need to accomplish during the all-too-brief summer. In addition, our admin team is working at full capacity to process renewals and complete all the paperwork that comes along with it as we enter peak renewal season.
While our staff hustles and bustles, we also get to revel in the enlivening of our communities and properties. Released to wild and endless potential of summer break, youth repopulate the green spaces during the daytime playing games, lounging, and recreating the vibrancy missing during winter. Summertime of course means grilling time. Grills sprout up around the perimeters of buildings like mushrooms and charcoal wafts through the air at closing time and on weekends. Outdoor events and activities restart, and life is everywhere.
The simmering COVID pandemic makes all this activity feel surreal and suspect. People are still cautious but cautiously adventurous and optimistic. We know so much more than we did and are better able to plan, prevent, and adapt. In June, our housing specialist, Kari Alston, collaborated with residents of Yahara River View to initiate a weekly coffee hour. The isolation forced by the pandemic meant that many residents were meeting each other for the first time despite having resided in the building for many months. Plans are in the works for pizza and movie nights for families as well as a courtyard barbecue.
Community is central to everything we do, and our efforts to foster healthy, engaged, and sustainable communities were severely challenged the past two years. Isolation and stress brought their usual effects of increased conflict, less empathy, and greater adversity. The ability to once again host and foster community engagement has been a major boon to the emotional well-being of our residents as well as our staff.
Our housing staff has been fortunate enough to add 2 Housing & Resident Relations Specialists as summer interns from UW-Madison’s Urban & Regional Planning program to our staff. Mia Chapman and Scott Heacock will assist with admin tasks and projects for the duration of the summer. In addition, we are actively expanding our maintenance team by adding additional full-time staff as well as trying to develop a way to host apprentices looking for exposure to maintenance career. We are currently hiring for 3 Maintenance positions, so if you know anyone, please spread the word! We look forward to all the good we can do with extra hands to support the work and mission!
|
|
|
|
Equitable Economic Development |
|
|
|
Youth Workforce Development |
|
|
|
Youth-Business Mentoring Program
This past spring we held five of our Youth-Business Mentoring Program (YBMP) sessions, and many youth are in the process of getting a job – and many have been hired!
Some of the topics that youth learned through this training include:
- How to find and apply for a job
- Interviewing skills
- Financial literacy (including topics such as budgeting and credit)
- Wellness in the workplace and personal branding
We have one upcoming virtual YBMP session this summer before we look ahead to more in-person trainings in the upcoming school year. If you or you know of a youth between the ages of 14 – 17 years old who are looking to learn more about how to be successful in the workforce and start a job, please consider applying!
Training is held Monday through Friday, from 2:00 to 3:00pm for two weeks. The upcoming scheduled training will be held via Zoom, youth must have access to a computer with a camera and internet access.
**To apply, a youth must submit a youth application and have their parent or guardian submit the permission form. The links to the forms can be found on our website:
Once applications are submitted, a staff member will follow up with the applicant to discuss next steps. While we do accept applications on a rolling basis, there are specific deadlines applications must be turned in by to attend a specific training session. Those dates are listed below:
Any questions can be directed to Ashley Hoeft, Youth Workforce Development Manager. She can be reached via email ashley.h@cwd.org or by phone 608-620-7862.
|
|
|
|
Financial Literacy Workshops
We offer free financial literacy workshops to groups around Madison and Dane County. If there is any interest in having Common Wealth staff provide a training to your student group(s), please reach out to Ashley Hoeft at ashley.h@cwd.org. We are happy to host both VIRTUAL and IN PERSON workshops. If there is interest in having a workshop, please reach out and we can discuss options.
Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program
In it’s 9th year running, the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program is in full swing! 25 City of Madison youth are working paid internships learning about their city government, development, and career skills while networking with peers and community and government professionals. This program is held on an annual basis in the summer, with applications opening in late January. Please look out for more details this fall!
Program for Entrepreneurial and Agriculture Training
This program is a paid, 8-week summer internship where up to 9 youth work on a local farm in partnership with Neighborhood Food Solutions. This is an in-person program that works for 20 hours per week for the duration of the summer. Youth learn about food systems, farming, and financial literacy, and get to spend some quality time getting their hands dirty and building relationships with fellow youth and adults in the urban agriculture world.
In order to apply to be in this program, a youth must have participated in our Youth-Business Mentoring Program (YBMP) at some point prior to the start of the summer. Students who are interested are welcome to apply to YBMP at any time, but enrollment for this program opens early to mid-May. Any questions or for more information about how to apply can be directed to Ashley Hoeft, Youth Workforce Development Manager, at ashley.h@cwd.org or 608-620-7862.
|
|
|
|
ADULT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
|
|
|
Common Wealth’s Adult Workforce Development program
Is fully operational and ready to help with your employment needs.
