Common Wealth Development's quarterly newsletter for residents, commercial tenants, workforce participants, and supporters LIKE YOU.
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Letter from the Executive Director |
As we wrap up another transformative year at Common Wealth Development, I find myself reflecting on the energy, resilience, and spirit of our Madison community. Our summer has been filled with inspiring stories of collective action, art, and history --
many of which are from the uplifting voices of Madison’s youth.
Our beloved Willy Street Fair celebrated its 46th anniversary, marking nearly five decades of uniting the community in joyful festivity. This "gala" is more than an event; it’s a symbol of what we can achieve when we rally together. As we swayed to the melodies from local musicians and savored delightful dishes, we were reminded of the origins of this cherished gathering, born out of a community's dream to transform Williamson Street in the late 1970s. A dream that subsequently laid the foundation for Common Wealth Development. Our collaboration with the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, which began in 2000, remains a testament to the strength of our local partnership, and we were ecstatic to bring back the 3rd block of the fair.
If you’ve driven by our East Side (Willy Street) office, you may have noticed the beautiful artwork lighting up the Rogers Street side of the building. This new mural stands as a vibrant reflection of resilience and solidarity. It speaks to the indomitable spirit of Indigenous communities, once again realized during the COVID-19 pandemic. This collaboration of talented Native artists from the Madison area is a true gift, and we are honored to have it as part of our daily experience. It is a story of identity, culture, and strength in the face of adversity.
As we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program, I was once again reminded of the power of mentorship and hands-on experience. Over the past decade, we have proudly supported hundreds of Madison youth, equipping them with invaluable skills and insights. These young leaders have engaged city staff, local community leaders and elected officials around City of Madison development projects, gaining first-hand experience and making tangible impacts on our city. This year, they presented visionary proposals for the South Madison Transfer Point redevelopment and the East Madison Hooper Site. Their determination, creativity, and commitment give me immense hope for Madison’s future. From placements in vital city departments such as the Fire and Police Departments, Public Libraries, and Mayor’s Office to projects that addressed critical urban challenges, this program has been a cornerstone of youth empowerment in our community. We are extremely proud of our relationship with the City of Madison through this project, as it is amazing to see civic leaders recognize the importance of investing in our youth and understanding how each internship, each project, and each placement has changed a young life and, in the process, transformed our community.
In this newsletter, you will find stories that transcend time – from the 1970s to the present, and tales that inspire hope for the future. I invite you to embark on this journey with us, as we continue to dream, achieve, and celebrate together.
Happy Fall!
Respectfully Submitted,
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Justice Castañeda
Executive Director
Common Wealth Development, Inc.
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In discussions about climate change and built environments, the focus generally rests on enhancing energy efficiency and decreasing fossil fuel usage—a focus substantiated considering roughly 20% of US carbon emissions stem from residential heating and cooling (Li, et al., 2022). Yet, there are often significant financial barriers to addressing these emissions through HVAC system upgrades, weatherization and retrofits. Moreover, the carbon footprint of demolishing and rebuilding surpasses that of renovation, bringing “Smart Surfaces” to the forefront as a viable solution.
Smart Surfaces represent innovative approaches to mitigating climate change by modifying pavements and roofs to lower temperatures, bolster biodiversity, and effectively manage stormwater runoff and retention. These surfaces encompass a significant portion of urban areas, offering immense potential for climate mitigation. What makes this approach particularly compelling is that many interventions are both cost-effective and uncomplicated.
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A roof painted in reflective colors |
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The Smart Surfaces Coalition is at the helm of piloting numerous such interventions across the US, and the results are encouraging. Beyond well-known strategies like green roofs and permeable pavers, other strategies for mitigating the effects of climate change include using lighter colored pavements to reflect more thermal heat, painting roofs in reflective colors, building bioswales into streets and parking lots, using solar trees (or retaining actual trees) to shade surfaces and generate solar energy, and replacing asphalt with turf blocks and bio-grids. A New York City case study demonstrated that merely changing a rooftops color to white could reduce surface temperatures significantly, showcasing a 26% reduction in temperature (Li, et al., 2022). In another example, a parking lot was built with porous turf blocks, which are grid-pattern blocks that allow grass and other vegetation to grow between the grids, recorded surface temperatures decrease by 17%, and rain water retention increase by 98% compared with traditional asphalt.
