Kids and Cops play beautiful B-ball
The third annual Kids and Cops Basketball game at the new Menominee Nation Arena, home of the Wisconsin Herd, is on Saturday, March 10, from noon to 4:00 pm. The game is designed to create a positive day of youth and officer engagement. Space is limited to 75 youth participants.

Girls and boys in sixth to twelfth grades are invited to play on mixed teams with police officers. Youth participate for free, but registration is required by no later than Thursday, March 1 by completing the online form which you can access by clicking the registration button at right.

Participants each receive a complimentary t-shirt, lunch and medals. Refreshments will be provided by the arena. Family friendly activities are also available.

The game is organized each year by Fit Oshkosh and the Oshkosh Police Department. This year additional sponsors include the Menominee Nation Arena, First Congregational Church Oshkosh, Crown Trophy and the Wisconsin Herd.

Donations from community members make the event possible. Businesses and individuals who would like to donate are asked to contact Fit Oshkosh with questions or additional information at 920-267-8687 or via email with the button at right.

The event was developed in 2016 by Fit Oshkosh and community volunteers as a positive event that can bring the community together.
What:
Kids and Cops basketball game

Where:
Menominee Nation Arena
1212 S. Main St.,
Oshkosh


When:
Sat., March 10,
noon to 4 p.m.
Dive into the book " Deep Diversity" and a beautiful Color-Brave Community Read
There is plenty of time to catch up on the reading and join our lively and thought-provoking discussions on Shakil Choudhury’s Deep Diversity: Overcoming Us vs. Them .

With the January kick-off and first guided discussions launched, there are still two opportunities to join the Color-Brave conversations that remain: Tuesday, February 20 and Tuesday, March 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Fit Oshkosh headquarters, 36 Broad St., Oshkosh.

Regular attendee and local Pastor Jan LaVake, says,

" For me, the Color Brave Reads are just plain gifts.

Through them, I have been introduced to the perspectives and experiences of People of Color that I might otherwise not have heard. I have learned about racism in ways that have encouraged and taught me how to face and unlearn my own racism for change in my life for the good. 

The book discussions are Grace-filled and instructive. I can't recommend these opportunities strongly enough."

Pastor Jan will be sharing more reflections at the February 20 Color-Brave Read.

Choudhury explores how our brains (hard-wiring) can determine how we interact with people who are different from us and that we can influence our brains’ software to change our reactions.

Author Rick Hanson says, “Shakil Choudhury helps us know ourselves better by knowing others better, for our own sake, and for the sake of our fragile shared world.”

The book, Deep Diversity , can be ordered online. Those who order from Amazon.com are asked to use Amazon Smile and designate Fit Oshkosh as their non-profit choice so that Fit will receive a percentage of your purchase.

If you have questions email Fit using the link at right.
What:
Color-Brave Read

Where:
Fit Oshkosh
36 Broad St.,
Oshkosh


When:
Tues., Feb. 20 and March 20
6:30 p.m.
Our beautiful Color-Brave Library
makes the headlines
Our Color-Brave Lending Librarians Paula Steger and Mandi Isaacson were featured in an article and pictures published in the Oshkosh Northwestern on February 1.

They read to 46 students at Oak Lawn Elementary school in Oshkosh, on Jan. 30.

They read, "Dave the Potter, Artist, Poet, Slave,” by Laban Carrick Hill and "The Radiant Child,” by Javaka Steptoe to kids in Mrs. Gail Bertram’s first grade class and Mrs. Mary Hendricks’ third grade class.

Gail posted on Facebook, “My class was visited today by the FIT Oshkosh Color-Brave Lending Library on Wheels. The volunteers read two books about African American artists. The kids loved the books and especially loved making the crafts in the tradition of Jean-Michel Basquiat! Thank you FIT Oshkosh for sharing great books featuring great American heroes."

Thank you, Gail, for inviting us.

