Wisconsin Union Theater: Black Arts Matter Festival Returns with a Range of Events, Including Art, Comedy, Poetry and Music Nov. 8-12 in Madison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 3, 2023   

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/bam-festival-2023

BLACK ARTS MATTER FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH A RANGE OF EVENTS, INCLUDING ART, COMEDY, POETRY AND MUSIC, NOV. 8-12 IN MADISON

MADISON – The annual Black Arts Matter (BAM) Festival returns for a fourth year to Madison, Wisconsin, Nov. 8-12. The BAM Festival will include live music, visual art, stand-up comedy, a vendor market, and a poetry slam competition featuring slam champions from across the United States.

University of Wisconsin–Madison alumna and award-winning poet, actor and artist Shasparay founded the BAM Festival in 2019 and continues to serve as its artistic director. She co-produces and co-presents the BAM Festival with the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT).

The full lineup includes:

Nov. 8:

• A public welcome reception with DJ Femme Noir, 5:30 p.m. in the Shannon Sunset Lounge at Memorial Union
• Viewing of “Apologetically BLK” exhibition by Mawhyah Milton, 6 p.m. in the Class of 1925 Gallery at Memorial Union, presented by the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Art Committee in collaboration with Shasparay and WUT
• Artist talk with Milton, moderated by Shasparay, 7:00 p.m. in the Play Circle at Memorial Union

Nov. 9:

• Comedy by Emmy-winning comedian Jerrod Carmichael, who has hosted “Saturday Night Live” and the 80th Golden Globes, has three HBO comedy specials and stars in this year’s Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion winner, “Poor Things,”9 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union

Nov. 10:

• All-Star Poetry Slam featuring more than a dozen of the country’s top poets, 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union

Nov. 11:

• Live music by New Orleans-based, GRAMMY-nominated R&B band Tank and the Bangas, 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union

Nov. 12:

• The Black Arts Matter Youth Talent Competition, 2 p.m. at Madison Youth Arts (MYArts)
• BAM Art Market, an art and vendor market, 11 a.m. at MYArts

New BAM events include a gallery exhibition, featuring the artist who created BAM’s visuals; a youth talent competition; the BAM Art Market; and the welcome reception where the community is invited to kick off the celebration and try this year’s signature beverage, BAMalicious, which will have a non-alcoholic option and be available in Shannon Sunset Lounge prior to most of the BAM Festival events taking place in Shannon Hall.

The cornerstone of BAM is its poetry slam competition. The All-Star Poetry Slam will consist of three rounds, eliminating half of the poets in each round before a final champion is chosen. Shasparay and WUT will provide additional details at union.wisc.edu/bamfestival closer to the Festival’s start. First, second, and third-place winners will receive cash prizes, and the winner of the slam will open for the Festival headliner, Tank and the Bangas, the following evening.

“The festival is packed this year,” Shasparay said. “We have a mix of local and world-renowned talent that are being brought together in celebration of Black arts and creativity. I am particularly excited to engage youth artists and have a vendor market.”

Shasparay founded the BAM Festival while earning her undergraduate degree in theatre from UW–Madison. She created the festival after identifying a lack of Black arts awareness and platforms in Madison, Wisconsin. Shasparay has a master’s degree from the UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business and is globally recognized for her performance art, including ranking fourth at the 2022 Womxn of the World Poetry Slam. She has been featured on Button Poetry, in the Huffington Post, and on BuzzFeed. She is currently playing Gilda in “The Wiz” at an arts venue in Madison.

WUT first partnered with Shasparay in 2020 as part of WUT’s commitment to celebrating arts and culture that highlight and uplift diverse identities, stories, and voices with the intention of creating an equitable and inclusive place for all who engage with the Theater, the Wisconsin Union, and UW–Madison.

“This year’s Black Arts Matter Festival combines visual art, comedy, poetry, spoken word, and music,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “The performing and visual arts are some of the best ways to express ourselves – sometimes the only way – and the artists featured in this year’s Festival have so much to say and share. Every night is a ‘don’t miss.’”

The BAM Festival is part of the WUT 2023-24 season of what’s next now in performing arts, which features dance, international music, jazz, and chamber music.

The BAM Festival is made possible in part with support from the Wisconsin Union, the Wisconsin Alumni Association, the Evjue Foundation, Dane Arts, the Madison Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Division of the Arts.