Critically, Smart Surfaces interventions can be implemented quickly with immediate results within reasonable budgets. At Common Wealth Development, we are strategizing to incorporate these solutions to amplify our local impact. Our ongoing collaborations with Elevate Energy and Sustain Dane are already steering us towards reduced fossil fuel consumption in our buildings. As we forge ahead, our goal remains clear: To equip our portfolio with an array of tools that champion green living!
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Li, Zekun; Loftness, Vivian; Ge, Siqing; Zhou, Yi; Sui, Jiyuan; Zhang, Zehan; et al. (2022). Smart Surfaces Guide. Carnegie Mellon University. Report. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/20186438.v2 |
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Equitable Economic Development |
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YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
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Common Wealth Development’s Youth Workforce Development programming prevents violence by supporting young people as they navigate the transitions that accompany adolescence and early adulthood.
We offer diverse and challenging programming at various stages of the lifespan for 14-18 year olds in high school; and we’ve just begun a new program, Experiential Learning and Leadership Academy (ELLA), which provides paid internship opportunities for recent high school graduates, undergraduates, and graduate students. Young people can enter their respective programming without previous CWD engagement and will gain access to support, critical education and skills, and networking opportunities throughout the Madison community.
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Common Wealth's Youth Mentorship Program
Welcome back to school!
With the start of the new school year comes the kick off for Common Wealth’s Youth Business Mentorship program (YBMP) fall schedule. At the four main Madison high school campuses, CWD staff provide a two-week paid training for youth to learn about themselves and their goals, prepare their workforce skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the myriad political and economic systems they will navigate throughout their lives and careers. The curriculum includes networking logistics, mastering first impressions, interviewing, learning financial foundations, career planning, communicating professionally, developing resumes and job applications, and more! Scholars in this program work individually and collectively to hone their skills with the supportive guidance of an adult mentor.
Students who enroll in this program:
- Gain access to Common Wealth’s entire portfolio of programs and resources
- Receive $100 for completing the two-week training
- Acquire a job and then,
- Earn elective school credit for the hours they work.
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To learn more about this program, apply, or connect with Youth Programs staff please reach out via email to info@cwd.org or
via phone (608) 256-3527.
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Workshops
Are you interested in developing a youth workforce training series tailored specifically for your organization? CWD works collaboratively with organizations to develop training sessions that are unique for specific groups’ needs. We can tailor programs on a schedule that works for you and cover relevant topics that may include resume development, personalized pathway planning, foundations of financial literacy, budgeting for pregnant and/or parenting youth, amongst many others.
These workshops are often one-hour sessions across three to eight weeks. Group sizes can range from small (6-8) or large (25-40) groups.
If you’d like to discuss how CWD can support your work or your organization, and develop a workshop together, please reach out to Ashley Hoeft via email ashley.h@cwd.org or via phone (608) 620-7862.
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2024 Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program
Next summer, we will be entering the 11th year of our Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship program!
In this program, Common Wealth staff work with 25 City of Madison youth over 8-weeks each summer, in a paid internship that provides young people with an opportunity to learn more about employment with the City of Madison. Through on-the-job training, structured lessons, and a rigorous civics curriculum, youth learn about City departments and processes, and build community and connections that they will carry forward into their post-secondary careers.
Interns work collaboratively, under the guidance of Common Wealth staff and UW-Madison technical assistants, to critically assess real-world projects happening throughout the city. Youth provide insight, analysis and critique in conversations with city staff, elected officials and community members around development initiatives and projects. Upon completion, interns earn elective school credit and the Department of Public Instruction’s Employability Skills Certificate.
We will begin recruiting for the 2024 program in mid-January.
To be eligible for the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program, youth must have a City of Madison address OR be enrolled in an MMSD school and be, at minimum, 14 years old. If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, or would like to receive recruitment information, please contact Ashley Hoeft, Director of Workforce Development, at ashley.h@cwd.org or 608-620-7862.
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Youth Advisory Board
Every month, a youth-led leadership board of sixteen City of Madison youth engage in challenging conversations with MPD Chief of Police Shon Barnes and other Community Outreach and Resource Education (CORE) team representatives. Common Wealth Development, in partnership with City of Madison , support this opportunity to discuss local Madison events and delve into ongoing issues with police-community relations, in addition to discussing broader systemic concerns with the history of policing in Madison and the US. Through paid trainings, Youth are able to offer their invaluable perspectives on how they are impacted by policies and all parties collaborate on processes for potential change. Going into its 3rd year, the Board has been host to honest, raw and productive dialogue around the topic of police involvement with Madison communities. If you would like more information about the Youth Advisory Board, please contact Common Wealth Development’s Executive Director, Justice Castañeda at justice@cwd.org or by phone at 608.620.7745.
