January 2024 // A Community Newsletter | |
Dear friends and neighbors, | |
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We have entered 2024 – happy New Year! Next week, I'll mark my third year with this wonderful organization, which is just a drop in the Goodman Center's storied history. This year, the center will celebrate 70 years of building community on Madison's east side – 70 years!
That's 70 years of strengthening lives and securing futures; 70 years of neighbors coming together to support one another; 70 years of kids and adults finding a place that is theirs right here in our community.
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We'll be celebrating this important milestone all year long, so please keep an eye out for stories and events to come.
This week, we also celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I love that this day always comes so soon after the start of the New Year, when folks are thinking about resolutions. It's a call to all of us to resolve to get involved not only in serving others but in working toward a just world for every one of our neighbors.
I'd like to issue a challenge to all of us this year with this quote from Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail: "Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will."
I'm challenging myself this year to engage more deeply in social justice work, to find ways that I can use my strengths and power to do more to right the wrongs in our community. I hope you will join me in challenging yourself in a similar way, no matter what that might look like.
Thank you for your support in 2023. I'm excited for what 2024 has in store for this community.
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Letesha Nelson
CEO & Executive Director
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P.S. Our very own Eastside News is also marking an important milestone this year: 100 years! This little community paper has been around longer than Goodman, and we're proud to play a part in its history. | |
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EVENTS
Love & Legacy Workshop
Getting Started on Your Estate Plans
Presented by Maggie Premo, shareholder and chair of Neider & Boucher's trusts and estates team
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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 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!
Wednesday, Feb. 14
2:30-3:30pm
Goodman Center Ironworks building
Questions? Contact Dani Luckett, Chief Development Officer, at dani@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8059.
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EASTSIDE NEWS CENTENNIAL
Happy Birthday, Eastside News!
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Eastside News, our beloved uber-local paper turns 100 in 2024! In celebration we'll be sharing ads, articles and tidbits from the paper's history all year long right here in What's Good at Goodman, as well as on Facebook and Instagram, and in Eastside News itself.
The Goodman Center began publishing the paper in 1981, but there's far more to the Eastside News story than Goodman.
Get a quick look at the history of Eastside News on our blog or pick up the latest issue on local newsstands.
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PROGRAMS
Snow Much Fun!
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The first major snowfall of the season came late, so our kiddos didn't waste any time getting outside for some snow fun last week! They built giant snowballs, experienced the playground in the snow and just had a great time doing what they do best: being kids.
This week will be mostly spent indoors, but Goodman teachers are ready with plenty of gym time and dance parties in the classrooms.
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Our program participants from preschool through older adults eat well when the come to Goodman, thanks to the incredible cooks in our program kitchen. Staff in the kitchen strike an important balance between food that meets nutritional standards and tastes good too. They also incorporate culturally diverse menu items throughout the month.
And they've got fans! One 4K student raved to her mom about the penne rosa, a new item introduced in December. When you can convince toddlers to get on board, you know you're doing something right!
Read more about the great Goodman food in Eastside News (on newsstands now) or on our blog.
Photo by SV Heart Photography
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TEENworks at the Wedding Expo | |
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Last weekend, members of our hospitality team and a few TEENworks youth set up a booth at the Madison Wedding Expo, and it was a HUGE success!
Getting the van, packed with everything they needed for the expo, out of the snow was no small feat. Luckily, we have one of the best communities around. Our wedding coordinator, Viv, said the van got stuck and then people just came out of thin air with shovels. Before too long, they were on their way!
The teens involved served mushroom risotto samples and answered questions about hosting a wedding at Goodman. It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved!
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WAYS TO GIVE
Secure the Future of Your Community
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In celebration of our 70th birthday, Goodman's board of directors has provided a challenge gift: For the first 70 people or families who let us know they've included Goodman in their will or estate plans, our board will donate $1,000 in donors' names. That's $70,000 for our annual fund this year!
Including nonprofits like Goodman in your estate plans can not only secure your legacy for generations to come, but also secure the future of your community. That's a worthy investment.
Learn more about our Love & Legacy campaign here.
If you've already included Goodman in your plans, please fill out this form to let us know.
Photo by ilana natasha photography
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The Importance of Connection
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Our older adult program celebrated their new technology education partnership with AT&T last week, reminding us of the vital role multigenerational technology education plays in keeping our community connected.
Thank you to program manager Gayle, Wisconsin Rep. Francesca Hong, Robyn from AT&T and program participant Larry for talking about the value of Goodman's older adult program and technology education.
Later that afternoon, AT&T employee Harrison led a workshop on how to detect and avoid digital scams, a hot topic for tech users of all ages. The room was full, and loads of great questions were answered.
Thank you to AT&T for your generous financial support and partnership!
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A New Look for Our New Wheels | |
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A few weeks ago, we took our new vans into Monarch Media Designs for a snazzy new look. Our Meals on Wheels team – the main users of these vans – are over the moon to have these reliable vehicles for deliveries and have affectionately nicknamed the black and white van "The Cow."
A big thank you goes to Smart Motors, who donated the silver van last year when we needed a vehicle quickly.
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FOOD PROGRAMS
Fritz Food Pantry
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Our food pantry is excited to roll out a pilot service created to make it possible to serve as many people as possible. Customers now have the option to receive a bag of prepacked dry goods, as well as a personal selection of meat, dairy and other non-perishable choices like bread and bakery items rather than shopping the pantry as usual.
Rapid pantry is available:
Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30am
Thursdays, 12:30-1:30pm
As food insecurity remains high in Madison, our pantry continues to be dedicated to getting good food in the hands of our community members who need it.
Photo by SV Heart Photography
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Thank you for all you do to support your community! We're all stronger when everyone has the resources they need to be successful ❤️ | |
GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
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