Northside News

By Lukas Kubasik
Scouts BSA Troop 127

Thank you to so many families that participated in Scouting for Food, an annual way scouts help fight hunger. In March, scouts collected non-perishable food items donated by our neighbors on the Northside and transported them to area food pantries. 

Each year scouts put flyers on doors. If people want to help, they put non-perishable food items on their doorstep the following week and we pick them up. Every year Troop 127 and other local troops collect hundreds of items for our neighbors who are in need.

As a scout, I love getting outside with my family and friends to help the community. Another way scouts and others can help the community is simply picking up trash. This is a way to leave a place better than you found it by cleaning up trash even if it’s not yours. It also helps wildlife and helps others enjoy the same wonders of the outdoors that you do. 

You (meaning the members of your community) can also help by donating your time. You can do service projects like shoveling people’s driveways who can’t do it themselves or raking someone’s yard. Just make sure they want the help. You can always help your community because working together works wonders. 

Thank you for taking the time to read what I have written, and I ask you in the next week or two, to help your community or do a good turn daily. Remember to practice social distancing guidelines by being 6 feet apart. 

Again, thank you and you can always help your community.

By Ryan Eykholt
Dane County TimeBank

 Ryan Eykholt, staff member at Dane County TimeBank, interviewed Devon LaRosa, principal of La Follette High School.

Ryan Eykholt: What changes around restorative justice is La Follette exploring right now?

Devon LaRosa: I think the major changes we’re exploring are truly infusing student voice and creating an authentic space that’s for them. I think restorative gives us a common language and tools we can use together. It’s a vehicle, it’s an opportunity for students to join in and not be reticent and actually lead. We have to share our space with our students because everything is for them. And it’s not until we start listening regularly and intentionally that we truly transform and become a true restorative school. It’s about building a community where you don’t need to have harm repaired because you built a foundation on the grounded belief in relational trust.

RE: From your perspective, what does it mean to create an environment that is nurturing and safe for Black and Brown youth?

DL: It’s a space where youth know that people care about them. A place where they feel they can thrive. We’re building a Home Center that’s going to have a braiding studio, barber studio, food pantry, clothing closet and laundromat. We want to intentionally remove barriers. If our kids need something, it’s there for them; and there’s no shame and no blame and no judgment. Take what you need. This is for you. Removing barriers for things there is a necessity for.

The other thing is we’re building a multicultural center for all our kids — to have your meeting, to have your space, for you to drum up ideas. You want to lead something you are passionate about or create signs or speak out against something? This is the space that was designed for you to have a voice and be yours.

RE: What do you see as the biggest potential in deeply investing in restorative justice at La Follette? What does it open up?

DL: I think the paradigm shift is a flip from “Who did this?” to “How do we support our students’ unique and individual needs? What do you need in this moment and in the future?” I think the biggest benefit is how we come together now, next week, four years from now, ten years from now. It’s that intentional space, that intentional commitment that we’re building. I think that’s important work.

By Caitlin Bausch
The Rainbow Project

The Rainbow Project invites the Madison community to join us in raising awareness about the importance of child abuse and neglect prevention. Children are the foundation of our society, our community and our future. When we focus on preventing child abuse and neglect, the results are better childhoods, leading to healthier adults and stronger communities. 

Every community has a vested interest in preventing child maltreatment. Research has shown that for every dollar spent on prevention, $28 is saved on future alcohol and drug addiction treatment, psychiatric care, incarceration, unemployment and chronic health issues. We all can play a part in prevention efforts by helping children understand their feelings, connecting with others, building inner strength, supporting parents and providing resources to those who need help. These efforts are even more important given this uncertain and stressful time. 

The Rainbow Project is hosting a virtual learning series throughout the month of April that features local speakers and experts discussing how their work contributes to building stronger communities. These presentations are free and open to the public. To learn more about the series and how to register, visit The Rainbow Project’s website at therainbowproject.net.

Rainbow continues to provide vital support and mental health treatment to families through its continuum of services, two of which operate exclusively on Madison’s Northside. The Rainbow Project was recently selected to provide in-home mental health services in the Northside Early Childhood Zone. This program works in collaboration with the Northside community and home visitors to ensure that parents with young children receive the support they need. Rainbow has also partnered with Kennedy Heights Community Center to provide consultation, training and evaluation services for Kennedy Heights staff and families.

We hope many of you will join The Rainbow Project and other organizations this April, and the rest of the year, in shining a light on child abuse and neglect prevention.

By Sami Head
Lindbergh Elementary School

School is back in session for our youngest learners and that means lots of little bodies walking, biking, and being dropped off at schools. At Lindbergh Elementary School, this means changes in our arrival and dismissal procedures, as well as our traffic patterns. 

For those Northsiders who regularly use Kennedy Road as a throughway to and from Northport Drive and neighborhood streets, our changes may impact your route.

During arrival times (8:20‒8:45 am) and dismissal times (3:20‒3:45 pm), we ask that you maintain a speed of 20 mph or lower and if possible, avoid driving in front of Lindbergh. In other words, turn on Havey Road, Dapin Road or Claremont Lane instead of driving directly in front of the school. 

You will also notice a new crosswalk in front of our school. We encourage all students, families and community members to access this new crosswalk as much as possible when crossing the street.

We are excited to have our Flyers back in session. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to see our daily adventures as we fly into this new way of being together.