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If you have any questions regarding any of the Youth Workforce Development programming offered at Common Wealth Development, please contact Ashley Hoeft, Director of Workforce Development at ashley.h@cwd.org or (608) 620-7862.
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ADULT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Serving Southwest Madison Residents in Achieving their Employment Goals
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Over the past few months, our Adult Workforce Development (AWD) Coordinator Kari Alston has been connecting individually with our program participants to discuss and work toward their employment goals, in addition to running our weekly Job Shop with community partners Joining Forces for Families (JFF) and Early Childhood Initiative (ECI), planning our upcoming Job Fair, and premiering our new WorkUp! Academy.
At the heart of our Adult Workforce Development program is the day-to-day appointments we have with program participants that are rooted in a coordinated care model. This means that our AWD Coordinator Kari works 1:1 with clients to meet them where they’re at and address various needs, such as housing support, food security, mental health and wellness, transportation, childcare needs, and access to health care.
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We recently featured one success story through the FoodShare Employment and Training Program (FSET):
Participant lost her partner, did not graduate from high school, and is caring for young children. She was at risk of losing her housing. We met and came up with a plan, drafted a new resume, and provided supportive services in the way of gas. We also decided on a referral to obtain the participants’ GED. Despite not being offered the first position she interviewed for, due to weight restrictions and safety regulations, I encouraged the participant to keep moving forward. The participant is now employed full-time in a position that offers advancement and is in the participants’ field of interest and the participant is working on obtaining her GED at the same time. We continue to support her by providing supportive services and positive motivation to continue to push towards achieving her goals.
Job Shop
To discuss employment goals and other barriers to employment, Kari is available for scheduled appointments throughout the week, or you can always find her at Job Shop, a hub where community members can speak directly to Kari or our other community partners from JFF and ECI about the full spectrum of their concerns related to getting and maintaining a job. This may include filling out job applications, housing concerns, daycare acquisition, and more. We will not have assistance from the UW Writing Lab throughout the end of the year, but Kari will be able to help with resumes and cover letters. A very important update about Job Shop: We are now offering free coffee.
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South West Transitional Employment Program (STEP)

We are growing our STEP program, which provides transitional employment opportunities for individuals who have been out of the workforce and are interested in gaining relevant work experience, professional references, and resources for job retention. As we transition into the fall, we are looking to build our direct hire opportunities! To be a part of STEP, we have the new requirement that participants must meet with Kari three times before enrollment. Once enrolled in the program, participants receive transportation to their placement and support from our AWD Coordinator and their site supervisor.

We would love your help in building awareness of AWD and all the support that is available from Common Wealth and our partners! Currently, we have 10 active program participants, who are all also enrolled in FSET, and we are growing every week.
Coming Soon: WorkUp! Academy
While a core component of our AWD work is to connect participants with available jobs, we also want to compliment the existing programs offered by piloting a training program that supports the skill development of community members as they pursue employment opportunities. Topics will include goal setting, professional communication, technology skills, financial literacy and more.
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For any additional information or questions regarding Adult Workforce Development programs or available resources, you can contact Workforce Development Coordinator Kari Alston at kari@cwd.org or (608) 516-5332.
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Entrepreneurship Huddle!
On September 11th, Common Wealth Development hosted an Entrepreneurship Huddle at Old Sugar Distillery in conjunction with the Food Finance Institute. This event provided a space for food and beverage entrepreneurs to connect with each other, solve business issues, and find support from one another in a compassionate way. Common Wealth is very excited to promote this first in-person Entrepreneurship Huddle, and looks forward to more in the future!
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Welcoming New Businesses!
We recently welcomed two new businesses to our community, Tori’s Trinkets and Not Your Angel Artistry!
They both joined our first-stage incubator at the Madison Enterprise Center.
