"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson
OUR IMPACT IN AUGUST
The work we do makes a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Happy New Year!

August has been a difficult, yet awesome month. As always, we have been working tirelessly to stay in integrity for our community and the people we serve. We have been battling the bureaucracy of governmental contracts and the naysayers of the world working against us. And still, we rise. Despite the barriers, we have been working diligently to bring another amazing event to our community. I am excited to announce that on Saturday, September 16th from 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm, we will be hosting our 2nd Annual Harvest Festival on our farm, located at the Farley Center for Peace, Justice, and Sustainability. We started this event last year to celebrate community and all that we've sown and harvested. 

Last year, more than 500 people were in attendance! This year, we expect many more. We will have a live band, Cigarette Break, a soul band (a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and gospel) based out of Milwaukee and Madison's very own live DJ, DJ Pain 1. We will also have aerial performers, a majorette performance, a performance from the No Boundaries dance team, free food, wine, beer, and a spoken word performance. We'll also have a caramel apple station, African Drum Circle, stilt and tightrope walkers, and children activities! You don't want to miss this epic event! For those in wheelchairs or have other accessibility needs, we also have shuttle services available to take you from our South Madison Office at 2312 S Park Street to our farm in Verona. We also have golf carts that can help take you around the farm to the different activities if needed. If you plan to drink some of the free beer and wine, I also suggest signing up for our shuttle services since our farm is in Verona. For more information and to sign up for our shuttle service, please scroll down or visit our website.

There is a reason we are the community's choice nonprofit. We have a significant impact on the lives of those we serve. We cannot serve our community and pull off community events like this without people like you who continue to show up and show out in support of Urban Triage. It goes without saying that we are so grateful for everything you do for us. I know we ask a lot of you. However, we're making another ask of you this year to support the work of Urban Triage. Our Urban Harvest Festival is in need of sponsors, volunteers, or donations. You can also donate specific items for this event from our Amazon Wish List.

As a result of community support, we've grown and harvested thousands of pounds of fresh produce and food this summer from our farm. Our food supply is in abundance. Through our Supporting Healthy Black Agriculture program, the Farley Center has been a blessing, enabling our program to grow and expand. With our high tunnels, we can grow until November. This means that we will have free, fresh produce available for the community at our South Madison Office on Park Street on Mondays from 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm and Thursdays from 2:00 - 5:30 pm. Please stop by and pick some of this free food for yourself or your family.

I am also excited to announce that our Hemp Specialty Crop Workgroup has kicked off! This workgroup is for Black Entrepreneurs and is designed to provide education and support for individuals interested in the hemp industry. It covers various aspects of hemp cultivation, harvesting, processing, marketing, and business strategy. For those who missed the application this year or are interested for next year, please scroll down to join the waitlist for 2024, or visit our website.

We will also be launching a new initiative that will start in the next couple of weeks, our Security Deposit and Rental Support initiative. We are just finalizing the contract details with the County and then we're ready to launch. This initiative will help individuals who have experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19, have an income below 50% of the area median income, are moving, and need assistance with their security deposit. If you or anyone you know are in this situation and are experiencing financial hardships, please have them fill out our intake form and an Urban Triage staff member will reach out to them. Participants are eligible for a security deposit and up to three months of rental assistance. For more information about this initiative please read below and visit our website.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at bgrayson@urbantriage.org. Please click the view message button at the bottom of this email to see the entire email - as we always have a lot going on! 

Thanks again for your continuous love and support!
ANOTHER LIT EVENT COMING!
Summer is almost over and fall is on its way - that means that our 2nd Annual Urban Harvest Festival is around the corner! This celebration marks our second year of recognizing summer achievements and community impact. Grounded in sustainability and growth, the festival honors the collective efforts of funders, volunteers, and community members in empowering vulnerable individuals in the Greater Dane County Area. Set to take place on September 16, 2023, at our farm located at the Farley Center for Peace, Justice, and Sustainability, the Festival promises a vibrant experience with live music, acrobatics, a DJ, a majorette performance, food, wine, beer, and spoken word.
Last year, this event brought out nearly 500 community members. This year, we're hoping to double that. We are currently in need of volunteers, sponsors, and donors! If you, your friends, your co-workers, your employer, your neighbor, etc. are interested in playing a significant role in our community, please consider supporting this event. Our sponsorship package is available by clicking the button below. There are a number of different sponsorship levels. If you're not looking to be a sponsor but would like to donate to the event, please click the donation button below. If you would like to support us by joining us and supporting this event, please consider becoming a volunteer and click the button below.
This year's festival theme is "Wild Wild West", so come in your favorite hat, boots, flannel, etc. - outfits that are representative of the Wild Wild West. We will be giving out cash awards of up to $250 for the best dressed participant. Below is the itinerary for the event.
Event Itinerary Includes:

1:30 pm – 8:00 pm Shuttle Services 
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm DJ PAIN 1 
2:00 pm – 7:45 pm Children's Activities
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm African Dancers lead us to our land to start our programming
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Sponsoring Agencies Speak
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Free Food is served
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Bouncy House
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm No Boundaries Dance Performance
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Cigarette Break Band Performs
5:40 pm – 5:45 pm Spoken Word Performers
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm DJ Pain 1
LEADING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS
On August 25th, our CEO Brandi Grayson served as the Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the Social Good Summit. She was joined by some of our Urban Triage staff. The Summit showcased founders who have transformed into leaders. As the MC, Brandi guided everyone through the summit experience and introduced them to several new and future leaders.

