Madison Locally Sourced—March-April 2024

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INSIDE what ’s

mar–apr 2024

vol 7

6

Muriel’s Place

10

New Life Greens

14 Common Wealth Development ’s Youth-Business Mentoring Program (YBMP)

publisher & editorial director Amy S . Johnson lead designer Jennifer Denman copy editor & lead writer Kyle Jacobson sales & marketing director Amy S . Johnson

18

Interact Club at Baraboo High School

20

Farm to School

24

Kids and Pets

26

Cultural Connections

including 4

From the Publisher

30

Contest Information

30

Contest Winners

designers Linda Walker, Barbara Wilson administration Lisa Abler, Olivia Seehafer contributing writers Chris Gargan, Valerie Holt, Allison P faf f Harris, Lori Scarlet t, DVM photographer Cour tney Terr y additional photographs Common Wealth Development, Cultural Connections, Interact Club, RE AP Food Group

madisonlocallysourced.com

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from the

Watch for the nex t issue

MAY-JUN 2024

PUBLISHER

subscriptions Madison Locally Sourced is available free at over 150 locations. To purchase an annual subscription (six issues), send $24 and mailing information to: Madison Locally Sourced c/o ASJ Publishing LLC, PO Box 559 McFarland, WI 53558

The themes of our issues remain fairly consistent from year to year: January-February is eats + drinks, May-June is well-being, July-August is open air, September-October is community + culture, and November-December is giving + sharing. In late 2023, we decided to make March-April an annually changing theme—something that we might not do every year, but that we want to incorporate from time to time. This issue’s theme is youth-full.

comments We welcome your questions and comments: Madison Locally Sourced c/o ASJ Publishing LLC, PO Box 559 McFarland, WI 53558 mls@madisonlocallysourced.com

The cover shows high school senior Jessi Ricci, whose passion for plants, the environment, and health became enhanced by a mentor’s positive guidance to naturally form her business, New Life Greens. Jessi’s greens are used by local restauranteurs, and when she’s delivering in your area, you can get them too!

adver tise To inquire about adver tising space, please call (608) 729 -4888 or email mls@madisonlocallysourced.com all rights reser ved. ©2024 No por tion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior writ ten permission from ASJ Publishing LLC.

cover photograph New Life Greens taken by Cour tney Terr y photographs on page 3 (top lef t): Muriel’s Place taken by Cour tney Terr y

(bot tom lef t to right): Provided by RE AP Food Group Provided by Interact Club

The energy behind Muriel’s Place is youth based. Kids making Of f the Block pizza and salsas through Mentoring Positives can now do so in their own commercial kitchen, plus it ’s a place where the public can easily stop to dine in, carry out, or pick up a frozen pizza or some salsa for later. It ’s a great way for the kids to learn from and be involved in all aspects of entrepreneurship.

Last year I was contacted by a Baraboo High School student about the event Food for Kidz. I thought it was great that kids were involved in an event to help other kids, and I wanted to share the story. As we started the process, we quickly learned that the kids were part of the student-run group Interact Club, the school branch of Baraboo’s Rotary Club. Similar to the Rotary Club, Interact Club is about service to and connection with one another and the community. Such a simple idea that yields impactful acts.

We also highlight youth-focused programs Cultural Connections Madison, REAP ’s Farm to School, and Common Wealth Development ’s Youth-Business Mentoring Program, plus Lori Scarlett, DVM, shares some great insight on kids and pets.

We’re happy to be able to dedicate this issue to those we’ve included and other youth having a positive impact on their and our future. We encourage you to notice and support them.

amy 4 | madison locally sourced

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Muriel’s

PLACE

by Kyle Jacobson Back in our 2023 March-April issue, we featured Off the Block Salsa and Pizzas, a platform created by Will and Becky Green of Mentoring Positives aiming to inspire youth through social entrepreneurship and providing handson educational insights to the range of responsibilities involved in running a business. Only a few months after the article released, Will and Becky opened Muriel’s Place, a kitchen/restaurant where youth in our community are serving and producing Off the Block products.

“I started Mentoring Positives due to the loss of my mom,” says Will. “She had breast cancer, and I lost her at 46 years old. Her name was Muriel Pipkins. My mom was a good cook from Gary, Indiana. I created Mentoring Positives, named after her initials, to mentor our youth in the community. This new space, Muriel’s Place, is where a lot of magic happens for the kids.”

Will’s mentoring methodology focuses heavily on life skills, but he recognizes that most youth aren’t going to seek out someone to teach them interpersonal communication, creative thinking, problem solving, and the like. Rather, many youth are looking to learn skills that have immediate value, are career focused, or are fun to learn.

“I always think about activities to hook kids in, and then we teach the life skills in the form of group discussions, not having a father, peer pressure, all those things kids go

6 | madison locally sourced

There’s more to Muriel’s Place than just the food.

through. We work on the socio-emotional makeup of the individual. No matter if they’re playing basketball, cooking food, doing math in the classroom, if you’re a good person, you can navigate the world.