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Tori's Trinkets
"Hello! My name is Tori & I am the person behind the Trinkets. I have had a love for jewelry making at a young age, ever since my mom opened up a bead store on the main street of my home town. I grew up helping her around the store, watching her teach classes and host parties where the community could gather and craft together. My grandmother helped her with the day to day activities in the store. When I look back on that time in my life I am filled with gratitude I got to grow up watching 2 strong women run a small business in our community and spend time with my family in that shop on main street. Although the shop is gone, my love for jewelry making is not. I hope to continue my family legacy by handcrafting pieces that bring joy and happiness to my community. I have lived in Madison, WI for 5 years now & I’ve loved every minute. I have worked hard to integrate myself into this amazing and welcoming community and now I can’t imagine living anywhere else." – Tori Morgan Nagel
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Not Your Angel Artistry
Not Your Angel Artistry is the online brand of Digital Illustrator, Alina Park. Alina is originally from Manhattan, Illinois, and relocated to Madison in the Fall of 2021 to pursue her career in art. Her creations often feature feminine figures and otherworldly themes. Although her main practice is digital art, she is also a talented acrylic painter and colored pencil artist. “I'm inspired by the beauty around me and the stories that I want to tell, which come together through my illustrations.” – Alina Park
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Commercial Space Available at the Business Incubators!
We are looking for more businesses to join our community! We have two spaces coming available at our first-stage incubator, the Madison Enterprise Center, and one space coming available at our second-stage incubator, Main Street Industries. Details about the spaces can be found below:
Madison Enterprise Center
- Suite 206 – Available Now!
- 1,455 sq ft
- Rent = $11.22 per sq ft
- Stubbed-in for water service
- Suite 303 – Available February 2024
- 843 sq ft
- Rent = $11 per sq ft
- Stubbed-in for water and kitchen service
- Ideal for food production!
Main Street Industries
- Suite 17 – Available December 2023
- 1,836 sq ft
- Rent = $16 per sq ft
- Stubbed-in for water and kitchen service
- Ideal for food production!
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The Deliciouser is hosting a variety of cooking classes and pop-up events.
Main Street Blood Drive
The Second Annual Main Street Industries Blood Drive, sponsored by Old Sugar Distillery, Giant Jones Brewing Company, and The Progressive magazine.
The drive is located at 931 E. Main Street from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday November 1, 2023. All presenting donors will receive a 2024 Hidden History of the United States wall calendar from The Progressive and a discount coupon for a beverage of their choice from Giant Jones.
You can sign-up to donate at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code “MainStreet” or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767) for more information

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Common Wealth Gallery (Madison Enterprise Center – 3rd Floor)
The Common Wealth Gallery is a community art gallery located in the historic Madison Enterprise Center at 100 S. Baldwin Street on Madison’s near east-side. The 2,000 square foot gallery can accommodate solo and group shows. The rental rate is $195 per week. The minimum rental period is one week. Reserve Common Wealth Gallery for a solo or group show. Please check availability by visiting our gallery calendar!
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Upcoming Events in the Gallery
Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD)
- Hosting the 10th Annual DĂa De Los Muertos Art Exhibition and Altar display for two weekends: 11/03 to 11/11/2023
Gallery Night
- Friday, November 3rd at 5-9 pm
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For more information about renting spaces at MSI, MEC or the Common Wealth Gallery, please contact Brendan Vandenburg-Carroll, Business Development Coordinator, via phone: (608) 438-6804 or e-mail: brendan@cwd.org.
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The 46th Annual Willy Street Fair |
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Thank you to everyone for joining us in celebrating 46 years of the Willy St. Fair! At Common Wealth, we like to think of this event as our yearly “gala,” where we enjoy five stages of amazing music, gifts from local vendors, and extraordinary food from local restaurants and food carts. This year we covered three blocks of Willy St., held our 50/50 raffle, and showcased our neighbors with a phenomenal Sunday parade. Though we have all been delighting in the Willy St. Fair for years, many of us don’t know the history of this neighborhood event! |
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A Walk Down Memory Lane
Through the 1970s and early 1980s, Williamson Street was in decline. The light industries and agriculture-related businesses, which had historically been the backbone of the neighborhood’s economy, either moved or died out, leaving many empty buildings and no jobs. For example, when La Samaritaine Co-op bought their buildings on the 1000 block in 1982, the derelict buildings were infested with mice and cockroaches. The perceptions of the condition of Willy Street were having a detrimental effect on the entire neighborhood.
There was a significant need for affordable housing created as if people mattered, the cultivation of a local economy, and workforce training. To preserve the integrity of the neighborhood, the neighbors founded Common Wealth Development in 1979.
To bring the community together again, local artists, musicians and engaged neighbors organized the first-ever “Willy Street Fair” on the third weekend in September, 1977. Their vision was a community model which included a tool lending library, a neighborhood recycling program, cooperative housing, and affordable housing for low-income families. Two years later, on February 14th of 1979, these same artists, musicians and neighborhood residents used the revenue and community support from the fair as the foundation for Common Wealth Development.