Call or email us to set an intake appointment and to discuss how we can help
or visit us at JOB SHOP at the Meadowood Neighborhood Center
5734 Raymond Rd Madison WI, 53711
Every Wednesdays from 9am until 1 pm
JOB SHOP provides drop-in services for anyone looking for work in Southwest Madison. Wednesdays all year long from 9am - 1 pm at the Meadowood Neighborhood Center (5734 Raymond Road)
Some of the available services are:
· Résumé Writing & Cover Letters (provided by UW’s Madison Writing
Assistance Center, writing professionals, and Adult Workforce Development
staff)
· Online Job Applications
· Public Benefit Applications
· Housing Searches
· Resource referrals
· FSET Enrollment & Case Management
· Rental assistance application
· Direct referrals to Joining Forces for Families
Staff are available to meet with community members Mondays through Friday, 9am-5pm at our Southwest office at The Alliance at 5802 Raymond Road. If you would like more information on or assistance with help finding job leads, doing a resume, interview prep, or enrolling in FoodShare and other State benefits, please contact us. Or if you would like to explore what resources may be available to you and your family, we can also assist with that also.
Staff and community members must always wear masks during face-to-face interactions. CWD will be happy to provide masks when needed. Please contact us with any questions about our available services or to set up an appointment at the numbers listed below.
Contact Information:
Marquis Sanders , Adult Workforce Development Coordinator, 608-516-5332 or marquis@cwd.org.
Rachel Stetenfeld, Adult Employment Specialist, 608-516-1582 or rachel.s@cwd.org.
|
|
|
|
New Businesses at the Madison Enterprise Center
Arriving in June 2022
bernie & zuzu: “Here at bernie & zuzu, color is a verb. Color energizes, color enlivens, color transforms. Color sparks joy, brings light, celebrates love. At bernie & zuzu, we create small batch, hand painted, dyed and screen printed goods with a special emphasis on bold color, lively shapes, and playful patterns. We believe there are as many ways to be a rainbow as there are humans in the world. We hope our goods inspire tiny moments of beauty, wonder and joy in your life.”
Arriving in July 2022
Dinsart Design: Providing sustainable design solutions by sourcing second hand materials, and items from local makers.
Services Include:
Interior Design: Remodel Design and Space Planning, including 3D Renderings. We’ll ensure all your materials are sourced sustainably through our local community. There will be complete flexibility in your design options, allowing you to be as creative as you’d like with your new space.
Custom Furniture: We believe in relying on the local community of makers to bring custom designs to life. If you’re interested in repurposing vintage furniture into custom vanities or kitchen islands, we’d be happy to design a piece for you. If you have a specific idea in mind, we will collaborate with the right artist for the custom build.
Project Management: We collaborate with General Contractors, and will help coordinate everything from initial design consultation through the completion of the project. We have systems in place to provide you real-time status updates as we move through each phase of your project.
Ali Lockery Photography: “Ali Lockery Photography was built on the foundation of capturing the most real photos of you and your loved ones. I live for those intimate moments, meaning that no matter if you’re a pro in front of the camera or super uncomfortable, I’ll make sure the experience stays laidback, fun, and allows you to truly be yourself. My experience focuses on capturing the emotions of your day, from witnessing mothers gawking and fathers crying to little ones dancing and, of course, that priceless first look.”
Anna Marie Photography: “Your wedding day is naturally unlike any other day because YOU are unlike any other couple out there. THAT is the driving force of why I love what I do and that is why I put so much love into the experience you have with me.
I take time to know your story, learn about your relationship to each other and then put it into my creative spin machine and deliver photos that are artsy, vibrant and ultimately different. If you want to get weird, I’m your girl and I can promise you that my photos will make you FEEL which in my opinion, is the whole damn point.”
Updates from our Incubator Businesses
TacoCat Creations: TacoCat Creations's owner Meagan Porter was featured in Madison Magazine's Meet the Maker column in the June 2022 issue. They also received a nomination for Madison's Best Local Etsy Shop for the second year in a row, the results to be published in the August 2022 issue of Madison Magazine. TacoCat Creations was also featured in April on Channel 3000's Live in the 608 morning show discussing their weekly appearances vending adjacent to the Dane County Farmer's Market. You can find them nearly every Saturday during Farmer's Market season at the top of State Street in front of Clary's Popcorn.
Old Sugar Distillery: “We are increasingly becoming known for our ability to host not just rehearsal dinners but weddings as well. We can accommodate sit down events up to 120 people, and sometimes have multiple weddings in one weekend!”
For more information about renting spaces at MSI, MEC or the Common Wealth Gallery, please contact Brendan Vandenburg-Carroll via phone: (608) 438-6804 or e-mail: brendan@cwd.org.
|
|
|
|
Health Equity and Well Being |
|
|
|
Health Equity and Violence Prevention
Stephanie Bradley-Wilson, Director of Health, Equity, and Violence Prevention
|
|
|
|
Love Your Neighborhood Series
The Southwest Madison Action Coalition (SMAC) will host a 6 leadership workshops, July-November, aimed at reinvigorating neighbors throughout several neighborhoods in the 53711 neighborhoods. The 2-hour workshops are free, include lunch and serve as an opportunity for neighbors to reconnect. The sessions are designed to be engaging and facilitated by local individuals invested in our community. Each session is at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 5701 Raymond Rd. Volunteers from Holy Cow will provide the lunch. Use the QR code on the flyer to register or go to https://southwestmadison.org.
