Common Council

Weekly Updates, Native America Storyteller & BYFY

New Events Added to the Native American Storyteller Residency

Seventh Generation Earth Ethics
Thursday, December 9 | 7 p.m.
In partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival, author Patty Loew will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her book, Seventh Generation Earth Ethics, and the increasing pressures to turn Indigenous lands into "sacrifice zones"--geographic areas that are permanently affected by environmental damage. REGISTER

Being Hinu: Growing Up Ho-Chunk in the 20th Century
Tuesday, December 14 | 7 p.m.
Listen to our Storyteller-in-Residence, Andi Cloud, read aloud an essay that details her experience growing up as a Ho-Chunk woman. Her story describes certain times in her life where she learned her tribe's ways and what the Ho-Chunk life is to her. REGISTER

Home Delivery Volunteers Return

Our Home Delivery service brings books and other materials to home-bound patrons, both on an individual basis AND to assisted living and nursing homes. Last year, we did an Impact Story detailing the amazing work our Home Delivery staff does and this year we're excited to announce that our Home Delivery volunteers have returned.

Volunteers are a BIG part of making the Home Delivery program work, as they help us select materials for home bound patrons and even go out to deliver materials personally! Although we're not up to our pre-pandemic number of volunteers, we're thrilled to have three in-building volunteers to help select books for the senior facilities that receive boxes of books each month and six volunteers to help deliver items to individual homebound patrons.

BY Youth For Youth (BYFY)

Deadline Sunday, January 9, 2022

Are you passionate about a problem in your community?  Do you want to receive up to $3,000 for your group? If so, you should apply for a grant from by Youth For Youth. To Apply visit here

Request for Proposals (RFP) Details:  By Youth For Youth (BYFY) is pleased to announce the availability of funding for youth initiatives in Dane County. Eligible projects will benefit youth in Dane County, and include youth in project planning, proposal writing, and project execution. (BYFY defines "youth" as being enrolled in school grades K-12.) The proposal deadline is 11:59pm, Sunday, January 9, 2022. For More Information Visit: unitedwaydanecounty.org/byfy

By Youth For Youth (BYFY) is a volunteer committee of Dane County high school students that makes investment decisions in youth-led programming in Dane County. BYFY provides youth the opportunity to identify needs and issues that are important to them and direct funding to address those needs through projects developed and implemented by youth to serve youth.

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of December 6, 2021

Staff Reports on Reindahl Park and the Men's Shelter

The City-County Homeless Issues Committee will receive City staff updates on Reindahl Park and the men's shelter at its meeting on Monday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

Public Hearing on Amended 2022 Public Housing Agency Annual Plan

The Community Development Authority is holding a public hearing on the amended 2022 Public Housing Agency (PHA) Annual Plan at its meeting on Wednesday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

MPD Strategic Plan Proposal, OIR Recommendations Progress Report, MMSD Safety

The Public Safety Review Committee is discussing several items of note regarding the Madison Police Department and policing in Madison at its meeting on Wednesday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

For more information about additional meetings scheduled for this week, please consult the City Meeting Schedule online here

Events, activities, seminars, etc.

• Andi Cloud invites Madison residents to hunt for a hand-made medallion in City of Madison parks. The clear, acrylic medallion has the Great Seal of the Ho-Chunk Nation engraved and is hidden within a City of Madison public park. Clues will be published online starting Wednesday, December 1, 2021. A new clue will appear daily through Friday, December 10, 2021, unless the medallion is found before that date. The person who finds the medallion will get to keep it and will also win a $50 gift card! Learn more about how to participate.
• Two Madison Public Library locations are offering FREE tech repair for tablets, laptops, and phones! Drop-in programs hosted at Lakeview and Meadowridge Libraries. Learn more here.
• Helpful sewers from the Sewing Machine Project are offering free, onsite mending services at Central Library every Thursday, from 10am – 12pm throughout December and January (not available December 23). They can mend clothing, coats, and any other fabric-related repairs, with the exception of zippers. No sign-up required! Drop in anytime.

Announcements, press releases, press conferences, etc.

• The Streets Division will be performing a last chance leaf collection. Residents who still need curbside leaf and yard waste collection need to get their yard waste out for pickup by Sunday, December 5. Streets Division crews will be running at full capacity to collect as much as they can as quickly as possible to hopefully beat the winter snows. If you miss that final pickup or if you would rather not take the chance that a snowstorm will bury your leaves on the terrace until the spring, then the drop-off sites are available (but be advised – reduced winter availability begins December 3). More details about the last chance pickup can be found here.
• The Madison Police Department is launching a new tool to help improve communication between officers and the community, all through the touch of your fingertips. Starting Wednesday, the department will use SPIDR Tech, a service that sends text messages to smartphone users who call 911 or the department's non-emergency line. The Madison Police Department is the first agency in the state of Wisconsin to use this type of technology. Learn more here.
• The City of Madison Streets Division is happy to announce a new item we can place into our recycling containers. Madison residents can now recycle empty and dry paper cups. This includes takeout coffee cups and paper fast food cups. Learn more here.

Save the Date

• All potential applicants for the Neighborhood Grant Program must meet with city staff by January 17. Applications will be due February 7. Please send an email to neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com to request your pre-application meeting, and check the city's webpage in mid-December for 2022 program materials.
• On Tuesday, December 14, Andi Cloud wraps up her Storyteller Residency by getting personal! The virtual event, Being Hinu: Growing Up Ho-Chunk in the 20th Century, will provide a look into Andi's life, including pivotal moments where she learned her tribe's ways and started to define what the Ho-Chunk life means to her. Register here.