Breakers Meet and Compete at First Homegrown Jam and Battle:

VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 1
WINNER OF 2011 GOLD LEVEL
NEIGHBORHOODS USA NEWSLETTER AWARD
Breakers Meet and Compete at First
Homegrown Jam and Battle:
By Sashe Mishur,
Outreach Worker
L
ast Fall, the EMCC
Madison Breakers
presented its first
home grown Jam and
Battle Competition aimed
especially at our local home
“krews.” The goal was to
bring together several dance
groups within the Community
Center as well as dancers
from all around Dane County
and nearby communities.
Transportation is often a
problem, but we want to
build together so that all
can have more opportunities
to dance, meet and compete.
“Krews” from Janesville,
Rockford, Milwaukee,
Verona, and Chicago
made it a great event.
One day Kevin (one of the
EMCC Madison Breakers)
said, "I want to throw a
jam!" SOULFUL SCAPE was
born. The event brought in
about a hundred dancers
and supporters, judges, an
MC and a DJ. We asked
our own people to help
with the event and they
stepped up as usual.
We are learning the art of
dance and also the art of
organizing and showing
that we can do it ourselves.
Thank you so much to all
the helpers and well-wishers!
The program’s regular sponsors such as EMCC, Dane
Arts, The Madison Arts
Commission and private
donations show what real
community is. ■
Visit EMCC’s website at www.eastmadisoncc.org
19th Annual
Bowl-a-thon
Pg. 3
Summer
Camp 2015
Pg. 4
Kids’
Garden
Pg. 5
Madison East
Rotary Club
Pg. 7
By Sashe Mishur,
Outreach Worker
O
n Saturday,
November 7,
at the Barrymore
Theatre, the Madison
Breakers of East Madison
Community Center were
recognized as best Hip Hop
Dance Krew. This exciting
event was sponsored by
Madison Hip Hop Awards
and many other producers
of music and dance in the
region. Renee Avila, one of
our teachers, spoke about
our four Dance groups that
offer free instruction in Hip
Hop Dance and Break
Dance to all ages.
The honor included all the
proceeds of the evening,
which is usually about
$500.00. This award
shows the Madison Hip
Hop community’s commitment
to support programs like ours
which offer artistic training
in dance and life skills. They
singled out East Madison
Community Center as exactly
the kind of community
organization they want to
encourage and support so
that we can continue to offer
unique free artistic training
to many who would not
otherwise have such an
opportunity. Their kindness
and regard was very
encouraging and demonstrated that we have made
good friends and long term
supporters who understand
and honor our work. You,
as supporters, should all
be proud! ■
▲ Mascots have
always been a
staple at EMCC's
summer festivals.
Join us this
summer for a
50th Anniversary
party!
Through the
years, EMCC
has provided a
stage for cultural
exchange.
STAFF PROFILE
H
ello! My name is Leah Kutschke, and I am super excited to be the newest Youth
Worker here at EMCC! I’m originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, but I’ve been
living in Madison for over six years. I’m in graduate school at the University of
Wisconsin to learn to be a Social Worker, and last year I had the pleasure of working
with many families in Truax through my internship with Bridget at Joining Forces for
Families. I started working at EMCC in June for Summer Day Camp, and I loved it so
much I’m sticking around! I’ll be working in the Afterschool Program, Pre-Teen and Teen
Nights, and running the Girl’s Development Group. Some of my favorite things to do
are play with my dog, ride my bike, and cook for my friends. I love EMCC because
I’m passionate about children and their education, and because this center does so
much for everyone who comes in the doors. Thank you for giving me the opportunity
to learn and grow along with your kids – it’s the greatest job I could ask for! ■
2
Bowlers roll to our
goal at the 19th
annual Bowl-a-thon!
T
he 19th Annual Bowl-a-thon was as successful as
EMCC could hope for! We were able to reach our
goal and raise over $33,000 for the Minority
Academic Proficiency Program. The top fundraising group
was staff from Hawthorne Elementary, for yet another year.
EMCC is very thankful for the overwhelming amount of pledges
the bowlers were able to receive from the community.