“Being in the kitchen at Muriel’s Place, the hook is through food. It’s a place that brings people together. There are so many cultures you can introduce the kids to. There are also life skills we’re giving the kids. We know that they’re not going out and buying food every day— eating out. They can cook for themselves and host their own friends in their home or space.”

Everyone working at Muriel’s Place is learning the language of love through food. What you cook and what you eat show how you love yourself. Naturally, food can be also used to show love to others. And not just friends and family.

The model of this kitchen/restaurant is meant to be a space for youth to develop positive relationships along with those valuable skillsets, so love is part of the process.

“We’re teaching kids how to be part of a team and to take some leadership. We work it at the speed of the kids. We’re not necessarily concerned about all the sales. We’ll get to that point. I think there’s something like $84 million of pizza sold in Dane County, so we just want to get 1 percent of that. We get 1 percent of that, we can run this whole operation. That’s what we’re striving for, but that’s the future. Right now, we’re just more concerned with engaging kids, giving them opportunities, being around positive adults, positive peers, and working on their skills to be well.”

If you dig what Will and Becky have going on, it’s as easy as pizza to support them.

At Muriel’s Place, located in the former Ella’s Deli, you can get Off the Block’s scratch-made salsa and pizza products as well as other surprises the kids are cooking up, like chocolate chip cookies.

Cheese, pepperoni, sausage, and veggie pizzas are available year-round along with creative seasonal flavors. Want to sit down, it’s a restaurant. On the go, order carryout. Don’t want it now, get a madisonlocallysourced.com

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Muriel’s Place is a space where local youth want to be.

frozen pizza and jar of salsa. Almost as an acknowledgment to the diversity of the youth he works with, nothing Will does is one size fits all.

Whether athletic or academic, creative or precise, kitchens reward all approaches to cooking. There’s room for taking chances and times when exact measurements are needed.

Will coaches girls’ basketball at Madison La Follette and sees similarities between telling his players to snap their wrists when shooting and flipping that spatula to fluff eggs.

As with any restaurant, there’s more to Muriel’s Place than just the food. “We give kids other aspects of the business. They’re part of the marketing, which is big for us because the main thing about Muriel’s Place right now is we need to bring awareness and let people know that we’re out here. They get the financial literacy piece. All those aspects that go into business.

“We have the opportunity to have other organizations come in and give touchpoints on careers, like marketing and engineering. We have created this space where we can not only teach the kids about these food products, but we’re also giving them other touchpoints on careers they may be interested in that they just don’t know about.”

8 | madison locally sourced

Muriel’s Place is only open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., but Will encourages businesses and organizations to rent out and hold events in the space. He’ll do what he can to accommodate groups outside business hours and feels strongly that when more people utilize his space, he’s able to help that many more kids.

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“I started Mentoring Positives in 2004,” says Will. “It feels amazing to know that I’ve been with kids when they were 8 or 9 years old, and now they’re 28 and 29.

And I’m still connected to them. I never imagined when I first started this that kids would come up to me and say, ‘Bro, you had those groups back when we were younger. That impacted me a lot.’ I never really imagined kids that are grown up walking up to me saying how impactful this was and how they remember it.”

Muriel’s Place is a space where local youth want to be. Will wants the kids he’s working with to be proud of what they’re doing. To be proud of who they are. “We’ve saved lives. We’ve lost some too; I’m not going to say we’ve saved every kid. But I know we’re putting product in the community that’s going to change the world.”

Kyle Jacobson is a writer who uses subtraction to make a difference.

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Kyle Jacobson

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Photographs by Courtney Terry.

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| 9

community

New Life

Greens

by Kyle Jacobson Starting a business may not be something that comes naturally to most of us, but the reasons to take the leap into entrepreneurship are often an evolution of our interests and values. It could be something as simple as the desire to be our own bosses, or it might be seeing a need in our communities and realizing we just might be the ones to address it. For Jessi Ricci, New Life Greens started as a question posed to her boss and mentor, Mike Knight: “Why don’t we fill up the greenhouse and service more customers?”

10 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

Owner of Clean Fresh Food, an aquaponic greenhouse in Paoli growing vegetables, microgreens, and tilapia for its customers, Mike’s answer was simply, “Why don’t you do it? Start your own business and use the underutilized space in the greenhouse until you either outgrow it or decide it’s not what you want to do.”

Jessi readily admits she had no idea what she was doing, but she believed she had the perfect network of people in her life to make it happen. With their guidance

Running a business while in high school comes with unique challenges.

and her gumption and faith, this budding environmentalist started connecting the dots to what may very well be her life’s calling.

For a refresher on aquaponics, Jessi explains, “Within the farm, we have a fish house and a greenhouse. The water is circulated between the two, creating an ecosystem. The fish waste provides nutrients to the plants, and the plants’ roots purify the water for the fish. This process recycles water constantly, which decreases the amount of water that we need to grow our plants.”

