Greetings!

Starting the Year Grounded and Grateful

We started 2026 with something I don’t take lightly — Urban Triage was selected as the 2026 LaCrosse Black Student Leaders Black Excellence Award recipient. Awards are beautiful. Recognition matters. But what matters more to me is why we were recognized. We are still here. Still standing. Still building. Still choosing to do this work when it would be easier not to.

This season has stretched me as a leader. There have been pressures. Hard calls. Moments where I had to sit with myself and ask: Is this aligned? And when the answer wasn’t fully yes, I had to own that. Growth requires honesty. Leadership requires humility. And I am committed to both. Black excellence isn’t perfection. It’s persistence.

Black History Month Is Not a Celebration. It’s a Responsibility.

This year marks 100 years since Black History Month began as Negro History Week in 1926. It was never meant to be decorative. It was meant to be corrective. A reminder that our stories, our brilliance, and our resistance deserved space in a country that tried to erase them. At Urban Triage, we don’t just talk about history — we work inside of it.

Our Supporting Healthy Black Families (SHBF) workgroups are where healing becomes action. We integrate Dr. Joy DeGruy’s work on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, Black history, neuroscience, and liberation frameworks to help our people understand what happened to us — and more importantly, what is still possible for us.

This is where cycles break.

This is where narratives shift.

This is where leadership is born.

And I need to say this plainly: staying in this work right now is not easy.

Funding landscapes are changing. Systems are tightening. Expectations are rising. The margin for error feels smaller than ever. And yet — our community keeps showing up. Donors give. Volunteers serve. Partners collaborate. Families return. That support matters more than you know. If you’ve been thinking about joining SHBF, get on the waitlist. Sessions begin in April. This work changes lives — including mine.

February: Show Up With Us

Community Love Job Fair

February 12 | 1–6 PM

2312 S Park St, Madison

We hire differently. We believe lived experience is expertise. If you’ve survived systems, navigated barriers, and built resilience — that’s leadership.

Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Month

February 21 | 3–8 PM

The Arden – Rooftop

Adults only. Joy required.

Karaoke. Bingo. Downtown views. Community.

Because joy is not optional — it’s survival.

The Big Share 2026 – Seen & Unseen

March 3 | Noon

In front of Graze on Capitol Square

On March 3rd, we gather to make visible what too often goes unseen — the housing mediation calls, the youth interventions, the agriculture work restoring dignity, the healing circles rebuilding families. We’re honored to be joined by Francesca Hong, Carmella Glenn, Sabrina Madison, and Fares Fares — leaders who understand that community safety and stability require courage. And thank you to Cooper’s Tavern for feeding our team and volunteers that day. Support like that reminds me we are not doing this alone.

Here’s what I know. The deck has always been stacked against Black people. That’s not new. What’s new is our refusal to shrink. Urban Triage is not perfect. I am not perfect. But we are committed. We are accountable. And we are not backing down from the responsibility of building something that outlives us.

Black history is not behind us.

It’s happening right now.

And we are writing it together.

OUR IMPACT IN JANUARY 2026

Our impact is both seen and unseen—changing lives in ways that extend far beyond what’s visible.

January Impact: Starting 2026 Strong

Despite the harsh winter weather that had so many walking through snow and ice, our team continued to show up and make a difference because that's what we do.

Building Futures at Leopold Elementary

This month brought one of our most heartwarming experiences yet. Urban Triage had the honor of visiting Leopold Elementary School after being nominated as the number one nonprofit by the entire fifth grade! We spent the day with these incredible students, sharing the story of Urban Triage's mission and work. What touched us most? They had already done their research and came prepared with thoughtful questions and genuine excitement about our programs, especially our farming initiatives. Seeing the next generation so engaged and inspired by community work reminds us why we do this. Thank you, Leopold fifth graders, for reminding us that our work is seen, valued, and already inspiring future change-makers!

From Unseen to Unstoppable: A Client Success Story

In just one week, one of our clients secured both housing and employment. One week. His smile said everything our words couldn't capture. This is why we exist. His emotional gratitude and the hope in his eyes fuel our mission and remind us that transformation is possible when people are truly seen, supported, and believed in. We're honored to walk alongside him on this new journey, and we're not stopping here.

A New Beginning: Welcoming Our Newest Resident

This January, we welcomed a new resident to our Emerging Adults Home, a supportive, stable living environment for young adults ages 18–22 transitioning out of court-ordered placement. This home is designed to nurture growth, accountability, and independence during one of life's most critical transitions. Every young person deserves a foundation to build their future on, and we're proud to provide exactly that.

January reminded us: The work may often go unseen, but the impact is undeniable. Thank you for standing with us.

OUR FEBRUARY EVENTS

WORK THAT MATTERS STARTS HERE: JOIN OUR TEAM

Ready to Do Work That Matters?

At Urban Triage, your work isn’t theoretical—it changes lives. Every day, we show up for communities that are too often overlooked, and we do it with purpose, heart, and integrity.

If you’re passionate about justice, care, and community transformation—and you want your skills to mean something—there’s a place for you here.

We’re growing and looking for dedicated, compassionate, impact-driven people who are ready to contribute, learn, and lead alongside a team committed to uplifting our most vulnerable neighbors. This is more than a job. It’s a calling to be part of work that is seen, felt, and lasting.

Explore our current openings and apply today.

Your next chapter—and meaningful impact—start here.

COMMUNITY CORNER