This engaging workshop teaches participants the critical steps to navigating the college application process enlight of the recent SCOTUS descision. Participants learn how to master the college application process, gaining valuable insights on identifying colleges, essay writing, gathering recommendation letters, and mastering online application tools like the Common Application. Participants also learn about financial aid & scholarship applications and best practices for transitioning once admitted. Participants will also learn to engage in pre-college programs that support transition to college.

Presenter bio: Dr. Maame Adomako is an experienced academic and career coach specializing in student development and career advancement. Dr. Adomako received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over the past ten years, Dr. Adomako has advised students across various educational levels. She is passionate about student development and helping individuals accomplish their career and academic goals. In her current role at as the Undergraduate Program Manager in the School of Educations Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Dr. Adomako manages academic programs that prepare high school students for college and undergraduates for graduate school.

In 2020, the City of Fitchburg Approved Funding to Build a Teen Center by 2026. To make this huge project a reality, Teens and Adults have worked together to get input from hundreds of community members on different aspects of the project. In this session you will hear directly from other young people and share your voice in this future project. What should a Teen Center look like? What services should it provide? What organizations should manage the space? What design features should it have? You won't want to miss this interactive workshop!

Presenter Bios

Joe Maldonado Youth Development Program Manager for UW-Madison, Division of Extension, working to ensure that young people have a voice in decisions in their communities. He is also an Alder on the Fitchburg Common Council, leading efforts to build a Teen Center in the King James Neighborhood, a project that is expected to be completed by 2026.

Born in Uruguay and raised in Madison and Fitchburg, Mathias Lemos Castillo is a graduate of Madison West High School and Edgewood College. He runs his own leadership development consulting firm, MLC Consulting. In his role as a consultant with EQT By Design, he is the staff contact for a contract with the City of Fitchburg to study the planned construction of a Teen Center.

Taylor Seale is a Positive Youth Development Educator for Dane County Extension, a part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an experienced arts in public health practitioner and researcher specializing in youth engagement, community outreach, and healthy community design efforts. She serves as the staff lead for the Fitchburg Teen Center Interns.

Awa Phatty is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, on a Pre-Law Legal studies track. She is fascinated by the intersection of law, policy, and social justice and wants to address housing inequities and combat gentrification. Awa is a college intern on the Fitchburg Teen Center Project. She is an alum of Vel Phillips Memorial High School.

Ojaswi Pasachhe is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who is majoring in neurobiology and psychology on a pre-medical track. She is passionate about biomedical and psychological research, and I am also interested in serving the community. Ojaswi is a college intern on the Fitchburg Teen Center Project. She is an alum of Verona Area High School.

Sandy Flores Ruiz is a senior at Madison West High School. She is a PEOPLE and AVID/TOPS Scholar, a teen editor for Simpson Street Free Press, the President of Familia Latina, and a Boys & Girls Club of Dane County Youth of the Year Finalist. Sandy is a high school intern for the Fitchburg Teen Center Project.

This workshop will dive into perspectives of those who believe the ACT is biased, racist, and largely hurts students of color as well as the opposing views that the ACT provides opportunity for students of all backgrounds. 

Presenter bio: Langston Evans is an innovative educator who serves as the director of College & Career Readiness for the Madison Metropolitan School District. Langston brings over two decades of experience in schools and community-based organizations, supporting young people to build design and achieve their pathways to success.

In this workshop we will be talking about our campaign called Police Free Schools. We have fought to get police free school since 2016 and was successful on taking them out in 2020 during the uprising. Our fight do not end here, there are still things we are demanding for. Come and learn about how you can be a part of our next fights. 

About the presenters: Youth Justice Team from Freedom - Inc. includes Selena Yang, Mai Thao Yang, Shyra Adams and Milcah Rimmer. We are the organizers from Freedom, Inc that works alongside with young people to build them up to be leaders and create a better world where they will want to live in. 

Data is a fancy word that basically means "information." In this workshop, you will learn how to access public information about your school, neighborhood, and city. Bring your charged Chromebook! 

Presenter Bio: Blair Mosner Feltham is a public school worker and advocate. She has taught social studies in California and Wisconsin and currently works as the Equitable Multilevel System of Supports site coordinator at Sun Prairie East High School. She is also a member of the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education. 

