Hello YGB Community,

In light of all that's been happening in our city, we're happy to share a list of opportunities to come together and build community. It's this kind of fellowship that helped YGB build community and strategy at the recent WiLD training. Please stay tuned for some next steps from us on moving toward real and lasting change that elevates community power. Until then, please enjoy these upcoming opportunities to stay engaged.

Darbo-Worthington Peace Walk and Block Party
Thursday, August 24, at 4pm - Mentoring Positives Inc. (414 Rethke Av)

On August 24, Mentoring Positives will host an event that will feature art provided by Community Unity Arts, local food carts for an excellent dinner, and a march through the neighborhood to call for peace and justice. By sharing food and art together, our community members will become connected on a deeper level. Click here for more info.

Infamous Mothers Campaign
All Month

Infamous Mothers is an organization based in Madison that “taps into, cultivates and releases the power of women who mother from the margins of society.” One of Infamous Mothers’ latest campaigns is to donate 10,000 of their books to mothers in low-income communities, prisons, domestic abuse shelters, drug rehabilitation facilities, and YWCAs. Please support this effort by donating here (August 30 is the last day to donate).

Other Events:

SURJ MKE Workshop: Civil Rights History Bus Ride

Saturday, August 5, at 10am - Wisconsin Black Historical Society (2620 W Center St in Milwaukee)

This Saturday, the Milwaukee organization SURJ MKE will be hosting a historic bus tour of some of Milwaukee’s most important sites from the Civil Rights Movement. The bus tour will feature Peggy Rozga, who was part of the NAACP Youth Council in the 60’s. More info here.

SE WI NORML at Center St Daze
Saturday, August 5, at 11am - E Center St. in Milwaukee

We know that the criminalization of marijuana is a leading cause of the disproportionate amount of people of color in the Dane County Jail. During Milwaukee’s Center Street Daze event this Saturday, stop by the SE WI NORML tent to buy t-shirts and pins in support of legalizing marijuana. More info here.

Immigration Information Forum
Saturday, August 5, at 1pm - South Division High School (1515 W Lapham Blvd in Milwaukee)

This Saturday in Milwaukee, there will be a public forum to learn and discuss the latest updates on immigrant rights in America - specifically, what’s going on with DACA, how AB190 will hurt immigrant communities, what Milwaukee is doing on the topic of immigration, and more. More info here.

Social Good Summit
Thursday, August 17, at 9am - Madison Public Library (201 W Mifflin St.)

If Madison’s businesses dedicated more of their focus to uplifting marginalized communities, our city would be in a much better place. This all-day conference will mobilize social good entrepreneurs with resources and community input. Part of Madison’s Forward Fest. More info and tickets here.

African Fest Madison
Saturday, August 19, at 11am - Central Park (202 S Ingersoll St.)

To celebrate the diversity of our heritage, the African Fest on August 19 will bring together Madisonians to enjoy Africa’s culture, food, music, and people. More info here.

Sanfoka MKE 2017
Saturday, August 19, at 2pm - Washington Park Bandshell (4599 W Lloyd St in Milwaukee)

On August 19, Sanfoka Milwaukee will host a free festival to celebrate “the beauty of Black lives, music, and culture.” More info here.

Back to the Silk Road
Saturday, August 20, at 12pm - Badger Rock Neighborhood Center (501 E Badger Rd)

Gather together on August 20 to enjoy a drum circle, goods to purchase, and food to support social change through collective work. More info here.

Data for Impact Conference
Tuesday, August 22, at 8am - Memorial Union (800 Langdon St.)

As part of the Forward Festival, the Data for Impact Conference will provide a vital lesson on how to use small, detailed pieces of data to make a big difference in issues like racial justice. More info here.

9th Black/Latino Unity Picnic
Sunday, August 27, at 1pm - 1602 S Park St.

