MAYOR PAUL SOGLIN: A MAN WITH A MISSION

Guest:  Paul Soglin, Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin

While the challenges are many, Mayor Paul Soglin seems to be applying his age and wisdom with vigor in this third chapter of his saga as Mayor of Madison. On this program, Mayor Soglin speaks out on the most pressing issues he is facing - including the lack of rules of behavior for the homeless population downtown. Hear his approach to addressing the problem plus his enthusiasm for pursuing other goals such as high-speed fiber throughout the city, a rapid transit bus system with advance ticket sales and train station-like platforms, and a PR campaign to close the divide and tell the story of Madison to the rest of the state. It’s all in a day’s work for Madison’s dedicated Mayor.

HOW TO AVOID CONSUMER FRAUD

Guest:  Kimberly Hazen, Southwest Regional Director, Wisconsin Better Business Bureau

Have you ever been scammed - been a victim of fraud? On this program, Kimberly Hazen describes the magnitude of the problem. Over 50% of fraud victims are senior citizens, but everyone is at risk. Learn the characteristics of scam victims, the sophisticated tactics scammers use to persuade their victims, the current, most prevalent scams, and how to prevent them.

Here are websites to research possible scams and help make your wishes known:

Better Business Bureau scam information: www.bbb.org/scam-stopper
Remove name from telemarketing list: www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222
Remove name from unwanted mail list: www.dmachoice.org
Free annual credit report: www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228
Information on charities: www.give.org

OUR MADISON PLAN: FROM VISION TO REALITY

GUEST: Rev. Dr. Alex Gee, Founder and CEO, Justified Anger Coalition

Education, economic development, incarceration, family and community wellness, and leadership capacity and development: These are the five work groups that will take on the goals established in “Our Madison Plan” - a detailed vision for racial progress in Madison which evolved from the “Justified Anger” essay by the Rev. Dr. Alex Gee which appeared in The Capital Times December 2013 and grew out of an earlier “Race to Equity” report by the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families. That report measured startling differences between whites and blacks in Dane County from academic achievement to incarceration rates.

On this program, the Rev. Dr. Alex Gee describes what has happened since the article first appeared, what “Our Madison Plan” is designed to accomplish, the breadth of community support and leadership that has stepped forward, and how the “Plan” is structured to be successful and sustainable.

CELEBRATE AMERICA'S HERITAGE: THE CONSTITUTION AND THE SUPREME COURT

Guests:  Richard Leffler, Editor Emeritus of The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution; Jerry Thain, retired professor, UW Law School and First Amendment scholar

The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court…are the opening words of Article III of the U.S. Constitution.  On this 4th of July program, Richard Leffler, Editor Emeritus of The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution and Jerry Thain, retired professor at UW Law School and First Amendment scholar, take us back to the Founding Fathers and their vision which led to the adoption of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They give us a legal overview of recent Supreme Court decisions, why the Court selects the cases it does, and how opinions are assigned. A thoughtful discussion on our nation’s 239th birthday!

ONE CITY LEARNING CENTERS: A NEW VISION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Guests:  Kaleem Caire, Founder, CEO and Marlo Mielke, Director, One City Learning Centers

The evidence is clear.  During the first three years of life, a child born into a low-income family hears 30 million fewer words than a child born into a well-off family.  If a child can’t read well by the time he/she is in 3rd grade, the child is four times less likely to graduate from high school by age 19 than one who can.  And if the child happens to be poor, he/she is six times less likely to graduate.  This kind of achievement gap is real in Dane County, and a new program is underway to prevent it in the first place. 

One City Learning Centers, a reorganized venture that has emerged from the struggling Child Development Inc. Center on Madison’s south side, is poised to address the early childhood education needs of low to moderate-income families.  The CDI South Madison site is the home of the first One City Learning Center with a vision in place to expand it to other neighborhoods.  

On this program, Kaleem Caire, CEO and Marlo Mielke, Director of the Center scheduled to open this September for children ages 2-5, share the plans for this Center and why it is structured to be academically successful and financially sustainable.  Mandatory parental involvement is just one of the requirements.  

For more information, call 608-268-8004 or contact the One City Learning Center, 2012 Fisher Ave., Madison, WI 53713.  Soon to be introduced: www.onecityearlylearning.org.