Patrons can save 20% on WUT season events through subscriptions, including the brand-new build-your-own subscription options of three to five events for 15% off or six or more events for a 20% discount.

Patrons can purchase tickets to the BAM Festival and other WUT events online, at the Memorial Union Box Office, or by phone at (608) 265-2787.

Patrons can learn more about the BAM Festival and purchase tickets to Festival events at union.wisc.edu/bamfestival.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an extensive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is committed to social justice and works to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all who engage with the Theater’s programming, events, and activities. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee is part of the Wisconsin Union’s leadership development program for UW–Madison students and supports the Wisconsin Union Theater’s mission of serving students through the performing arts. By helping to program the Theater’s annual season of performing arts presentations, the students learn about program curation, relationship-building, marketing, communications, budgeting, and production. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

Tri-North Builders has record-breaking Tequila for Ta-Tas

Contact:
Anna Stern
astern@tri-north.com

Tri-North Builders has record-breaking Tequila for Ta-Tas

Madison, Wisconsin – Tri-North Builders had a record-breaking Tequila for Ta-Tas event in 2023. Founded by Tri-North nine years ago, Tequila for Ta-Tas is a fundraiser that supports the UW Carbone Cancer Center in the fight against metastatic breast cancer, with the ultimate goal of making it a survivable condition. This year, over $31,000 were raised, which is over double of what was raised last year. Since its inception, over $100,000 were raised through Tequila for Ta-Tas.

“We are incredibly amazed and humbled by the impact of this year’s Tequila for Ta-Ta’s event,” says Tri-North Vice President Anna Stern. “With over 85 guests in attendance, we are so grateful for the people and companies who have supported this grassroots event in 2023 and over the years. Thank you to all of our sponsors, donors, and volunteers.”

As Tequila for Ta-Tas is an annual event, 2024 will mark its tenth anniversary. For this major milestone, Tri-North’s goal is to exceed the funds raised in 2023 for another record-breaking event. More details on next year’s Tequila for Ta-Tas will come summer 2024.

About Tri-North Builders:

Tri-North was founded in Madison, Wisconsin in 1981 as a general contracting firm. For over 40 years, Tri-North has continuously expanded its services, ranging from preconstruction and construction management to LEED consulting and self-performed work. With three nationwide offices, Tri-North has grown beyond what was imagined. Yet, it has remained privately owned and managed with Thomas Thayer (one of the original founding members) as the President and CEO. Tri-North is an employee-owned company, and many of its first employees are still with Tri-North today.

Madison Reading Project: Junior League of Madison Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Major Community Gifts

For more information: 

Junior League: Ginger Gant, gingergant312@gmail.com 608-234-2958, 

Madison Reading Project: Rowan Childs, rowan@madisonreadingproject.com 608-665-0055

MyArts: Jessica Courtier, Jessica@madisonyoutharts.org 608-416-1945

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF MADISON CELEBRATES 35th ANNIVERSARY WITH MAJOR COMMUNITY GIFTS

The Junior League of Madison (JLM) has awarded this week $325,000 to two Madison nonprofits.

“In its 35th year, the League is proud and honored to partner with Madison Reading Project (MRP) and MyArts, two growth-oriented nonprofit organizations,” said Sarah Barnes, JLM President. “Our $250,000 gift to MRP and  $75,000 to MyArts confirm the League’s commitment to children and families in our community. The reach and impact of both these nonprofit organizations impress our members, and we look forward to further building those relationships in the future.”

The gift to Madison Reading Project includes funding for their new, all-accessible ADA-compliant second Big Read Reading Bus to debut in 2024, a $50,000 challenge grant to the Dane County community to “Fill the Bus,” and a $100,000 visionary gift. MRP connects Madison area communities with free books and literacy resources that ignite a love for reading and affirm and reflect the diversity of young readers. MRP currently serves 250,000+ children through community partners and educators.

The gift to MYArts includes $25,000 for an indoor mural for their Artist in Residence Program and $50,000 for their Access fund so every single youth programming partner can receive support through reduced charges. MyArts is a vibrant community space that currently supports nearly 60 impactful, wide-array of youth art programs.

The League has also established a $150,000 grant-making program, bringing the League’s current financial commitment to the community to nearly half a million dollars.