In the end, the food coming out of this mutually beneficial system is rich in nutrients and low in chemicals. With so many world-class chefs in the Greater Madison area, the need for high-quality ingredients is never ending, which Jessi recognized almost immediately.

Humble and jonesing to learn, Jessi needed to figure out everything she could about microgreens, and Mike would be there to show her the ropes on running her business. “Mike has taught me

everything to do with business, which is really cool because I’m doing this for an apprenticeship in the environmental sciences, and I learned a lot about how to start a business. How to work with restaurants. How to work with people.

How to market. How to set up a website.”

Everything Mike was showing Jessi helped her to better understand that part of her role involves being an educator to her customers. Not everyone in the cooking world knows that microgreens are more than an explosion of high nutrition; they’re a slice of local flavor that can really add to a dish, much like the right spices.

“Whenever I meet with a chef, I have a flavor wheel, and I have microgreens in different categories: sweet, sour, savory, bitter, earthy—all different flavors. If they want a specific flavor in their dish, they can just ask me to grow it for them.”

Not bad for a 17-year-old.

Oh right, I forgot to mention that Jessi is in high school. On top of running

her first business, she gets good grades and has been playing the tuba for nearly six years, even participating in the Wisconsin State Honors Band. To find time to run the business, “I’m in an environmental science/horticulture youth apprentice. So half of my school day, I’m at the greenhouse, and I get credit for school. That’s really helped.”

That said, running a business while in high school comes with unique challenges. For example, “I was hesitant to share my age with a lot of restaurants because I was worried they would think, ‘What the heck is this high schooler doing?’ But all these people trusted me, and they love my products.”

Currently, her client list includes Paoli Schoolhouse, Campo di Bella, Ope House Pub, and Lucille, with a few more on the way. Having a select number of clients is important to Jessi because it allows her to engage with chefs on a more personal level. She prides herself on growing everything to order, and never wants New Life Greens to get to the size where she loses that connection. madisonlocallysourced.com

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I want to protect the environment and treat all my clients with love and integrity.

“Although my business is really small right now, I don’t want to have a million-dollar business. I want to live a smaller life, especially since I love the environment. I don’t want a big house. I don’t want a ton of amazing things. I just want to be able to sustain myself, and I also want to be able to provide good service to people.

“A big part of why I feel that way is my love for Jesus. I’m really inspired by his life. I want to protect the environment and treat all my clients with love and integrity.”

Outside of religion, Jessi recognizes just how many people have played a role in this earlier chapter of her life. Mentor Mike continues to be generous with his time and knowledge. Co-worker Bill, a University of Wisconsin–Madison agriculturalist, is always supporting her in the greenhouse. And her family and boyfriend support her outside of business by embracing the hippy she’s become, something she says isn’t common in her family outside of her grandfather Thomas Smith, an author involved in civil rights, world peace, and environmental activism.

“So many people have helped me. Mr. [Chris] Ball was the root of my inspiration to be an environmentalist and participate in sustainable agriculture. He was my environmental science teacher. He really inspired me to get this job. ... He introduced me to Mike Knight, who’s the kindest person ever.”

Looking to the near future, Jessi hopes to expand her business to sell perfumes and body scrubs, evolving into New Life Greens & Goods. She’s also looking to follow in the footsteps of her sisters and attend UW–Madison, where she hopes to be part of the 12 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

UW Marching Band. If that’s not enough, she’s training for her third marathon, which will take place in New York.

There’s no denying Jessi leans into the accelerator of her life, and I’m convinced that with her tenacity and vitality, New Life Greens will be adding to the flavor of Greater Madison area restaurants for quite some time. For more information, visit newlifegreensco.com.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer who confuses Gone With the Wind with The Sound of Music.

Kyle Jacobson

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Photographs by Courtney Terry.

madisonlocallysourced.com

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Vel Phillips Memorial High School YBMP graduates with Common Wealth Youth Workforce Development staff.

Common Wealth Development’s

YOUTH-BUSINESS MENTORING PROGRAM (YBMP)

by Valerie Holt For over 30 years, Common Wealth Development (CWD) has been equipping Madison and Dane County youth for the workforce through our award-winning youth programs. Our foundational workforce development initiative, the Youth-Business Mentoring Program (YBMP), serves nearly 100 youth annually across the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD).

Since 1991, CWD has supported over 9,000 low-income youth with critical employment and money management skills, career exploration, and information about higher education while providing access to employment and earned income.

Through the YBMP, students undergo a two-week training at their respective MMSD high school. Our Youth Workforce Development staff facilitates training for youth to learn about 14 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

themselves and their goals, prepare their workforce skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the myriad political and economic systems they will navigate throughout their lives and careers. The curriculum includes networking logistics, mastering first impressions, interviewing, learning financial foundations, career planning, communicating professionally, developing resumes and job applications, and more. Scholars in this program work individually and collectively to hone their skills with an adult mentor’s supportive guidance.