LONG TERM CARE IN WISCONSIN

Guests: Karen Musser, President/CEO and Carrie Gartzke, Self-Directed Supports Specialist, Care Wisconsin

What is the state of long-term care in Wisconsin?  On this program, Karen Musser and Carrie Gartzke describe Family Care, the Partnership Program, and Medicaid SSI - the three public programs Care Wisconsin currently offers in certain Wisconsin counties.  What impact will the Wisconsin budget have on these long-term care services?  What is self-directed care, and how will self-directed care be retained in the new budget guidelines?

Care Wisconsin began as a human services agency in 1976.  They manage the long-term care needs of frail seniors and adults with disabilities who meet income, functional, and residency requirements. Their care model is based on access, choice, quality and cost-effectiveness.  For more information, go to carewisc.org.

THE LEGAL COMPLEXITIES OF HEALTH CARE AND WORKPLACE WELLNESS

Guest: Barbara Zabawa, Attorney/President, Center for Health Law Equity, LLC

With the increasing focus in health care on prevention and wellness, implementing programs in the workplace to support and encourage employees to participate in healthy behaviors and activities are becoming more popular. As with all new efforts, challenges arise as to what are the best practices in wellness program implementation; how can a business establish a “healthy corporate culture” while providing strong leadership and employee buy-in?

On this program, Barbara Zabawa discusses the legal landscape of health care reform in the workplace and also shares insight into the current case regarding the Affordable Care Act subsidies that is before the Supreme Court.

For more information, call 608-579-1267 or go to www.cfhle.com.

A PATH APPEARS FOR THE MADISON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Guests: Bob Sorge, President; Tom Linfield, V.P. Community Impact

As a catalyst for positive, genuine and lasting change, the Madison Community Foundation reached out early to be an inaugural funder of the Justified Anger initiative, a movement they see as potentially being able to successfully address the racial disparities that exist in Dane County and improve the lives of minorities in Madison. On this program, Bob Sorge and Tom Linfield take us through the process of how they identified Justified Anger and other big picture areas of need and are adding their expertise and commitment to achieving a long term community impact.

On Tuesday, June 16, the Madison Community Foundation welcomes author Sheryl WuDunn as guest speaker at their annual dinner, Inspiring Philanthropy 2015, at Monona Terrace. WuDunn, a pulitzer prize-winning reporter, co-authored A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity with her husband, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.  She will share stories from the book and offer her insights on the art and science of philanthropy and how we can each make a difference.

 For more information about the event, go to madisoncommunityfoundation.org.

GILDA'S CLUB: COME AS YOU ARE

 GUESTS:  Lannia Stenz, Executive Director;  Sandy Henshue, Director of Events and Corporate Partnerships;  Betsy Kennedy, member and Laughter Yoga Coach

No one need face cancer alone.  Not when Gilda’s Club is nearby.   Gilda’s Club offers an environment away from the health care setting where people affected by cancer can come when they are happy, sad, angry or tired.  

On this program, Lannia Stenz, Sandy Henshue and Betsy Kennedy, Gilda’s Club member and Laughter Yoga Leader, describe the normalcy that returns to families’ at Gilda’s Club in Madison where family and friends come together for emotional and social support, to speak with professionals, play games, laugh and have fun, or just relax and take a nap.  While there may be nothing funny about a diagnosis of cancer, that doesn’t mean people can’t get a good laugh at Gilda’s Club.  Learn how on this program.

For information about Gilda’s Backyard BBQ on Thursday, June 25, go to www.gildasclubmadison.org.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE: A PUBLIC MATTER

Guests:  Victor Rivas Rivers, author, actor and advocate against domestic violence; Shannon Barry, Executive Director, DAIS (Domestic Abuse Intervention Services)

In his book, A Private Family Matter, Victor Rivas Rivers describes the violence inflicted on him and his family by his father and what it took to break the cycle of abuse.  Rivers, a former NFL football player and now actor and advocate against domestic violence, will be in Madison as the keynote speaker at the Celebrate Independence Luncheon presented by DAIS - Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, on June 15 at the Concourse Hotel.

On this program, Victor Rivers shares insights about domestic violence and highlights the role men can play in creating an environment where women feel and are safe.  Also on the program, Shannon Barry, Executive Director of DAIS, who describes the growth in programs and community outreach for women and families to support those impacted by domestic violence in Dane County.  As you will hear, it is a public matter!

For more information, go to www.abuseintervention.org.