Now, the fair is a major neighborhood event and fundraiser held in collaboration with the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, who became a key partner in 2000.
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From everyone at Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Common Wealth Development, the Board and Staff, thank you for coming to the Willy St. Fair. |
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Mural at Common Wealth Development |
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This mural was created to represent the Indigenous community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When COVID started in 2020, Indigenous artists all over the country started producing masks with different artistic and cultural designs on them, specific to the artists' own practices and the motifs of their respective traditions.
The mural features six Native women wearing masks; I commissioned six different Native artists in the Madison area to contribute a design of their own for each of the masks. Those artists were (from left to right on the mural) Yelihwakanyehs Powless (Oneida), Shaya Schreiber (Ojibwe), Arvina Martin (Ho-Chunk, Stockbridge-Munsee), T Clearwater (Menominee), Paige Skenandore (Oneida), and Lucia Agostine (Ojibwe).
Collaboration is important to me when creating any art that is meant to be a reflection of a community, and I appreciate each of these artists for their contributions to this piece. The women are flanked by Michif florals that represent my own background (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa).

-nipinet at Red Clover Tattoo Collective
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Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program: 10th Anniversary |
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Happy 10th Birthday, Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program! |
On Friday, August 18th, we celebrated the graduation of our 2023 Wanda Fullmore Youth Interns! Together, with city staff, community members and families, we listened as this year’s cohort presented their proposals on the South Madison Transfer Point redevelopment and their visioning for the future of the East Madison Hooper Site. We also heard inspiring words from our Executive Director Justice Castañeda and Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway about the involvement of youth in Madison’s future and the importance of their voice in Madison’s present. This concluded the program’s 10th year running and we’re thrilled to celebrate this with the community!
Now in its 10th year, this year’s cohort consisted of, 22 City of Madison youth, who built their leadership skills through mentorship from Common Wealth Development staff, and the completion of a rigorous professional development series lending their perspectives and vision to real-world City of Madison development projects. We are extremely grateful for our partnership with the City of Madison, all of the supporting businesses, Common Wealth staff and most importantly, the incredible youth who continue to make this experience and internship such a success. The Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program is a unique opportunity for Madison youth to form valuable connections, gain exposure to different career paths, boost their resume, and represent the voice of Madison youth.
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Stay tuned for 2024 Wanda Fullmore Applications!
To be eligible for the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program, youth must have a City of Madison address OR be enrolled in an MMSD school, and be, at minimum, 14 years of age.
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Developing Affordable Housing in Dane County
By: Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive
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As the cost of housing increases, more families find themselves working extra jobs just trying to keep up and provide for their loved ones. The cost of basic needs like housing are a real struggle for many. To help address this issue in our community, Dane County established the Affordable Housing Development Fund to encourage the development of affordable housing projects and leverage additional resources from project partners.
This year, Dane County will award $10.8 million to help bring eight affordable housing projects to reality. Dollars from the county’s Affordable Housing Development Fund will be used to create 458 new affordable housing units, including 410 units in the City of Madison and 48 units in Oregon and Fitchburg.
Dane County previously partnered with Common Wealth Development by providing $154,858 in financing for the housing project at 5802 Raymond Road, Madison. The project provides a mix of studio, one, two, and three bedroom units primarily affordable for households at 50-60% of the County Median Income. It also provides commercial space for community-based supportive services.

Dane County’s Affordable Housing Development Fund was originally created in the 2015 county budget and, when including this year’s allocation, has now committed $42.5 million to support the development of projects with over 2,500 affordable living units. Dane County is committed to providing more affordable housing options in our community, and we are proud to have Common Wealth Development as a partner in this ongoing effort.
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Municipal Minute
By: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway
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In the past few months, we’ve seen the rollout of Madison Metro’s redesign, and I have announced the 2024 Executive Capital budget, which includes updated funding information for the upcoming two permanent shelters for Madison’s unhoused residents.
Since Madison Metro’s redesign in June, riders have commented that utilizing the metro is easier due to more direct routes, reduced travel time, and more frequent service. Riders have been able to plan their trips more easily and many people in surrounding communities, like Middleton and Sun Prairie, are also taking advantage of Metro service. Ridership is up significantly, by 12%, as more people are attracted to new routes.