CWD is dedicated to offering consistent mentorship and financial education to area youth, helping to integrate these skills into their broader life experiences while meeting students where they are in their employment journey. CWD staff mentors, adept in culturally responsive

and trauma-informed practices, guide students while working to enhance their academic and professional pursuits. Recognizing the importance of stable relationships, CWD invests in the continued professional development and long-term growth of our staff to maintain this vital connection. The program provides a unique approach to mentoring as students have various ranges of workforce exposure.

“Students join YBMP with a wide range of job experience or inexperience,” says CWD Youth Employment Coordinator Jaley Bruursema. “Due to this dynamic, students learn from each other, and staff customize the program’s mentorship piece to their specific needs.” This synergistic approach supports youth growth and development, providing a structured pathway for their workforce and academic progress anchored by

the guidance of a trusted and trained adult mentor.

CWD also collaborates with community partners to further immerse students in the realities of the workforce. Students experience the reality of day-to-day work through partner Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream and by building foundational financial habits from partner Summit Credit Union. During fall program sessions, students visit Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream locations, where they learn about customer service and practice their skills by scooping ice cream for customers. Summit Credit Union staff present students information about financial literacy, specifically banking, credit, various fees, and potential scams.

Both practical job training and financial literacy equip participants to excel in the workforce.

in the 2023-2024 academic year was the introduction of a $100 completion stipend for the two-week training. This strategic move aligns with CWD’s commitment to best practices, valuing the participants’ investments in their own skill development. Additionally, students who complete YBMP and begin working are automatically enrolled in the MMSD Experiential Learning Program, through which they earn elective school credits for hours worked at their part-time employment. The impact of YBMP in 2023 was profound; 97 percent successfully completed the training portion with CWD staff aiding them in securing jobs at varied employment opportunities, including The Children’s Museum, Madison School and Community Recreation, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Potter’s Crackers, and Breese Stevens Field.

In 2023, our Youth Workforce Development team led eight sessions of YBMP across MMSD high schools and introduced three summer communitybased sessions. A notable enhancement

YBMP is designed to continue to confront and combat the disparities present for youth in Madison, prioritizing Black and brown youth who are disproportionately affected by

the systemic inequities. The program’s reach and relevance are reflected in the recent demographics of YBMP participants: 88 percent identifying as non-white, 65 percent coming from lowincome households, 36 percent having had contact with the juvenile justice system, and over half residing in underresourced neighborhoods. With program demand surging, CWD received 157 applications for the 52 available program slots in 2023, signaling the program’s vital role in bridging opportunity gaps while creating equitable employment pathways.

The long-term impacts that YBMP can have on a young person’s development can be seen in CWD’s Youth Workforce staff, as former participants now work in the Youth Workforce Development team. Past YBMP participant and current full-time CWD employee Taylor Jones shares the impact of YBMP on her professional journey. “YBMP truly gave me an opportunity to feel prepared going into the workforce. By the end of the program, I felt confident and had a new

YBMP participants practicing customer service skills at Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream.

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The large applicant pool signals the demand and importance for this program in Madison.

West High School Fall 2023 YBMP participants after graduating from YBMP.

outlook on the opportunities available to me. I’m so thankful to have participated in YBMP, and I’m so glad this program is available to youth and gives them opportunities that are accessible to their needs. Common Wealth is truly making changes in the community and transforming our youth’s lives.”

As a Youth Employment Specialist who will facilitate YBMP sessions, Taylor adds, “I take a lot of the skills with me that I learned from Common Wealth— skills that I don’t think I would’ve had if I didn’t complete YBMP.” Taylor’s story is a true testament to YBMP’s impact on participants and how it can propel their workforce journey.

With the combination of career exploration and informed goal setting, financial management techniques, and a toolbox of workforce skills, students emerge with secured employment and continued mentorship from CWD staff. The large applicant pool signals the demand and importance for this program in Madison. While collaborating with community partners for on-the-job training, CWD provides students faced with systematic 16 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

inequities equitable opportunities for employment. This work is vital to preparing the next generation of not only the Madison workforce, but also future Madison leaders.

Valerie Holt is the executive administrative assistant at Common Wealth Development.

Photographs provided by Common Wealth Development.

Valerie Holt

For further information about CWD’s Youth-Business Mentoring Program, please visit cwd.org.

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by Kyle Jacobson

INTERACT Club at Baraboo High School

Growing up, I was told that school was my job. It was work. If I received good grades, I could go to college. If I graduated college, I could get a good job.

The problem was that I didn’t see either for the opportunities they were. I got my grades, but I never tried to connect with things outside of my group of friends. I just did my job.

I’m happy to report that, from an outsider’s perspective, the number of students who think like I once did is shrinking. They’re instead finding new ways to connect to their communities, and communities are recognizing the value students can bring to local businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. Testament to this increasing level of student involvement is Baraboo High School’s student-run Interact Club.

“It’s the high school branch of the Rotary Club of Baraboo,” says Baraboo 18 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

High School junior Anna Colette Robson Leach. The Rotary Club’s website describes its member as “dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship.

Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.” Not only do Interact Club members share this spirit, they also have a direct positive impact on the entire student body.

Baraboo High School senior Brady Johnson says, “Around Thanksgiving, we had a thankful wall set up where students would come up during lunch time and write what they’re thankful for.

We put a mural at the staircase.”

authentic might be due to the club’s higher-than-normal membership this year, at 35 members. Even though Baraboo High School has a student population over 900, having roughly 4 percent of students regularly putting together events and brainstorming ways to inspire others is proving successful.

Brady and Anna are hoping to continue that trend with this year’s Food for Kidz event.

Food for Kidz is a nonprofit organization focused on packaging and distributing meals to children and families where crisis has struck, including natural disasters, war, and famine. The packaging event is open to all members of the community.

“We got a lot of participation,” adds Anna. “And not just silly answers. People really thought about it.”

“We do two shifts of Food for Kidz,” says Anna. “We do one during the school day so that clubs and students who want to participate can. Last year was the first time we ran two shifts, and it went extremely well. We had a lot of people participate who usually can’t because of sports and other commitments.”

The number of classmates outside of Interact Club wanting to do something

Brady adds, “There were some classes that came down. The teacher brought

“After that, everyone was talking about it. They had so much fun. So now people are really excited this year.” April 30 will be Interact Club’s sixth annual Food for Kidz.

“It takes so much organizing because we have to raise a lot of money to get the company to come here and run the event,” says Anna. “Our [Anna and Brady’s] whole job this year is to raise the money and organize the event.”

Another staple of Interact Club is their three annual blood drives, also open to the public. Two drives take place at the high school during the school year, and a third takes place at St. Paul’s church in the summer.

“I definitely feel more connected to my community because of Interact,” says Anna. “Every time you have a blood

drive, you see that one community member, and it’s really fun to talk to them. That’s another great community connection that we have.”

Being involved in events outside of the school, has created a reciprocal relationship between Interact Club and the city of Baraboo. Anna and Brady note that a lot of their projects actually come from within the community. One of those events is a collaboration with Baraboo Community Heroes, a nonprofit developed to provide safety education for youth while addressing local socioeconomic concerns. The event is called Holiday with a Hero.

As part of the event, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and healthcare workers take children shopping before returning to the Baraboo Arts Center.

At the Arts Center, children receive food items and household necessities.

Children can also participate in arts and crafts at a table hosted by Interact Club.

Interact Club has a unique flexibility in this way. Whatever the size of the event taking place in Baraboo, they can squeeze in. Though the club doesn’t have the resources to host everything going on, they can fill gaps or add flair to

ongoing events while throwing out some ideas of their own.

The goal of Interact Club isn’t to fill egos, but to build connection. Students are learning the intrinsic rewards of being involved in the places they live—something they’ll carry far into adulthood. They’re also reminding the rest of us that we can take as active a role in our communities as we want. It doesn’t need to be something big. Pick up garbage at a park. Look for a local blood drive to donate to. Find out what schools in your area are doing and see if you can get involved.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer who dreams of opening a rock-and-roll-themed candy shop called Bon Bon Jovi.

Photographs provided by Interact Club.

Kyle Jacobson

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

their class down and helped out for 30 minutes as part of their normal class day.

If you or your business is interested in participating in this year’s Food for Kidz event, contact either Brady at bajohnson@barabooschools.net or Anna at acleach@barabooschools.net.

madisonlocallysourced.com

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Farm to School

by Allison Pfaff Harris

Allison Pfaff Harris, REAP Farm to School Director

The pandemic led the food industry to witness major supply-chain disruptions on a national level, growing voices to amplify the message and mission of REAP Food Group: local and regional foods and supply chains are vital to thriving communities and economies.

Founded 25 years ago under the name Research, Education, Action, and Policy on Food Group, REAP Food Group, or REAP, is a southern Wisconsin nonprofit based in Madison centering, uplifting, and connecting local growers and producers to their communities, businesses, and schools.

A core program in REAP’s mission is its Farm to School program, a movement 20 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

that promotes the use of locally and regionally grown foods in schools through activities and initiatives focused on local food education, school gardens, and food purchasing. Farm to School can be practiced by anyone with a passion for supporting the movement, including students, schools, nonprofits, and households.

The Farm to School program faced a necessary reimagining during the pandemic. No longer were we able to

meet with students or bring farmer and culinary guest speakers to classrooms to share their expertise. With social distancing and remote learning, our local snack program for elementary students was put on indefinite hold.

We used the time to reflect on our past and plan for the future, asking ourselves how to not only support students, but also school nutrition programs, farmers, producers, and educators who want to care for and nurture the future of

tomorrow. From educators, farmers, and producers alike, we heard the importance of uplifting and connecting the diverse voices of agriculture to students in the classroom and for students to both see and envision themselves shaping communities through careers in agriculture and local food.