Attendees were able to meet, greet, experience, and learn from their Social Good Accelerator (SGA) participants, who have become community leaders. This year’s Summit offered food, beverages, networking, exhibits, and engaging storytelling. There was a meet and greet of their current and former cohort entrepreneurs. They also explored the successes and hardships of their journey from founder to leader.
WE KEEP ON GROWING
A safe space for Black children and families to connect.
OUR HEMP INITIATIVE STARTED!
Our Hemp Specialty Crop Workgroup for Black Entrepreneurs began August 21st!
The program is for those interested in growing, cultivating, harvesting, and processing hemp to start a business in the CBD or hemp industry. Our Hemp Workgroup is a comprehensive program designed to provide education and support for individuals interested in the hemp industry.

Our workgroup takes place at two of our locations: our farm which is located at the Farley Center for Peace, Justice, and Sustainability in Verona, and our South Madison office located at 2312 S. Park Street. The workgroup covers various aspects of hemp cultivation, harvesting, processing, marketing, and business strategy. Classes are held on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm throughout the hemp harvest season and will continue until the hemp product is completed, which is expected to be by November.
The picture above is one of our hemp plants that is growing and being processed. In addition to the classes, all participants are eligible for a $2,500 grant to support their business venture when they graduate from the workgroup. To be eligible to receive the grant at the end of the program, students must attend a minimum of 90% of the program sessions and successfully complete all coursework and assignments.

To be on the waitlist for the 2024 Specialty Crop Hemp Workgroup for Black Entrepreneurs, please provide us with your contact information by clicking the button below.
DOESN'T GET ANY FRESHER THAN THIS!
We will have fresh produce available to community members every Monday from 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm and Thursdays from 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm. Produce available will change weekly based on what is harvested that week. Some of the items will be collard greens, green beans, watermelon, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, etc. Keep an eye out for what is available on our Facebook page.
TRANSFORMING LIVES
The work of transformation has begun!
Our workgroups are designed to bring about positive, permanent shifts in how we define and understand how white supremacy racism impacts systems and us. Shifts that are the direct cause for a new kind of freedom and POWER—the freedom to acknowledge and accept our painful history and the personal power to do something about it. Thus, impacting the confidence with which Black people live their lives and care for their families. 
 
Utilizing the framework of Dr. Joyce DeGruey’s post-traumatic slave syndrome, Urban Triage’s transformative education model looks at the seemingly insurmountable obstacles Black people have faced due to the ongoing and persistent trauma associated with existing within the context of white supremacy racism. 

There are three areas of learning that we focus on: 
Our workgroup is known for its life-changing impact, and our curriculum is like no other. If you commit to the work group, your life will improve.

Click below to learn more about our Supporting Healthy Black Families Workgroup!
Meet our Outreach Specialist, Fred Foster. He has been apart of our team since January 2023. Fred is passionate about his position, and you can see that through his work ethic and his clients who have been assisted by him in getting housing, providing essential items, and much more!

Fred loves outdoor activities like fishing, kayaking, and walking his dog. He also likes to thrift, try new restaurants, see new places, and occasionally play video games. We see and appreciate you, Fred, for all your hard work and dedication!
2ND ANNUAL URBAN HARVEST FESTIVAL
BLACK BRILLIANCE GALA
SPECIAL THANK YOUS!
We are possible because of YOU! We appreciate y'all!
Presenting Sponsor - $20,000 or More
Friend Sponsor - $500 to $4,999
WE'RE HIRING!
Be part of an amazing organization and join our team.
Want to take your career to the next level? Want to be part of an organization making a difference every day in the lives of our most vulnerable? Want to join a team of amazing staff? Well, Urban Triage is where you want to be! We are hiring for the positions listed below.
If you're interested in any of these positions, please email us at info@urbantriage.org for full descriptions. Apply at Urban Triage.org.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Here's what's happening in our community.
Saturday, September 30th | The Foundation for Black Women's Wellness 15th Annual Black Women's Wellness Day
As your local community nonprofit, FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, we promote the latest business news, community-focused events, and Urban Triage updates! Urban Triage’s newsletter, “The Report,” is a bi-weekly email communication that allows its readers to keep up-to-date with what is happening with Urban Triage and in the community! These biweekly emails currently reach nearly 10,000 contacts and community leaders!

To be considered for our Community Corner and Events Calendar, submit your news and events to info@urbantriage.org.
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Start making a difference now and join our team of volunteers!
Are you ready to create change in our community? Apply to become one of our community advocates and make a difference today!

We are currently looking for immediate volunteers for the following:

  • Agriculture
  • Bilingual Support
  • Organizing Office Space, Closets, and Storage
  • Event Committees
  • Events: Annual Summer Kick-off, Urban Harvest Festival, and Black Brilliance Gala
  • Grant Writing

If you are interested in volunteering for the above needs or any other future needs of Urban Triage, please sign up to volunteer below!
For the People, by the People.