On August 20th the first round of service adjustments began. These updates include schedule tweaks to help make connections, added trips to better hit morning work shifts, some adjustments to help keep routes on time, and restored service to complete trips to UW Hospital. As work continues, stay tuned for more updated schedules and trip planning data that is currently in development and will be available soon.
Current Benefits:
- More direct routes are great for planning and decrease travel time
- People enjoy the more frequent servicing on several routes
- Middleton and Sun Prairie community members can use Metro
- Ridership is increasing
Upcoming Improvements:
- Advanced accessibility
- Increased bus tracking and trip planning data
- Fixing signs at the bus stops to better reflect new routes
If you want to let the Metro know what you believe should be improved, please give them a call at (608) 266-4466 or email at mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com
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In September, the 2024 Executive Capital Budget was announced, which you can find here. This document details my proposal for funding buildings, infrastructure, and other capital investments in Madison. The budget details how we will continue investing in housing and neighborhoods by embarking on two transformational public-private mixed-use housing projects in South Madison and the Triangle Neighborhood. Our investment in affordable housing is increasing over 60 percent from the 2023 plan.
We plan to create a more sustainable city with the $13 million in federal tax credits we will receive from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act; this will include investing in solar installations for various Madison housing and other facilities.
Back in March, I spoke at the press conference regarding the planned Salvation Army Shelter. This project is a $4 million federal investment, for which we owe a debt of gratitude to Sen. Baldwin, Congressman Pocan, and their colleagues in Congress, to build a new emergency shelter and community center for families and single women experiencing homelessness. In the 2024 budget, I announced how $2 million dollars in additional funds and solar panel installations have been allocated for the City’s first purpose-built homeless shelter on Bartillon Drive. Building this shelter will be a big City priority in 2024 and we are once again we are grateful for the strong partnership of the County Executive Parisi and our federal partners who have financially contributed to the success of the shelter.
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Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center
504 S. Brearly Street
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We’re an inclusive neighborhood center that’s provided diverse programming for our community and all those in need since 1968.
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Meadowood Neighborhood Association
By Mike Edmonds, President
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Be A Part of a Great Neighborhood!
Join the Meadowood Neighborhood Association.
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Actually, you are part of a great neighborhood! And if you are a member of the Meadowood Neighborhood Association, great! Thank you for your support. You can continue to support the Meadowood Neighborhood Association by renewing your membership or joining for the first time. The cost is only $10 per household for the year.
What you get:
- Subscription to the Meadoword (5 issues per year)
- Free participation in all our activities, and
- Free community dinners
You also help support the Meadowood Health Partnership which serves needy families in our neighborhood.
The Meadowood Neighborhood Association (MNA) was organized on July 11, 1958, with the purpose to “work for community betterment” and to “promote fellowship.” Sixty-five years later this is still true.
The MNA Board works closely with Alder Figueroa-Cole, County Supervisor Veldran, Captain Kelly Beckett of the West Police District, Good Shepherd Church, Meadowridge Library, Common Wealth Development, and others to represent your interests and build a strong, safe and vibrant community.
This is my first column as MNA President. For the past seven years, Terry Evenson has been president. My thanks to Terry for all the work she has done for our community.
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Marquette Neighborhood Association
By Jen Plants, President
Marquette Neighborhood Association’s Waterfront and Orton Park Festivals are so much more than just great summer parties!
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Nur-D performs at the 2023 Orton Park Festival |
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Did you know that the Marquette Neighborhood Association (MNA) awards tens of thousands of dollars in grants annually to neighborhood schools, non-profits, and individuals?
MNA’s Waterfront and Orton Park Festivals not only support MNA-led programming and advocacy, but most importantly, our annual grant program. In 2023, over $50,000 in grants were awarded to a wide variety of spectacular neighbors. MNA grants supported Common Wealth’s Youth Business Mentoring Program and its Main Street Industries Rehabilitation Projects, but Common Wealth was just one of 14 grant award winners.
From college scholarships to a sensory garden at the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, MNA grants fund all kinds of programs and projects to help keep Marquette a great place to live, work, and play.
2024 grant applications will be open in January, and we are always looking to diversify and increase our pool of applicants. In December, application details will be announced in December on our website and on MNA’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, and a community grant-writing workshop is planned! For more information, please contact MNA President Jen Plants at president@marquette-neighborhood.org
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Available Positions through Northside Planning Council |
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Common Wealth Development
news@cwd.org
P: 608.256.3527
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