From school nutrition directors who, while facing the supply-chain disruptions, built creative partnerships with community farmers to ensure students had access to nourishing school meals, we heard needs for increased and consistent funding to support school nutrition programs. REAP considered the importance of relationships and supporting each other and other organizations in its mission to build caring, thriving communities. From listening and reflection, education and advocacy emerged as priorities to reshape REAP’s Farm to School program.

Yolibeth Rangel, REAP Community Partnerships Coordinator

For education, in late 2023, REAP received a National Institute of Food and Agriculture Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program grant to partner with three area high schools to connect local leaders in food and agriculture with students through classroom speakers and field trips. With an overarching theme of food justice, classrooms can explore many facets of food justice, including food sovereignty, seed saving, and

Chef Yusuf Bin-Rella, TradeRoots Culinary Collective madisonlocallysourced.com

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farming, while having the opportunity to hear from BIPOC chefs and food entrepreneurs, women in farming, and community-led health providers.

Field trips to area businesses and farms will create opportunities for students to see, touch, hear, feel, and connect conversations from the classroom. To conclude the grant, student voices will lead and shape a community food justice symposium in late 2025, highlighting stories of food-justice initiatives uplifting our communities.

Outside of the grant, REAP continues to explore creative educational partnerships with other community organizations. A current idea features entrepreneurship, gardening, and culinary arts with students growing, tasting, and selecting local foods to go into a student-designed menu and shared with others through community pop-up events or the UpRoot

by REAP food truck.

For advocacy, REAP joined the School Nutrition Association of Wisconsin and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in leading the Healthy School Meals for All Wisconsin Coalition. Healthy School Meals for All is a movement to bring nocost school meals to all K-12 students throughout Wisconsin. It was born out of the pandemic when the federal government allowed school nutrition programs throughout the country to serve school meals at no cost to all

Organic Sprouts Rooted sprouts are locally grown and available year round.

Find them at Willy Street Co-op, Metcalfe's, Hy-Vee on E. Washington, and MadCat.

rootedwi.org 22 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

students. After two years, the federal government asked states to return to the pre-pandemic model of charging for school meals. But states had already seen the academic and economic benefits of no-cost school meals for students and began introducing state legislation to ensure free meals continued for students. California became the first to pass Healthy School Meals for All legislation—nine states now offer the same, including Minnesota.

Healthy School Meals for All Wisconsin is a win for students, households, and school nutrition programs. Access to nourishing school meals for all students means improved focus in

the classroom, opening the door for future employment, education, and professional opportunities and nurturing healthy family, social, and community relationships. Households can rest assured their students have daily access to the five food groups of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and milk at school and don’t have to scramble to pack lunches from home.

School nutrition programs benefit from less administrative paperwork while seeing greater and consistent funding for their program from all students having access. They are, in turn, able to reallocate time and resources to their local food connections, bringing the bounty of Wisconsin to school meal trays.

Thanks to all this, Farm to School wins.

Students are able to eat, see the change of seasons, and make the connection between the food on their tray and the farmer in their classroom. By building strong school nutrition programs, we can grow the Farm to School movement.

Allison Pfaff Harris is the Farm to School director.

Allison Pfaff

Photograph by Mai Ka Hang

Photographs provided by REAP Food Group.

AS A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY: Do you know important

Are you involved in the

voices to uplift and

local food supply chain

share with students?

and have a story to share?

Do you support the work of the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition and want to be involved?

Contact Me at allisonph@reapfoodgroup.org.

Together, we can grow the thriving communities and local economies of tomorrow. madisonlocallysourced.com

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Kids and Pets

by Lori Scarlett, DVM

Bringing a new pet into a household with children or introducing a baby to a home with existing pets can be a wonderful experience, but it requires careful planning and consideration. It’s essential to prepare the pet, the child, and the household to keep everyone safe and happy.

If you’re expecting a baby and already have pets in your house, now is the time to focus on them. Does your dog react to loud noises? Does he pull on the leash while walking? Has he been around small children or crying babies? Is he anxious when you leave the house or the room? If your dog or cat has anxiety, especially around noises, quick-moving small objects (that baby will crawl sooner than you think), or when being left alone, now is the time to work on that.

Your veterinarian can prescribe antianxiety medication that can help with the transition when you bring your baby home. While going for a walk, if your dog pulls on the leash or reacts to other dogs, people, cars, etc., working with a dog trainer is imperative if you want 24 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

to walk your dog and the stroller at the same time. Be sure to use a trainer that uses positive reinforcement—you don’t want your dog to associate a shock collar with the baby.

It’s important to understand your pet’s body language. Cats and dogs give warning signs before they bite or scratch, although signs can be very subtle. Some cats become overstimulated by petting and will put their ears down. This is not the time to keep petting. Dogs will growl, bare their teeth, or just lift their lip when they feel threatened. By understanding how your pet signals that they’ve had enough, you’ll be better able to separate pet and child before a bite happens.