“Madison is fortunate to have two such powerful charitable organizations doing extraordinary work in the areas of literacy and the arts in our community,” Barnes said. “The Junior League is pleased to celebrate what they have done and what they will continue to do in the years ahead.”

“We invite women in the community to join our organization and realize the personal leadership skills they can develop and the positive community impact they can make.”

For membership information, please contact juniorleaguemadisoninfo@gmail.com.

L-R: La Tasha Fields, Corinda Rainey-Moore, Jodi Sweeney, Tammy Rozek, Sarah Barnes, Laurel Rice, Rowan Childs, Chris Laurent, Sarah Brenden, Mary Pat Berry, Ann Christianson, Jaclyn Vitela Jacqmin 

Mike Shea joins Lake Ridge Bank as Vice President-Senior Executive Banker

October 2, 2023 (MADISON, Wis.) – Mike Shea has joined Lake Ridge Bank as Vice President- Senior Executive Banker as of September 18. With more than 30 years as a local banker in the Madison market, Shea brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in building the types of connections that enable collaboration and ensure a client experience that exceeds expectations. He has spent the last 10 years serving high-net-worth clients in a private banking or executive banking capacity.  

Lake Ridge Bank’s Executive Banking Team provides concierge-style service to qualified customers who require a big-picture approach to managing sophisticated or complex banking needs. By providing a single point of contact, an executive banker offers the necessary expertise to simplify banking and seamlessly manage financial activities across a wide range of departments, encompassing a full spectrum of business and personal financial strategies. 

With a degree in Business Management, Shea has earned multiple awards of excellence throughout his career. He is a Certified Wealth Specialist through the Cannon Financial Institute and brings insights from a wide range of banking perspectives, including consumer lending, residential mortgage lending, private wealth management, and executive banking. Shea is also an active volunteer throughout the community, including serving as Vice President on the Badger Men’s Basketball Booster Club Board of Directors and participating in organizations such as the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Board, the Middleton High School Reality Day, and the Sertoma Club of Middleton. 

For more information about Executive Banking services at Lake Ridge Bank, contact Mike Shea at mshea@lakeridge.bank today.

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Lake Ridge Bank’s mission is to “create extraordinary banking experiences where everyone prospers.” For more than 100 years, this has meant getting to know each of our clients to offer personalized services to meet their specific financial goals. Lake Ridge Bank offers a full line of financial products and services. We focus on offering products and services to make your banking easy. Our business banking and mortgage lenders are trusted leaders in their field with the expertise to provide the right loan at the best rate possible for our clients. As a community bank, we are dedicated to reinvesting in, and making our communities great places to live, work and raise a family. Visit lakeridge.bank to learn more about how we can help you. Member FDIC 

Lake Ridge Bank. Go Far. Go Together! 

For additional information, please contact Mark Schellpfeffer at mschellpfeffer@lakeridge.bank.  

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County: Looking for Volunteer Mentors for Next Step Fridays

Next Step Fridays is a partnership between MMSD GED Option #2 Program and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, that engages high school students with community partners to develop a College, Career, and Community Ready (CCCR) portfolio that will help students identify what their next steps will be after they graduate. The main goals of the portfolio will be to:

• Develop soft skills, with a focus on being college, career, and community ready
• Connect with a mentor that enables the student to go deeper into their CCCR interests, answering “where am I going?” and “how will I get there?”
• Create an post-graduation action plan with specific goals for the next step of their life plan, including financial plan and housing plan

We are looking for volunteers to mentor and coach our high school students so that they can reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring adults.  

Dates:   Fridays, October 13 – November 17

Time:     11 AM – 2 PM

Location: 3rd Floor, Lapham Elementary School, 1045 E Dayton St.

Schedule

Week 1: Speed mentoring

Wks 2-6: Create CCCR Portfolio with mentor

– Where am I going? – Goal setting

– Resume/cover letter

– Professional email address, sending professional emails, setting up

your phone and voicemail

– How will I get there?

– How to get specific job training, job skills, certificates, etc

– Job search workshop/Interview skills/mock interviews

– Job shadows

– Credit score, financial plan and housing plan

Week 7: CCCR Portfolio mentor speed feedback round

Week 8: Finalize Next Step Action Plan

If you are interest in becoming a mentor, please complete this short interest form: https://bgcdc.formstack.com/forms/next_step_fridays_mentor_interest