ON Newsletter - Fall 2024
Odyssey Beyond Bars: Own Your Story
USED WITH PERMISSION FROM NESTOR GOMEZ
Nestor Gomez got on stage at a Moth StorySlam years ago to get over the stuttering that plagued his childhood. Since then he has won more than 70 Slams! As a former undocumented immigrant, Nestor understands the importance of owning your own story. He believes that storytelling creates an opportunity for people to overcome barriers and feel more connected.
Gomez is one of the storytellers who leads workshops at the Racine Correctional Facility, part of a college jumpstart program for people incarcerated in Wisconsin state prisons. For three years, Wisconsin Humanities has coordinated these workshops for Odyssey Beyond Bars, part of the UW Odyssey Project. Our work is focused on amplifying the human stories of incarceration. This fall, there will be storytelling workshops at four prisons, including Taycheedah Correctional Facility for Women.
Learn more and meet all our storytelling instructors at wisconsinhumanities.org/programs/odyssey-beyond-bars
Thank You for Being Here with Us!
In a world where understanding and empathy are more crucial than ever, Wisconsin Humanities is proud to introduce our new program, Stand Up to Hate. This innovative resource is designed to educate and empower individuals to combat hate and foster inclusivity in our communities. By supporting this initiative, you are helping build a more compassionate and just society.
Our work does not stop there! Your generosity also fuels other impactful programs. Love Wisconsin celebrates diverse experiences and voices in our state. Opportunity Grants open the door for smaller organizations working in underserved and rural communities. Community Powered trainings foster local collaborations to address real needs. And our new season of Human Powered podcast highlights stories from Wisconsin prisons that will deepen understanding about the impacts of mass incarceration.
Your donation makes a difference. Together, we can create a Wisconsin where everyone belongs. Please consider making a gift today to support these vital programs.
Stand Up to Hate: A Call to Action
Recent years have seen a startling rise in hate crimes and hate-motivated violence across the country.
Wisconsin, too, has felt this pain. At Wisconsin Humanities, we are confronting this challenge head-on with our Stand Up to Hate initiative, dedicated to promoting understanding throughout the state. Hate does more than create fear; it divides us and undermines the fundamental values of respect and inclusion.
Grantee Spotlight: To Have Community We Must Share a Meal
This past summer, Rubina Martini set out on a “Native Foodways Adventure,” traversing the state and region getting to know Native farmers, producers, chefs, and systems.
Love Wisconsin: Healthy Human Connections
Wisconsin is diverse geographically, politically, racially, and ethnically. The Love Wisconsin website features a large and growing collection of stories that remind us of the small miracles performed everyday by our neighbors who care deeply and step up to solve problems large and small.
Human Powered: Developing Tools to Thrive
When James Price first learned how to bead, he was incarcerated at the Stanley Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. He noticed a Native American man beading, so he asked if he could buy a pair of earrings. But they weren’t for sale.
WH Fellows: Envision a Vibrant Future
Every day, Wisconsinites use their creativity to tackle challenges in their communities. Our Community Powered program trains people to use an asset-based approach in community work.