Get your pet’s wellness exam and vaccinations (especially rabies) updated before bringing a baby home. Take in a fresh poop sample to make sure the pet doesn’t have any parasites that could be transmitted to the baby. If you have an older pet, that could be painful; now is the time to get something to help them be comfortable. This is also an ideal

time to tell your veterinarian about the new baby and ask questions about your pet’s behavior.

Before you bring the baby home to your pets, bring a dirty diaper or piece of clothing home so the pet can become familiar with the new scent. Have yummy treats around to give the dog when they’re sitting quietly near you and the baby. Additional walks and cuddles without the baby will also be appreciated.

If you’re bringing a new dog or cat into a home with kids, teach your kids about appropriate behavior around pets. Get books that show children sitting and gently petting their dog or cat. Kissing and hugging a pet can cause anxiety in the pet, so have small children pet with just one hand and make sure they don’t grab fur, ears, paws, or tails. For older children, they can ask the pet for consent to petting. Have them stop petting and see if the dog or cat leans in for more.

Explain that they can’t chase the pet and that if the dog or cat moves away, the pet is telling the child to leave them alone.

By following these tips and better understanding your pet’s cues, you can create a wonderful environment for all family members, both furry and human.

Having an area where a pet can go to get away, like a cat tree or dog crate, is important. This area should be off-limits to the child. Everybody needs their personal space respected. This includes their food bowl. Would you like it if someone grabbed your food while you were eating? Leave pets alone while they eat or have a chew toy. If you try to stick your hands in their food or take a toy away from them, the puppy is much more likely to start guarding their food.

Whether you’re introducing a new baby to a pet or vice versa, the most important thing is supervision. Never leave a young child alone with a pet, even if you have the most docile 15-year-old golden retriever in the world. A misplaced pat on a painful hip, a pulled tail or fur, or an accidental fall on the dog can cause that dog to react with a bite. Cats will generally run away when they feel threatened, but if they can’t get away (say, if their tail is being held), they will scratch and bite.

Similarly, don’t put your pet in a position that could be dangerous. Don’t

lay your baby on the dog in hopes of a cute photograph; don’t let your toddler ride on the dog’s back; and don’t allow your toddler to walk around the house holding food the dog could easily snatch, inadvertently biting the fingers.

Even with the best supervision, bites can happen. Should your child get bitten, it’s crucial to stay calm. Panicking will increase the anxiety of the child and the pet, potentially making the situation worse. Immediately wash the bite

wound with soap and water then apply a bandage. Contact your doctor for advice on whether further medical attention is needed.

A positive relationship between children and pets can be so rewarding, promoting empathy, responsibility, and companionship, but it takes work and supervision to keep everyone happy and safe. By following these tips and better understanding your pet’s cues, you can create a wonderful environment for all family members, both furry and human.

Lori Scarlett, DVM, is the owner and veterinarian at Four Lakes Veterinary Clinic. For more information, visit fourlakesvet.com.

Dr. Lori Scarlett madisonlocallysourced.com

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CULTURAL

Connections “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

–Pablo Picasso

by Chris Gargan In 1999, the late Kurt Vonnegut, one of America’s favorite novelists, inserted a brief series of rules for writing into his book Bagombo Snuff Box. Included in this, he lists the following, “Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.” This observation on human motivations bears equally as well upon daily life as it does in the fictional realm. For the kids enrolled in Cultural Connections Madison (CCM), that desire is often as simple as being given the opportunity to express the sentiment “I am.”

In 2014, prb.org (Population Reference Bureau) noted that sociologist Kristin Turney of the University of California, Irvine reported some very disturbing statistics about a particularly vulnerable segment of the American population.

Paola Scommegna of prb.org wrote, “In particular, children with an incarcerated parent were more than three times more likely to have behavioral problems or depression than similar children without an imprisoned parent, and at least twice as likely to suffer from learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, and anxiety.”

Local artist and writer Pat Dillon was made aware of this phenomenon

26 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

when she was faced with the challenge of raising her grandson whose father entered prison in 2012. She began by studying a report on racial achievement gaps and racial equity concerns in the Madison and Dane County area. A presidential commission under Obama found that children exposed to the arts do better in all facets of their lives. A conversation with a local judge resulted in the suggestion that “the best thing you can do is create access.” The consequence of her research and community outreach resulted in the creation of CCM with a clearly articulated and ambitious mission plan: “we aim to end the cycle of familial incarceration by connecting kids with a locked up loved one to opportunities in Madison’s larger cultural arts and academic communities through partnerships with culturally responsive artists and educators committed to nurturing in our youth a heightened sense of belonging.”

After engaging with a YWCA social services summit, Pat began her efforts by reaching out to public schools to help identify children in the target group of those affected by parental incarceration.

With years of grant writing; establishing contacts in the art community, especially with artists identifying as “of color;” and creating partnerships with community centers and various entities at the

Abel Contemporary Gallery

Just minutes from Madison. Find us in Stoughton, WI and online.