For a link to the Northwestern article click the button at the left.
Fit marches to a beautiful tune
Fit Oshkosh Executive Director Tracey Robertson and volunteer Dennis Chandler participated in the Women’s March activities in Green Bay on Sat., January 20th.

Stephanie Ortiz, Women’s March Wisconsin statewide director of outreach, said, “Essentially, it is our goal for these anniversary events to celebrate the work women of color have done over the year.”

The event took place in the gym of the YWCA from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Over 500 people were in attendance. Dennis and Tracey were busy all day long talking to people already familiar with our work and its impact and to those curious to learn more. More than 30 people signed up to receive our newsletter.

Dennis said that the best part about the experience for him was "the opportunity to make the people of northeast Wisconsin aware of Fit Oshkosh who did not know about the work that we do. It was a great place to teach people about us."

Tracey taught a workshop on “White Fellowship,” which is designed to teach White allies about the best practices for co-creating successful intercultural engagement. One of the most popular workshops fo the day, Fifty-five pre-registered attendees participated in the breakout. They were sent home with pledges on how to continue the work.

Please contact Tracey at fitoshkoshdirector@gmail.com if you would like to schedule the “White Fellowship” workshop or know of groups who might benefit from it.
See Tracey's beautiful TEDX video now
Tracey Robertson was honored to appear on the TedxOshkosh stage in November. If you missed the talk, you can now see it online using the button at right.

TedxOshkosh has posted Tracey’s talk, “Black Girls Aren’t Magic,” on their website.

This brief description is included: “Like much of the country, Northeast Wisconsin is browning, but where are the opportunities for girls of color? This talk explores how as a community we can come together and create magic in their lives.”

"It was the most nerve-wrecking talk I have ever done" says Tracey. "I was overwhelmed by the TEDx brand, but am completely overjoyed to be amongst arguably the best speakers of our time", Tracey adds.

At the end of her talk, Tracey received one of two standing ovations of the day.

If you are interested in having Tracey speak or keynote at a future event, please contact our office.

Washington is a new Fit board member
Christopher Washington recently joined the Fit Oshkosh Board of Directors.

Chris became intrigued with what Fit has to offer when he met Tracey last fall and saw it as a way to reconnect with the community.

“Fit Oshkosh is a good organization for me,” he said. “It appeals to the broader community, not just one group.”

Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, he has lived and worked in the Fox Valley for more than seven years. For the past four years, he has been a consultant for small and medium-sized business in Northeast Wisconsin. He coaches and consults with the executive leaders of companies that are going through changes. His role is to help implement software or policy changes and help people during the disruption of corporate adjustments and the uncertainty of change.

He enjoys working with executives and coaching a company’s leadership on how information technology works. He works with the people side of change and helps them work together to help them adopt and use change for business growth, profitability and success.

He is an independent consultant and has his own company, CL Washington Organizational Change Management Solutions, LLC. He is also a member of a larger organization that does this work in the Madison and Milwaukee areas. His career takes him all over the Fox Valley. Most recently, he has worked with Johnson Controls, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, Spectrum Brands and Ameriprise Financial in Minneapolis.
Show the beautiful message on a T-shirt
T he Good Neighbor yard sign's message is now on a beautiful T-shirt, which can be ordered by clicking the button at right.  

Shirts are available in several styles and colors and in adult and children sizes. Prices range from $22 to $28.

Ink to the People, the company that makes the shirts will return a portion of all sales to Fit Oshkosh. You can read the full story of how this sentiment began by going to the website.

Yard signs with the same message are not available from the t-shirt company. You can get them for $8 each at Fit Oshkosh headquarters, 36 Broad St., Suite 310, Oshkosh, and at Fit events. The signs are made of durable corrugated plastic with a sturdy H-shaped stake.
Fit Oshkosh, Inc.
920-267-8687
colorbraveconversations@gmail.com
fitoshkoshinc.org