We had a great turnout at the event! The bowlers had
friendly competitions to see who could get the highest score.
Some special guests appeared at the Bowl-a-thon including:
Michelle Li from Channel 3, Spiderman, Wolfie from Madison
College, and Eddy the Eagle from Edgewood. Everyone
sure enjoyed getting photographed with all the special
guests! At the end of the event the bowlers were able to
pick out prizes from our well-stocked prize room including:
CDs, toys, t-shirts, and many gift certificates.■
Thanks to everyone
who participated
and made this an
outstanding event!
19 T H A N N U A L B O W L - A - T H O N S P O N S O R S
PREMIER
GOLD
CUNA Mutual
ATC
GHC
John Neal
Natalie Erdman
West Bend – NSI Division
Tallard Apts.
Prudential
Channel 3
Wisconsin State Journal
Dream Lanes
PLATINUM
American Family
Associated Training
Services
Cascade Asset Management
Hausmann-Johnson
Joan Schmit
Kris Rasmussen
MG + E Foundation
National Guardian Life
Insurance
Peak Ridge Capital
TASC
Walmart South
SILVER
McGann Construction
Covance
Associated Bank
Custer Financial
D&D Pauly Enterprise
De'Kendrea Stamps
Johnson/Block Co.
Mennenga Inc. DBA
Roberts Construction
Weathertight Roofing
Larry Hamlin
The Law Center for
Children and Families
James Block
Sara McCormack
BRONZE
Dan Anderson
Dakota Stone Inc.
Dane County CU
Dave Cieslewicz
Dave's Auto Service
Denise Charkowski
Forward Community
Investments
Habaneros
Harmelink Dogs
Hy-Vee
Joe's Fire Station
Josh Satzer
Kramer Printing
Lake City Glass
Madison College –
Biotechnology Club
Madison East
Monona Rotary
Northeast Optimists Club
of Madison, Inc
Pamela Rood
Pooley's
Rockin' Jump
Ryan Funeral Home
Salli Martyniak
Summit CU
The Shoe Box
Warner Integrated
Solutions
Grassroots Empowerment
Project
Martee's Consulting, Inc.
Truax Neighborhood
Association
3
T
his was East Madison
Community Center’s
43rd Summer Day
Camp. Summer Day Camp
started in 1972 in a small
one bedroom apartment. Its
curriculum included arts and
crafts, board games, outside
games, field trips and lunch.
All ages attended the camp.
In the great words of a popular
1970’s commercial, “We’ve
come a long way, Baby!”
4
This year’s Summer Day Camp
was eight weeks long and
served over 90 children ages
7-13 from all over the east
side of Madison. Summer
Day camp ran from 9:00 am
– 4:30 pm five days a week,
as well as being open three
evenings a week for Girls
Development Group, Boys
Development Group, and
teen programs. The camp
is an extension of our after
school programs with a few
added twists. This year’s
camp was broken into three
areas of concentration:
Education, Social Skills
and Physical Fitness.
The Education component
included math, language
arts, science, social studies,
reading, study skills and
nutrition education. The
Social Skills section consisted
of manners class, Alternatives
to Violence, drug and alcohol
prevention, self-esteem
improvement and conflict
resolution skills. The fitness
activities consisted of gym
activities at the center and
outside the center such as
rock climbing, canoeing,
swimming, golf lessons,
handball, roller-skating,
and many others.
Summer camp also had
four teen workers who were
hired to work as summer
camp counselors through
the Fit Youth Initiative (FYI)
grant that was provided by
the Goodman Foundation.
The teens gained valuable
work experience along with
a bi-weekly paycheck. Three
of these teens currently have
turned this experience into
jobs for the school year. ■
KIDS’ GARDEN:
An abundance
of food and fun!
By Sarah Jacobsen,
Kids Garden Coordinator
T
his summer, I began
working as the Kids’
Garden Coordinator.
While my first day didn’t
go exactly as planned after
we moved inside to escape
a swarm of wasps, I was
enamored with the kids’
excitement of gardening
and enthusiasm for cooking.
