What a year it's been already!
With COVID vaccines becoming more available to people in our community, it is my hope that our community center will be open again soon for all to rejoice in each other’s company without fear.
February is a month to celebrate love for our partners, family, friends and neighbors. Although we may not be able to do that in-person right now, I hope that you can celebrate your loved ones and show them how important they are to you, even in the littlest of ways.
February also brings Black History Month. I also want to recognize that we shouldn’t wait until this month to really appreciate our neighbors and friends and their history and culture. Black history is our history as a whole nation as well as all the other histories that make us the Americans we are today.
With that said, I also have some news, I’ve been offered an opportunity that I cannot pass up, therefore, I have decided to resign from my position of Volunteer Manager/Office Manager at the Goodman Community Center. My last day will be Friday, Feb. 12. I’m sad to go, but I’m also very excited for this new opportunity. I know that as I depart from the Center, it is in good hands. With all the hard work you put into helping our programs succeed, our reach in the community will increase. If you need anything after my last day, feel free to reach out to volunteers@goodmancenter.org.
It really has been a pleasure to know you throughout my time here. You continue to reinforce my belief that there are always amazing people out there in the world giving their all to make their community a better place. I will miss working with all you amazing people and wish you all well. Please take care and continue to fight the good fight.
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Mai Lor Yang, Volunteer Manager/Office Manager
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In honor of Black History Month, I’ve included some resources for you to review if you feel inclined to learn more about Black history. You are in no way required to review these items, but it is important that we all take some time, not just this month, but every day in our lives, to learn about our fellow neighbors and friends so that we can continue to thrive together in a healthy and safe environment.
If you’re a reader, this is a good resource for you if you’d like to read books by African American/Black American individuals and learn about their history through their literary work.
If you’d like to learn more about the history and life of African/Black Americans.
If you want to join in on a virtual live opportunity to learn about various topics, the ASALH group is hosting events listed in this link.
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WHAT'S GOOD AT GOODMAN
Whippin' in the Kitchen
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Catch our teens in the kitchen in a brand new cooking video: Whippin’ in the Kitchen. Filmed and edited entirely by TEENworks and Lussier LOFT teens, this inaugural video was made after a conversation with the East High School cooking instructor. She’s been dropping off kits for students to make meals at home, and our teens had the idea to make a “how to” for her students. This first taste of video production and cooking instruction has the group’s ideas flowing! They’re talking about expanding their efforts to support other programs as well. Stay tuned for more from these talented young people.
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It’s easy to feel trapped indoors in the winter, especially during COVID. To combat the winter doldrums, our Girls Inc. team has made it a goal to embark on weekly outdoor activities. Last week, the girls went cross-country skiing, all of them for the first time, and we were inspired by their ability to get back up and keep going. Despite (or because of) all the falls, everyone had a lot of fun and can’t wait to hit the trails again. |
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Putting Ironworks Back together |
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You may have noticed that after months of plywood and tarps, our beloved Ironworks building is being put back together, thanks to the expertise of Eppstein Uhen Architects and Vogel Bros. Building Co. It's quite the process restoring a historical building - for example, the bricks needed to repair the hole in the wall are no longer manufactured, and can only be found through architectural salvage.
Take a close look next time you're in the neighborhood - it took some clever masonry to patch the hole and make it look good as new (old). The bricks above and below the windows were taken from an unnecessary interior wall (we had just enough!) and the bricks between the windows and on the window arches are the closest new match we could find. They're just slightly thicker than the originals.
We appreciate all the love and craftsmanship going into the repair, and the interesting stories both of our buildings have to tell.
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My name is Roy. I moved here from Austin Texas in 2001. I am from San Antonio, Texas. I have volunteered for the Senior Meal Program and the Food pantry at the Goodman Center. I am currently showing the seniors tech services. Phones, tablets, and laptops are the main subjects. I am currently at MATC about to graduate with a business degree hoping to get into UW. I enjoy reading, biking, kayaking, jewelry fabricating and working on my cars. Volunteering at the Goodman Center has kept me centered. I also worked a summer program (TeenWorks) in the kitchen showing teens how to prep and cook. |
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My name is Heidi Deininger, and I'm the Chief Operations Officer here at Goodman. I have been with Goodman since March, at the start of the Covid quarantine period. Born and Raised in Hawaii, I began my nonprofit career with the YMCA in Honolulu. After moving to Wisconsin in 2001, I continued to work for the Y in a number of locations, including Dane County, where I had the opportunity to head the Y Kidzfit initiative, aimed at enhancing the health and fitness of youth throughout Dane County. I am passionate about innovative partnerships, and have worked with a number of local organizations through Kidzfit. After leaving the Y, I joined Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast as its Chief Operating Officer. While there, I worked to expand programs to girls in urban and Latina populations in Milwaukee.
As the Center's first ever COO, I was brought on to streamline processes, manage overall operations throughout the organization and grow our programs to serve even more people throughout Madison and Dane County.
Growing up in Hawaii in a multicultural environment, my experience at GCC has been great because I feel so welcomed and at home. The culture and values around diversity, equity and inclusion align with my own. I've not experienced that anywhere else in Wisconsin. What I love about working here at GCC is the people, staff and volunteers, because they work hard and are dedicated to Goodman's mission.
I hope that if there is anything, I can do to make anyone of you feel more welcome here at Goodman that you'll reach out and talk to me. Having worked with many volunteers at my previous job with the Girls Scouts in Southeast Wisconsin, I understand and appreciate the hard work and dedication to our mission.
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MILESTONES
Happy anniversary to these individuals who continue to commit to putting their best foot forward to strengthen lives and secure futures! We're glad you're here!
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James Freeman, 11 years
Roberta Ruder, 8 years
Bryan Stanley, 6 years
Joseph Wall, 6 years
Maggie Schley, 4 years
Diane Stapleton, 2 years
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Kari Hamann, 2 years
Ana Armitage, 1 year
Van Gemert Edward, 1 year
Larry Jensen, 1 year
Joel Kramka, 1 year
Sarah Wilkins, 1 year
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Wishing you all a very happy birthday. May you be able to socially distance celebrate with your loved ones! |
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Krisann Hopwood, 2/1
Megan Spurgeon, 2/1
Quinn Crossley, 2/3
Emmeline Welch, 2/12
Michael Combs, III, 2/13
Steve Gil, 2/13
Rose Dundun, 2/18
Sarah Wilkins, 2/20
Joel Kramka, 2/22
Mary Tinberg, 2/25
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Elementary Teacher's Aide
Our Elementary After School (EAS) program is looking for in-person volunteers to help our teachers effectively support our students doing online learning. Volunteers will be assigned to one classroom for eight weeks.
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Number of volunteers needed: 7 to 10
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Days: Monday through Friday
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Time: 8am - 12pm
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Commitment: 8 weeks
Volunteers will be responsible for working with the students and helping them with literacy and math and other tasks as assigned by the classroom teacher. If you're interested in working with elementary aged students and want to help them thrive during these unusual times, please reach out to me.
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GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
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