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UW South Madison Partnership Community Celebration promises food, family fun

September 6, 2019
Photo: Young participant smiling while touching Bucky's paw

Bucky Badger greets a participant at the 2018 UW South Madison Partnership Community Celebration. Bucky will be back this year. Photo: Bryce Richter

Members of the community and university are invited to come together on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. for the UW South Madison Partnership’s second annual Community Celebration, held at its office at The Village on Park, 2312 S. Park St.

The free, family-friendly event is open to the entire community, and features a complimentary cookout, live DJ, free scoops from UW–Madison’s retro ice cream truck, games, prize giveaways and a special visit from Bucky Badger.

Representatives from more than 15 campus and community organizations will also be on hand with arts and crafts, interactive activities, information and resources.

Photo: Kevin handing papers to girl standing next to him

Kevin Mullen, assistant director of the UW Odyssey Project, talks with a young attendee of the 2018 celebration. Photo: Bryce Richter

“This is a chance for us to say thank you to everyone who continues to make this partnership and space a success,” says Brenda González, UW–Madison’s new director of community relations. “Programming continues to expand, the community and university members are as engaged as ever, so what better way to celebrate our ongoing collaboration than a big party?”

The event marks the fourth year of the UW South Madison Partnership, which first opened in 2015. The space currently attracts more than 1,100 visitors monthly and 35 groups annually. Each week, 10 active weekly programs and partners utilize the space, including programs on education, legal services, health and more.

For more information on the UW South Madison Partnership community celebration, visit go.wisc.edu/communitycelebration.

EVENT DETAILS

  • What: The UW South Madison Partnership Community Celebration, featuring a complimentary cookout, live DJ, free scoops from UW–Madison’s retro ice cream truck, games, prize giveaways and a special visit from Bucky Badger.
  • When: Thursday, Sept. 12, 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Where: UW South Madison Partnership, The Village on Park, 2312 S. Park St., Madison.
  • Who: The event is free and open to all.

The UW South Madison Partnership Community Celebration is made possible through widespread collaboration with many community and campus partners.

Photo: Person serving food next to a table full of sandwich rolls

A volunteer serves food at the 2018 celebration. The free event includes a complimentary cookout and scoops from UW–Madison’s retro ice cream truck. Photo: Bryce Richter

Opened in 2015, the UW South Madison Partnership (UWSMP) is a UW–Madison initiative designed to meet the South Madison community’s needs and foster mutually beneficial relationships. Equipped with classroom space, conference rooms, private meeting areas and university resources, it allows community members to engage with UW–Madison in a more accessible, meaningful way.

Programming at the UWSMP includes the UW Odyssey Project, which offers a free humanities course for adult students facing economic barriers to college, the Neighborhood Law Clinic, which provides a range of legal and advocacy services to low-income community members, and dozens of other programs and partners focusing on health, education and other services.