Session 1: 7/9/2022- Connection and Community Involvement. Focus Question: “As neighborhood leaders, what do you want to see happen in the community to build connection over the next two years?”
- Sharon Lezberg facilities our visioning process
Session 2: 7/23/2022: Community Organizing and Engagement
- Randy Stoecker, UW-Extension Sheray Wallace, Meadowood Health Partnership and Cory Foster, Toki Middle share their organizing experiences.
Session 3: 8/13/2022: Power Dynamics: Intersections of race, class, culture
- Abha Thakkar will lead the discussion. Additional local facilitator TBA
Session 4: 9/10/2022: Community Assessment
- Why assessments are important work to understanding your community
- Facilitator TBA
Session 5: 10/8/2022: Housing
- The complex issues of housing in Madison
- Invited Justice Castañeda
Session 6: 11/12/2022: Community Wellness
- What does a well community look like and how to work towards community wellness.
- Facilitator TBA
|
|
|
|
SMAC Grant
Southwest Madison Action Coalition (SMAC) was granted $5000 in United Way Microinvestment Funds for a racial health equity program which provides period products, relevant health education information, lists of resources in the area, and other sexual wellness items to community members in Southwest Madison. The goal of the program is to help people advocate for their health by arming them with knowledge about their bodies that wouldn’t be received in other venues (such as schools). By providing health products to the community, families will save money on items that are critical for menstruating people to go about their lives. If you’d like to learn more about this program or partner with SMAC, please contact Courtney at ccarlson.smac@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project-VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Common Wealth Development has partnered with Meadowridge Library and Madison School & Community Recreation-Meadowood Neighborhood Center to create a VITA site in Southwest Madison.
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a program that offers free tax help to those who make $54,000 or less and those with disabilities. While there are VITA sites throughout Madison, we have recognized a need for a site in Southwest Madison. Volunteers will aid in filling out tax forms for those that need help. Being a VITA volunteer is a rewarding way to learn more about the tax code and give back to the community.
We are looking for a few Site Coordinators to act as leaders for this program. Ideally, they would have some experience in tax accounting. Site Coordinators will be tasked with training a group of Tax Preparers to complete simple tax returns. They will also be responsible for verifying that the tax returns are done correctly by each of the Preparers and answering any questions that may arise. These Site Coordinators are expected to go through training and take a free certification test.
Common Wealth Development will host a handful of information sessions to further explain the role and answer any questions interested people may have. If interested fill out the Interest Form that can be accessed through the QR code provided on the flyer or email stephanie@cwd.org.
|
|
|
|
"A Seed Called Community", Common Wealth Development’s
podcast series!
Learn more about CWD and other contemporary topics by listening to “A Seed Called Community.” The short 20–30-minute podcasts feature CWD staff and the ongoing work being accomplished to help make Dane County a better place for all. Learn about our housing, business incubators, workforce development and other efforts that CWD is doing in the community.
Find “A Seed Called Community” on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn or wherever you subscribe to your podcasts.
|
|
|
|
Marquette Minute
News from the Marquette Neighborhood Association
|
|
|
|
Support the Marquette Neighborhood Housing Crisis Fund
Established with a contribution from MNA’s emergency budget, this fund will provide support to individuals and families in the Marquette Neighborhood who are at risk of losing their housing. It will be managed and allocated by the Tenant Resource Center to make maximum impact through uses like rental assistance, utility payments, and rental rights support.
Learn more and contribute here.
|
|
|
|
Meadowood Neighborhood Association
By Terry Evanson, President
|
|
|
|
Represent your neighbors on the Meadowood Neighborhood Association Board
Meadowood Neighborhood Association (MNA) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, that represents the residents of our neighborhood. Meadowood is divided into 15 areas, with a representative from each area serving on our Board of Directors. The Board sets the direction for MNA, sponsors neighborhood activities, and partners with other non-profits, like Common Wealth Development, to promote a safe and engaged community. If you are over 18 years old and live in the Meadowood neighborhood, you can serve on our Board of Directors. We are specifically looking for individuals to represent residents living in apartments north and south of Raymond Road, between Whitney Way and Cameron Drive. The commitment involves attending a 1 ½ hour evening board meeting on the first Wednesday of each month (except July), encouraging neighbors to join MNA and helping with sponsored activities as you are able. If you are interested in joining our board, please send an email with your name and contact information to MNABoard1@gmail.com. I’ll be happy to talk to you about MNA. Learn more about MNA at https://www.meadowoodneighborhood.org/.
Terry Evanson, President
Meadowood Neighborhood Association
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Wealth Development
news@cwd.org
P: 608.256.3527
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