AbelContemporary.com

524 East Main St. Stoughton, WI 53589 608-845-6600 University of Wisconsin, her work has achieved some truly remarkable results.

At Madison Youth Arts (MYArts), a dedicated center for Madison arts for children in all venues of expression,

Image: John S. Miller

including music, theater, and the visual arts, CCM has created an after-school opportunity for their kids to work in the arts with professional artists making unique personal and collective pieces that stand apart from the typical classroom experience they’re already exposed to in school.

Last January and February, CCM’s efforts resulted in an exhibition at Abel Contemporary Gallery, in Stoughton, entitled no. 5: Cultural Connections Club Express Kids: Safe Spaces. Gallery owner Theresa Abel wrote, “I loved this show. From the first time Pat Dillon, the show organizer, brought the kids to see the space and as they continued to come to the gallery while the show was on display, their energy and enthusiasm was contagious. The opening reception was extremely well attended, reflecting the support of the community for the young artists. A very busy opening reception can be overwhelming for even the most seasoned artists, but these emerging talents handled themselves with such grace.” madisonlocallysourced.com

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Giving adult and youth learners a voice and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking.

One of the artists Pat brought in to work with the kids was Diane Washa, a luminary painter on the local and regional scene. She noted that while it could be a challenge to get some of the young artists to focus on their efforts, they all exhibited a profound change of attitude and behavior at the opening.

Noting that the exhibition, which coincided with a major exhibit of her own recent work, was a unique opportunity for the participating CCM artists to experience the business of art—for them to see how presenting, hanging, and even discussing the work with patrons was transformational. She felt that it was part of a longer and more sustained process of healing, one in which aspects of selfdiscipline and coping were addressed in a fresh manner.

For Pat, the MYArt project is only a part of her efforts. She’s also engaged with the Vera Court community working with younger kids. Her stated goal is not necessarily to try and create artists as it is to create opportunities for expressive experiences. She also works with the University of Wisconsin—Madison as part of the UW Odyssey Project.

This twenty-year-old effort, partially supported by Pleasant Rowland and Diane Ballweg, seeks to take “a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking.”

28 | m a d i s o n l o c a l l y s o u r c e d

CCM assists in this effort by working with the Odyssey Junior program that provides the children of parents enrolled in Odyssey Behind Bars, as well as those enrolled in the regular Odyssey program, cultural opportunities they might not otherwise experience. For all of her endeavors working with these otherwise marginalized children, Pat reiterates and emphasizes that the real goal of CCM is to show the participants other avenues of expression and communities and to find new ways to set goals so that their lives will result in the firm belief that it matters when they say, “I am.”

Chris Gargan is a landscape artist and freelance writer working from his farm southwest of Verona. You can find his work at Abel Contemporary Gallery in Stoughton. He’s seen here with his dog Tycho Brahe.

Chris Gargan

Learn how you can help at giveshelter.org/wildlife

Photograph by Larassa Kabel

Photographs provided by Cultural Connections.

100% Supported By You

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question: “Which business currently resides at the former Ella’s Deli location?”

Enter by submitting your answer to the above question online at madisonlocallysourced.com or by email or mail. With your answer, include your name, mailing address, phone number, and email to mls@madisonlocallysourced.com or Madison Locally Sourced c/o ASJ Publishing LLC PO Box 559 McFarland, WI 53558 All entries with the correct answer will be entered into a drawing. Contest deadline is April 7, 2024 .

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winners Thank you to ever yone who entered our previous contest.

The answer to the question “ Which local restaurant is located in the space that previously housed the original Crandall’s Supper Club? ” is Tornado Club Steak House. A Nitt y Gritt y gif t card was sent to our winner, John Wanserski of Verona, WI.

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SOUTH CENTRAL | FALL 2023–WINTER 2024

we make a difference

madisonlocallysourced.com | secondactmagazine.com | madisonhomemagazine.com

SATURDAY, MAY 11 11 4-9PM SATURDAY, MAY 4-9PM WOODLAND STUDIOS

GRAND INSPIRED

Mary Foster

OVERT SPACE GALLERY + GIFT

Dan Dresen

Katherine Simdon

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501 E Main St grandinspired.com

130 E Main St overtspace.com

GREEN ROAD POTTERY

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ABEL CONTEMPORARY GALLERY

Grand Inspired 501 E Main St (608) 205-2015

Abel Contemporary Gallery 524 E Main St (608) 845-6600

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Overt Space Gallery + Gift 130 E Main St Ray Zovar (608) 205-2538

261 W Main St greenroadpottery.com

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Zovar Fine Art 143 E Main St (608) 345-2991 Green Road Pottery 261 W Main St Skyler Simpson (608) 205-9500 524 E Main St abelcontemporary.com

CELEBRATE STOUGHTON’S VIBRANT CelebrateGROWING Stoughton’s vibrant and growing art scene.

AND FINE ARTfine SCENE.

Featured artists will be on site giving demos and discussing their work.

Featured artists will be on site giving demonstrations