We're a little more than a week into the month set aside to celebrate Black history. For some, this month is just another in our annual calendar. For others, it's a nod to Black history and culture and the contributions Black Americans have made to our country. Still for others, it feels like an injustice to those who identify as Black because we're not lifted up year-round, just the shortest month of the year.

For me, this month is about remembering that I am standing on the shoulders of those who came before me – I am where I am because of the strides they made. And it's up to me – and you – to continue their work every day of the year.

Internally, many of our teams are taking extra time this month to hold space and have discussions about what Black history means to them and to Goodman.

In particular, our Lussier LOFT team is doing a great job of not only talking internally but also sharing concepts with Goodman youth, with their focus being on intersectionality. I've learned a lot from these discussions personally and encourage you to do your own work on learning more about intersectionality and how it impacts our community. This video is a great place to start.

The main takeaway that I'd love for you to consider is to simply act. Take the initiative to learn more about the cultures, ethnicities and identities that surround you here in our community. Start now and then carry it throughout the year.

If we all plug in, what a change we could make – together! 

With gratitude,

P.S. I'd love to hear from you about how you're celebrating Black History Month. Feel free to reply to this email and my team will share your messages with me. 

P.P.S. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages all month. We'll be sharing stories about the Black history being made right here at Goodman by our staff and participants. 

Last week, there was yet another story about a Black man abused and murdered at the hands of police. Tyre Nichols was beaten by police on Jan. 7 – treated like a punching bag rather than a human being – and died three days letter. These stories are too common in America.

We're celebrating Black History Month, but it feels like our celebrations are always tinged with the reality of what faces us as Black people in America.

The news has already moved on to other stories, but please remember Tyre. He was a dad, a son, a brother, a neighbor. He worked for FedEx, and he was also a creative artist, a lover of sunsets and an avid skateboarder. He was a vital and loved part of his community, and we join them and his family has they mourn his loss and celebrate his life.

A solid estate plan is one of the best things you can have for yourself and your loved ones, but getting your estate in order can sound like a monumental and stressful task. It doesn't have to be! Attend this free workshop, presented by Michelle Behnke, principal of the firm Michelle Behnke & Associates, for a helpful overview on planning your estate, including covering many of the circumstances to be aware of when making legacy plans.

Anyone is welcome to join us for this free workshop. Registration is encouraged but not required, and drop-ins are welcome on the day of the event!

Questions? Contact Dani Luckett, Chief Development Officer, at dani@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8059.

The Older Adult Meet & Greet is back! Join us for this fun and casual gathering, where you can meet some new friends and have a great time.

Enjoy music, dancing, appetizers, beer, wine and door prizes. Learn about fun events and social networking groups around Dane County — even find one to join!

Tickets can be purchased at the door, or you can register in advance by contacting Older Adult Program Manager Gayle at gayle@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8032.

Our Volunteer program invites the community to join them at a free workshop.

Let's get together and learn about the current state of hunger in Dane County & Wisconsin. We'll discuss the health impacts of hunger and how organizations try to support families to meet immediate needs. We'll also explore how to sustain engagement and pathways to services that seek to address the underlying causes of hunger.

RSVP here. 

We're getting ready to celebrate kindness in our community in our first Be the Good event, taking place in the evening on April 27.

At the Goodman Community Center, we're lucky to witness acts of goodness every day, and we want our neighbors to get a little snippet of what we see. Join the evening's MC, John Urban, and hear stories from Goodman CEO Letesha Nelson, other local leaders, youth and neighbors.

Tickets go on sale March 6, and we'll be sharing more information as the day comes closer. Keep an eye on your inbox! 

In 2022, our Fritz Food Pantry rolled out more than 10,000 full shopping carts of food to households in our communities. Our pantry manager crunched the numbers, and with that volume, our budget had just $3 per household per visit. Three. Dollars.

So how did our customers still manage to leave with a cart filled with food and household items? Your donations and those of our community partners. That. Is. Amazing.

Demand is higher than we've ever seen it, and with federal food benefits running out next month, we expect it to go even higher. We need your help today.

Check out our list of most-needed items and add them to your own list the next time you make a grocery run. Or, even easier, shop our wish list of household items and hygiene products. 

FYI Spring Sports Camps – Register Today! 

It's time to think spring! Our Fit Youth Initiative (FYI) has released its lineup of spring sports camps, and basketball, soccer, flag football and volleyball are all on the docket. These camps are great opportunities for young athletes to learn new skills and build self-confidence through physical activity.

Camps run from March 16 through May 5. Each camp is $60. Scholarships are available.

Camps are limited to 20 participants so sign your child up today!

Loneliness can creep up on anyone. As we age, our chance of becoming socially isolated increases, especially during the wind and snow of the winter months. This is where indoor activities and programs for adults over 50, like our own older adult program, become vital tools to happiness.

Goodman's Older Adult program offers a variety of activities, including fitness, trivia, bingo, euchre, philosophy club and so much more.

Read more on the risks that come with social isolation in the latest issue of Eastside News or on our blog. And then check out everything our Older Adult program has to offer. 

Goodman kids and older adults eat well every day, thanks to the hard work of our dedicated program kitchen. Led by Head Chef Jermel, hundreds of hot meals that meet necessary dietary requirements are dished out for preschool, elementary, middle and high school, and older adults. Preschool is extra lucky in that they get breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack from our program kitchen!

In February, participants will munch on spaghetti, beef goulash, chicken and vegetable stir fry, BBQ chicken and more. Keep up the great work Jermel and team! 

The Goodman Center has some of the best benefits in town – no joke. In addition to an incredible health care plan (better than what some much bigger businesses in town offer, we've been told by our staff) and generous retirement matching, Goodman also offers more than 5 weeks of paid time off in your first year, free childcare for kids in preschool and attending Lowell or Emerson elementary schools, and more.

For the first time since before the pandemic started, the Ballweg Gallery is showing a new local artist! For the next few weeks, work by Paulina Ivanova will be adding new life to the walls of Ironworks.

From Paulina's, about her art:

"Everything around us vibrates with an unseen original energy, which finds its way on the canvas through me, the artist. It then transforms itself into a recognizable image, painted in the expressive style, continuing to vibrate with that original primordial energy."

You can learn more about Paulina's exhibit on our blog or by visiting the gallery anytime in February. 

Our food pantry is open three days a week to anyone who needs it.

Interested in helping our food pantry serve our community? Check out our list of most-needed items.

Questions? Contact Francesca at francesca@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8049.

608.241.1574 | info@goodmancenter.org | goodmancenter.org

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