DearFriends:
a reflective journal about social action from JustDane
Each year at JustDane we accept anywhere from 5 to 10 student interns from UW Madison, Madison College, and other colleges in Wisconsin Interns serve in all programs: marketing, advocacy, and of course direct service For many years we have been the internship of last resort; because, still, too many non-profits don’t accept students who have criminal legal system involvement. Interns are vital to our work at JustDane because they bring new ideas and new focus on evidence-based practices, on social systems and systemic injustices. Interns help keep us focused on the future- the future of our community and the future of our organization. This includes asweexpandourinitiativesandgrowourunderstandingofhowtochangewiththechangingneeds ofourcommunityandparticipants
One of the reasons JustDane has been here for 50 years is because we have never been satisfied with the status quo. We believe in challenging ourselves and our community to do better. We’ve never believed that there isn’t more to learn and more to do in our community
We envision a community in which everyone has an opportunity to succeed. That requires advocacy, it requires speaking up and out on issues This includes budgets that undermine racial equity and justice and a proposal in the City Budget to either greatly reduce or entirely cut the Office of the Independent Monitor and the Police Civilian Oversight Board. (The final scenario depends on whether the City referendum passes) Reducing or cutting these programs is a step backward to a time when the community- particularly individuals who distrust the police, who have been marginalized and discriminated against by the system - felt ignored and unsafe filing a complaint To be honest, these individuals were largely ignored and unsafe We oppose those cuts because we envision a future where residents see more, not less transparency in policing; where residents feel safer bringing a complaint forward; where residents feel seen and heard; and feel that they can trust the police and the system to treat them fairly. Our advocacy looks to the future, pushing the needle toward greater equity and justice. That’s why we are supportive of the proposed referendum, to continue to fund vital services and initiatives in our City and to continue the progress we ’ ve made in so many areas.
Some of JustDane’s interns from the past year: Maddie, Abbi, Anthony, Danielle, and Will
Our focus on the future has resulted in some incredible collaborations that continue to grow. It has led to new relationships working together to find new ways of being in community, new ways of becoming an anti-racist organization It is what has guided us over 50 years to be an incubator for new ideas and initiatives, including Urban Dippers, Moms On a Mission, Madison Performance Collective, Bleed Shamelessly and many more over the years Supporting the work of groups that have identified a gap, a need, an injustice, and stepped in to fill the gap
Last month we, along with our partners Mentoring Positives and the African Center for Community Development hosted the first every Darbo Dream Festival. The event included music by Café Coda, food, activities and time to be in community with one another. It gave us the opportunity to talk with the attendees, to ask them what community means to them and what they want to see in their community. We are very grateful to American Family for their sponsorship of the event and Festival Foods for their support as well About 200 people attended the event and we ’ ve already begun planning for next year ’ s event
For more information about proposed changes to the Madison City budget, go to https://www.cityofmadison.com/council/district6/blog/2024-10-02/2025-budget-explainer to read Alder Marsha Rummel’s explanation
Createmyfreewillathttps://bit.ly/3ZZepSA Plan ahead for your future and the power of
October21st-27thisNationalEstatePlanning AwarenessWeek,andweinviteyoutoconsiderthese importantquestionswhilemakingyourwill:
Whodoyouwanttocareforyourchildren&pets? Haveyoumadedecisionsaroundfinances? DoyouwanttosupportJustDanethrougha legacy?
Usingourpartner,FreeWill,youcananswerthose questionsandcreateyourplanforthefuturetoday.
What is Mentoring Connections?
with Just Connections Program Coordinator, Jaylin Stueber
Mentoring Connections is a program that serves youth ages 5-17 (18 if still in high school) that are impacted by parental/caregiver incarceration.
Our hope is to connect the youth with a volunteer from Dane County, or the surrounding area, that will mentor them for at least a year, meeting once a week for at least an hour.
Why is Mentoring Connections so important?
It teaches kids how to better engage with adults, especially with the trauma they have experienced from losing immediate access to a caregiver
It provides empowerment for the youth
It provides youth with the tools they need to be successful
It teaches kids how to better advocate for themselves with the help from a trusted adult
Having a complete stranger see the worth and potential in a kid that they may not see in themselves can be crucial to a kid, recognizing their strengths and wanting to do better for themselves, while also creating a relationship with their mentor that lasts a lifetime
Someone who has strong communication skills
Consistency is key, especially when it comes to doing outings with youth and engaging in conversation with them
Reliable transportation to get to their mentee
Someone who is willing to meet the young person where they are are- physically and mentally
Someone who is willing to sacrifice their time- time is priceless and something you choose to give
rite part of working with youth and mentors?
Where do you
see
MC growing in the future? hat makes a good mentor?
Being able to see both individuals grow and learn about themselves in ways they might not have otherwise. I also enjoy seeing what the matches represent for our community, the kind of positive impact mentoring has on young people and their life trajectories, as well as, how valuable the experiences are for the volunteers who do the mentoring.
I would love to figure out a way to always have mentors ready to connect with kids- it would be great to have more mentors than we have kids. I would love to figure out a way to have a shorter waitlist, so more kids will be matched regularly. I would also love to figure out how we could expand our program and who it reaches, as well as gaining more funding that can help us serve the entire family instead of just the youth, whether that be financial, educational, or emotionally/mentally.
Interested in learning more about Mentoring Connections or becoming a mentor yourself? Email Jaylin at jaylin@justdane.org or check out our volunteer opportunites page on our website!
Just Bakery Seasonal Specials
We have revamped our Maple Bacon Scones, baking them with a brown sugar topping and drizzling with a maple frosting- great balance of sweet and salty!
2 for $6
You asked, we listened: Banana Bread is here for the fall! Perfect small loaves to enjoy anytime of day.
1 loaf for $5
It’s Pumpkin Season, so we are doing pumpkin muffins with toasted sunflower on top. Bonus: they are gluten-sensitive!
4 for $6
Spiced Peach Crumble Bars
We can’t get enough of peach in the fall. The sweetness perfectly balances with the spiciness of cinnamon 2 for $5
Fall Cookies
Ginger Molasses are back in action! Also, we were digging through our archived recipes and found a Pumpkin Snickerdoodle we are bringing back! 5 for $5
Apple Danish are back for the fall! Our flaky, buttery danish dough topped with a housemade cinnamon apple filling. 2 for $6
Pesto Artichoke Bread
We were playing with our Pizza Bread recipe and this flavor combo won in testing! Pesto sauce, mozzarella cheese, and artichoke hearts.
1 large loaf for $8
Pumpkin Bars
It wouldn’t be fall without the moist pumpkin cake topped with housemade cream cheese frosting-yum! 2 for $5
Holiday Pie Orders
The deadline for pie pre-orders is November 20th, by 12:00 noon.
10 inch & 12 inch pies available in: Pecan, Pumpkin, Caramel Apple, Chocolate Mousse, Vegan Apple, and Vegan Cherry Crunch!
JustDane, Mentoring Positives, and the African Center for Community Development joined forces to host a vibrant community event music festival in the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood. This event was designed to celebrate the rich cultural diversity, resilience, and unity within the community while providing a platform for local talent, fostering connections among residents, and creating a positive, inclusive environment for all.
THANK YOU to American Family Dreams Foundation for funding the festival, to Festival Foods for donating cases of water, to the team at Cafe Coda for providing the groovy music and the stage, to Cliff's Willy Streat Eats for providing SUCH delicious food, to Stephanie at Classic Creations for her dreamy face paintings, to Terrance at Atwood
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Jazz Quartet,
Father Gregory Boyle, Javier, and Elvis