Join us on August 27 for the Black/Latino Unity Picnic (Noveno Picnic por la Unidad) to unite over the commons struggles of working people of color. The event will feature music, poetry, delicious food, activities for children, and dancing. More info here.

Dear YGB Community,

This Tuesday, the Havens Center for Social Justice will host an event that you can’t miss! At the UW Madison Writing Center (6171 N Park St) on Tuesday, March 14 at 4pm, there will be a free lecture by award-winning activist Jamala Rogers: ¨Why Dismantling Racism is Central to Democracy." Rogers has worked with an extensive list of racial justice groups in St. Louis and around the country, including the National Black Political Assembly, the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression, and the protests in Ferguson following the murder of Mike Brown, and her message is vital to our movement. 

For more info on the event, please click here.

Please join us on Tuesday to listen to Jamala Rogers!

Dear YGB Community,

This February, President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions signed three executive orders to increase punishment for federal crimes and give more power to the police. We MUST continue to fight State violence, bigoted policies, and the disparaging effects of white supremacy by Understanding Black Needs and Building Collective Analysis, Direct Action, and Advocacy to build the people power that eventually makes real change.

Please continue to stay engaged and consider participating in these upcoming events:

Showing of “How To Start A Revolution”

March 2, 6:30pm - Madison Central Library (201 W Mifflin St)

This Thursday at the Central Library, political theorist Gene Sharp’s film “How to Start A Revolution” will be shown. The film will explore Sharp’s 198 methods of initiating a nonviolent revolution, which have been used from Ukraine to Egypt to Serbia. The film will inform us with new ideas on how to conduct civil disobedience and direct action in the most effective way possible.

Vigil and March for Tony Robinson
March 6, 5:30pm - East High School (2222 E Washington Av)

March 6, 2017 will mark the two year anniversary of the fatal day that MPD Officer Matt Kenny brutally murdered Tony Robinson, made possible by our racist police system. Although a $3.35 million lawsuit has been settled in favor of Tony's family, justice has still not been served, as the MPD is yet to fire Matt Kenny and none of their policies have changed. This Monday, March 6, we will remember the life on Tony and build people power with a vigil and a short march. More info here.

YGB SouthSide Input Social
March 7, 5pm - Fountain of Life Covenant Church (633 W Badger Road)

This Tuesday, let your voice be heard at YGB's SouthSide Input Social, where we will gather to eat, listen to good music, connect, and let the City of Madison know what our priorities should be for the South Side. We have a space for kids too! More info here.

International Women’s Day Against Trump

March 8, 7pm - George L. Mosse Humanities Building (455 N Park St)

On March 8, an International Women’s Strike will be held to protest social, legal, political, verbal, and moral sexism across the globe. As Trump threatens to defund Planned Parenthood and Neil Gorsuch looks to repeal Roe V. Wade, we must organize together to show that the world’s women united will never be defeated. On the night of March 8, an event will be held on the UW Campus to support women’s solidarity against Trump, featuring community organizers from across the Midwest. More info here.

Living Room Conversation on Community Control Over the Police

March 11, 10am - James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation (2146 E Johnson St)

On March 11, Groundwork will host a living room conversation about specific policy solutions to State violence, including community control over the police. Following the discussion, a potluck will be served and a Facilitator Training will be held. More info here.

Empowering Children and Ourselves to Talk About Race

March 12, 2pm - 201 W Mifflin St

If we are to truly make progress, we must start by educating our children to be empathetic and anti-racist. This Families for Justice event will do just that by providing parents with concrete strategies for raising their children to be critical thinkers and social justice advocates. Please register for the event by clicking here.

On Thursday at 4pm, we met at the Police Union (660 John Nolen Drive) to demand officer accountability and community control over the police. There were arrests, and then the rally was brought to the corner of Rimrock and John Nolan, where we faced extreme heat and extreme rain to demand justic for the National Day of action. There were arrests, and they had absolutely no purpose - the street wasn't even opened up after arrests were taken. You can read our article about the afternoon by clicking here.