By Justin Markofski
Northside Planning Council

Tara Wilhelmi is a mover and shaker (definition: a powerful person who initiates events and influences people). But Tara’s approach and effectiveness are not born from seeking platforms and influence; but rather the intersection of her natural gifts, lived experience, past personal and family need as well as the discovery and development of strong convictions with great competence and pursuit of excellence unto transformation.  Tara is doing a ton of stuff — so much so I won’t be able to rightly capture it all in this feature — and it all flows from relationship building and word of mouth connecting. I recently had the privilege and pleasure to sit with Tara and interview her conversationally.  While one interaction is not sufficient to tell her story nor of all she has her hands in, it’s an introduction and beginning, so here we go. When asked how and why she got started she says it was through her realization, “I had things to do and a voice to use.” She sure does. Tara has created nonprofit and for-profit ventures with many programs and dimensions currently under the umbrella name of EOTO (Each One Teach One) and Culturally Rooted. EOTO and Culturally Rooted rent space on the Northside at 2317 International Lane, which she calls a peer center for activities. These include small programs, entrepreneur resource space, workshops, trainings, mentorship, and increasingly direct service peer support. Tara expresses gratitude for many great community partners who have collaborated on making space available for efforts she leads such as the UJAMAA Business Network, BYAYA! (Black Youth & Young Adults), Lived Experience Empowerment Council, Mentoring the Mentor, and Peer, Parent Peer, and Youth Peer Support trainings, curriculum development and certifications.  Additionally, EOTO has been approved as CCS (Comprehensive Community Services) network provider in Dane County.

Tara speaks highly of many mentors and advisors she has met and maintained along the way.  Her passion for mentorship and training is evident in the way it seems everything she touches has a replication and multiplication aspect to it. As Tara’s work and the people and programs she pours into expands in scope and depth here in Madison and Dane County, Tara envisions state-wide and national traction for the model, curriculums and trainings she is shaping. And this isn’t just future tense. Already she has some invitations and opportunities at both the statewide and national level. While it’s tempting to rattle off even more names of programs, partnerships and events Tara is connected with — okay just a few more; “For ‘Da Culture” local music fest, “Talk About It” WORT radio show, Youth Peer Support Summit in September, Man to Man Black Male Wellness Programs, Mentoring the Mentor support and training programs – I will instead invite you to do your own research and deep dive into the ecosystem and intersections Tara co-creates and connects with. However, I want to focus on some of her own values and roots that all these ‘fruits’ come out of. When asked more about her mission and vision, Tara spoke of her personal need as a mother and family member as well as someone who was adopted. “My lived experience automatically translated into helping those next to me. Not just as a charitable act. As self-preservation.  If I make myself successful and my neighbors are still struggling, it’s not okay, we are still suffering.” Then as she got connected and pulled into the system more she started to critically think and design new ideas and initiatives and programs which is all part of the work she is doing now.  She loves people and talks to people all the time, even as people have always been drawn to her and opened their lives and story to her, even strangers on the bus. EOTO Culturally Rooted is all about a holistic approach to individual and community recovery and wellness.

Tara said the forefront of her work and focus is the Black American experience. Her goal is to engage individuals who are most impacted by disparities in access to resources and opportunities in collaborative and mutual recovery work and healing together from generations of trauma and oppression. Tara reflected about the vital importance of indigenous communities reconnecting to original cultures as part of health and healing. Tara loves engaging with parts of the community who aren’t engaged or invited ‘to the table’ but have lived experience. Our conversation touched on other deep subjects including spirituality, white supremacy, and money mindsets to name a few.  She also unpacked some of a comprehensive empowerment framework she is developing, but that will come forth in due time as Tara keeps initiating and influencing for good.  For now, having glimpsed into the world of Tara Wilhelmi, I invite every reader to look for ways to learn from, connect with and help partner in resourcing the transformational community work she is bringing to fruition, including right here on the Northside of Madison.