As I prepared more recipes
with the kids, their willingness to eat vegetables and
to try new foods amazed
me. One day, we cooked
a carrot, cucumber, onion
saute with dried cranberries.
Although a few kids had
their doubts about the recipe,
everyone tried it and everyone had at least two servings!
Not only were the kids
great chefs, but rarely did
they shy away from the
hard work of gardening. I
had an energetic crew
help me winterize the
garden the last week in
October. As we picked
tomatoes and pulled
plants out of the
ground, we re-wrote
songs to have garden
themed lyrics (I think our
version of “Thrift Store” is
my favorite). Even after I
offered the kids the chance
to go back inside to warm
up, the majority of the
group asked if they could
continue helping.
As kids learn where their
food comes from and how
much work goes into growing
it, we can begin to raise a
generation conscious of how
their food choices affect
their bodies and their environment. Gardening with
kids at EMCC gives me
hope for the bright future
these kids can create. ■
Like us on Facebook!
On Facebook, we have our up-to-date schedule of events. You will also be able
see pictures of EMCC events. www.facebook.com/eastmadisoncc
5
DISTRICT 15
Alderman David Ahrens
C
hanges at Truax:
Progress on the
planned changes at
Truax continued throughout
the fall, but a slow-down in
construction during the winter
is expected. The eight-unit
building for individuals has
opened and will be managed by Porchlight. Porchlight
manages similar housing
arrangements throughout the
city. Some of the residents
are homeless vets, chronically homeless individuals
or people who were in
shelters. This opening is
especially important to
get folks into housing in
the winter.
The larger 24-unit building
opened in November with
apartments that are more
energy efficient and have
modern conveniences.
The larger “townhouse” units
will likely not be completely
demolished for another year.
Currently, there are 28 units
left. There is a continuing
need for homes with multiple
6
bedrooms for families in
need of affordable housing,
families that are now homeless or in some instances for
individuals who are waiting
for an apartment at the
Rethke apartments. These
individuals would have a
social worker assigned to
them. This housing would
be for temporary and
permanent residents and
should be ready for occupancy by 2017.
PDQ on East Washington:
A full-service convenience
store will open at the site of
the closed Prime Quarter
restaurant. Unlike the Prime
Quarter, this store will offer
affordable prepared food
as well as a small line of
grocery products. It also
will have eight gas pumps
and a car wash. It will be
open seven days per week,
24 hours per day. The
PDQ chain is employee-
owned and pays better than
most convenience stores. It
is anticipated that the store
will hire at least 12 full-time
equivalent employees. Over
the next two years, this PDQ
will replace the older PDQ
located on Stoughton Rd.
In addition to the PDQ,
the part of the “PDQ block”
closest to Truax (the northern
strip) on Rowley, will be sold
for housing development.
This will provide many new
homes and also serve as
a barrier between the often
busy PDQ store and the
rest of the neighborhood.
One of the major benefits
of having the PDQ is that
the previously huge parking
space will no longer provide
free parking for Visions. The
PDQ will occupy the entire
space with its store, car
wash, etc. It will be open
all the time and not allow
Visions patrons to use their
site for parking. Hopefully,
this limitation in parking will
cause the Visions operators
to re-think their future and
consider moving to another
site. As always, please feel
free to contact me if you have
any issues or concerns
about city issues.■
I am interested in hearing your views on this and other issues.
If anyone has a question or concern regarding our district or city,
please contact me at [email protected]
or 608-334-1156.
Madison East Monona Rotary club serving
the Eastside communities for over 50 years.
By Harry Ripp, Rotary Member
C
hartered in 1957, The Madison East Monona
Rotary club has been serving the Eastside of Madison
and Monona communities for over 50 years. Rotary
is an international organization which has been in existence
since February 23rd,1905. With a by-line of “Service Above
Self,” Rotary is guided by the principal that is brings together
community leaders to exchange ideas and take action to
improve our communities both locally and globally. There
are currently over 1.2 billion Rotarians in the world. The
Polio Plus program, which is an effort to eliminate polio
around the world, is an example of what can be achieved.
