A Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention: Investing in Community Partners​​​​​​

We are working to address the growing and urgent issue of violence through a public health lens. That includes investing in community partners with more than $1 million in grant funding made available by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). In June, we chose the second round of agencies and organizations to receive the funding. The grantees are:

• Moms on a Mission
• African Center for Community Development
• Dear Diary
• YWCA Madison
• Madison Public Library Foundation
• Allied Wellness Center
• UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence
• Rape Crisis Center (RCC)

Read on to learn more about each organization and hear from each about their work, in their own words, through excerpts from their applications.

Moms on a Mission

Moms on a Mission is a grassroots, community-based group of mothers and volunteers who visit East High School lunchrooms daily to provide support. The funding will help them continue this work by supporting staffing and direct aide for students. 

“We show up to Madison East High School every single school day to help foster the school community our kids deserve and provide students with snacks and support.”

African Center for Community Development

The African Center for Community Development aims to reduce domestic violence among African Immigrant communities. They do this by collaborating with domestic violence services providers for training. They also provide direct outreach through partnerships with Madison Black Nurses. The funding will help increase their community outreach and engagement.

“We are uniquely positioned to bridge the linguistic and cultural gaps, and ensure that African immigrants, highly underrepresented, are catered for.”

Dear Diary, Inc.

This program helps empower Black girls and women aged 14-21 in Madison, by hosting bi-weekly, community-based sessions, the program fosters an environment that shifts mindsets, heals trauma, enhances self-esteem and identity, and strengthens community and family. The funding will cover staffing needs and bring in more supplies for sessions.

“We are working to build a supportive community that enables Black girls and women to write their own narrative for social and economic advancement.”

YWCA Madison

YWCA is supporting restorative justice practices in community centers and schools across the county. Their curriculum provides in schools and at each community-based setting, education and participation in the Circle Process (best practice for shared vulnerability, empathetic listening, and community building); and discussions on social justice topics to support feelings of belonging and affirmation.

“We are dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.”

Madison Public Library Foundation

Since 2014, Madison Public Library has run a community-focused, art-based learning program for at-risk and court-involved teens called “Making Justice”. The program addresses racial discrepancies in juvenile detention. The library plans to use this funding to increase the number of workshop artists and get more supplies for program.

“We are committed to helping young Madisonians who have experienced violence explore their feelings and personal situations through the art creation process and by providing positive outlets for self-expression.

Allied Wellness Center

The Wellness Center is a neighborhood center with the purpose of promoting health and wellness of the mind, body, and spirit of people living in the Allied, Belmar and Dunn’s Marsh neighborhoods. With the funding, they plan to launch a program to host healing groups for people who have experienced violence.

“We are well positioned to bring diverse groups of Allied residents together to begin to heal from similar experiences of interpersonal and community violence and the violence of structural racism and work together to nurture a healthier and more resilient neighborhood.”

Rape Crisis Center (RCC)

RCC is a non-profit organization that provides support and services to survivors of all forms of sexual violence. This funding will be supporting clients not reporting to the law enforcement through other forms of advocacy and addressing lost access to Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation Program funds.

“We are the only comprehensive sexual assault resource center in Dane County. We serve as advocates for those harmed by sexual violence by centering survivors, promoting societal change, and committing to be an evolving force for social equity.”

UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence

Since 1996, UNIDOS has been supporting the Latino and other marginalized communities. The organization provides culturally relevant, confidential and bilingual support for people to overcome the challenges of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The funding will support a partnership with Roots4Change to address maternal and child health through a series of workshops.

“We identified the need for healing spaces for survivors that address the linguistic and cultural needs of the population we serve. We feel the need to innovate how we provide services and support to survivors by making activities rooted in Latin American healing traditions available to them.”

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