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.