Through the efforts of Rotarians around the world both
through monetary contributions and personal involvement,
Polio has been eliminated globally with the exception of
2 countries. The goal is to complete this effort within the
next two years.
Locally, in addition to our partnership with the East Madison
Community Center through our support of the Food Pantry
and the annual Bowling fund raiser, our club has several initiatives that we have been focused on. Youth and education
have always been important to us and we have consistently
provided significant dollars for scholarships to Madison
East High, Lafollette High and Monona Grove High Schools.
In addition, we have been providing a scholarship to local
teenagers to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program in Wisconsin Dells annually. Older adults also receive
our attention as we provide a Holiday Dinner for seniors
who live at several of the Assisted Living facilities on this
side of Madison and Monona.
Internationally, our focus has been on a program called
Books for the World. Through this initiative we work with
other Rotarians in the community to rescue books that are
no longer wanted. The Books for the World program packs
and distributes these books to third world countries to help
overcome global literacy issues.
Our club is constantly looking for interested individuals
who live and/or work in this part of the community who
want to make a difference. To learn more, you are invited
to our weekly meeting which is held at noon on Tuesday
of every week at the Hometown Buffet near EastTown Mall.
In addition to the friendship that is shared, we have weekly
programs that provide us insights into a variety of topics
both locally and beyond. ■
You can also visit us at
Facebook.com/MadisonEastMononaRotary
to learn more about what we do.
7
East Madison Community Center
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
8 Straubel Court
Madison, WI 53704
MADISON, WI 53714
PERMIT NO. 1426
Current occupant or
EMCC 2015-16 Volunteers
Youth Volunteers
Daisha Boswell, Ben Davis, Robert Grant, Amira Hampton,
Danielle Osbourne, Payal Patel, Jainae Rimson, Mack Rimson,
Chashay Sayles, Narai Spencer, Marvin Williams, Shalon Williams,
Sterlyn Woods, James Xiong, Panya Xiong, Maleevong Xiong,
Richard Xiong, Sati Xiong
CenterPoints is published four times per
year and distributed free of charge to a
circulation of over 3000 by East Madison
Community Center, 8 Straubel Ct.
For information on CenterPoints articles,
copy deadlines or advertising policies,
call us at 608-249-0861.
Food/Clothing/Household Items
Distribution Volunteers
Executive Director:
Tom Moen
Assistant Director:
Alison Ahlgrim
Youth Prgm. Mngr.: John Harmelink
Beatrice Burnell, Kent Ferver, Barb Grimm, Pat Haak,
Sam Hunter, Janis Johnson, Ben Nash, Josh Nash,
Karen Oliver, Quentin Sears, Mylas Sparks, Eunice Williams,
East Madison/Monona Rotary Club
Assistant Youth
Program Mngr.:
Nathan Savado
Outreach Worker:
Sashe Mishur
Admin. Assistant:
Typhanny Greene
Resource Development
Accountant:
Bonnie Krattiger
Larry Hamlin, Bunny Lenburg
Office Assistant:
Deborah Lee
Luckhardt-Foster
Program Volunteers
Chef:
Kiyi Aikens
Rene Avila, Pedro Diosardo, Martha Galston,
Charlie Lee, Kate Moran, Sarah Schwab, UW Volunteers,
Addison Vongsomshith
Janitorial:
"Big Mike" Terrell
Youth Workers:
Derrick Houston
Renee Johnson
Leah Kutschke
Erics Peters
Board Members
Aaron Blacks, Beatrice Burnell, Shanai Guider,
Qiana Holmes-Abanukam, Kris Kuehl, Cathy McMillan,
Kris Rasmussen, Elizabeth Reyes, Tauri Robinson, Alex Rudnick,
Jamie Schwoerer, Marie White Scott, Sonia Spencer,
De'Kendrea Stamps, Andrea Love Sumpter, Sandy Xiong,
Leia Young
thanks!
The East Madison Community Center
is a member agency of United Way
and is funded in part by the City of
Madison and the Community
Development Division.
CenterPoints is designed in kind by
Sandy Wagener. Special Thanks to
American Family Insurance for printing
the EMCC Centerpoints.