Come explore the ways in which the issues you care about show up in local and national elections and how to ensure that decision makers are listening to you. 

Presenter Bio: Charlotte Nichols is the Manager of Educator Development at The Civics Center. Prior to taking this role, she talk at Vel Phillips Memorial for seven years. 

Learn more about disability, disability justice and the role we all play in making the world a more equitable and accessible for people of all ages with disabilities. You’ll learn more disability experiences and examine scenarios to determine how to reduce barriers and increase inclusion. This will be done through an interactive approach. 

Speakers: Heather Stelljes, Karli John, and Carrie Kerska 

About the speakers: Three former middle and high school teachers now working in disability and accessibility field share more about what they've learn about disability identity, rights, and justice. 

What does it mean to be a civic leader or to even have political power? Understand and explore civic engagement, by learning more about grassroots organizing, mobilization, and advocacy that can build the political power of the next generation of young people: You! 

Presenter bio: Maia Pearson, a graduate of Madison West High School, is the Vice President of Madison's Board of Education, serving on the board since 2021. Maia has over a decade of organizing experience, including running successful grassroots campaigns focused on engaging young people and communities of color. Maia has and continues to work directly with the community, government agencies, and local and national nonprofit organizations, focusing on issues around education, food and housing access, and equity in development. Maia received her bachelor's degree in International Relations and East Asian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

In this workshop, participants can choose from 3-4 selected topics, such as cultural appropriation, 'color blindness,' reparations, affirmative action, or controversial speech on college campuses. Each participant will choose an issue based on their interests and comfort level. Students will then engage in small group discussions on their selected topic.

Please note that the workshop will include a content warning, as discussions may involve viewpoints that some find challenging or offensive. This is not a role-play; you will not be advocating but presenting perspectives, some of which you may agree with and others you may not. We are committed to creating a space where participants can explore differing opinions while feeling supported throughout the process. 

Presenter Bio: David Ross is a former West High School social studies teacher. He taught numerous courses, including Philosophy, APUSH, the Middle East, and Social Issues. 

Join us for 'Decode Your Dish: Unveiling the Secrets of Holistic Nutrition,' a dynamic workshop designed exclusively for high school students. Discover the art of deciphering food labels, empowering you to make informed choices about what goes into your body and the intersection between food and marginalized communities. Explore the impact of five common processed food ingredients linked to focus issues and health concerns, gaining practical insights into building a foundation for a healthier, more energized life. Get ready to unlock the secrets of informed holistic eating and pave the way for a future of vitality and well-being 

Presenter Bio: Keena Atkinson, founder of R'oujie Wellness, is a wellness professional in the US. From homelessness to housing provider, trauma-informed instructor, writer, Keena transforms lives. Her holistic wellness company offers movement classes, parenting, well-being, nutrition, menstrual health and domestic violence recovery support. Connect @keenasfa on social media or http://www.roujiewellness.com 

In this workshop, students will explore the history of "Asian blepharoplasty," a phrase used to describe the surgery many Asians receive which gets rid of the monolid. Students will watch videos clips, read articles and hear a lecture on the history of this surgery and its impact on Asian across many different nations. 

Presenter bio: Mai Her is currently an English teacher at West High School. This year she is teaching English 1 and AVID 3. She has always worked towards advocating for Race and Equity issues throughout her life especially raising awareness around Asian American issues. She graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelors in English Literature and a certificate in Asian American Studies, Religious Studies, and European Studies. She continued her education at Edgewood College with a Masters in Secondary English Education. She is also the club advisor for Asian Student Union at West High School. In her free time she likes to spend time outside: gardening, riding her bike, and running around with her two very active sons. 

Know Your Rights is a workshop designed to serve as a guide to LGBTQ+ students, families, educators, and allies. You will learn more about federal, state, and local policies that are in place to protect you so that you can better advocate for yourself as needed. We are not lawyers and are not giving legal advice, however we are here to support you and share resources that might help you. 

Presenter Bio: Katie Rickert (she/her) is the Associate Director of Youth Leadership and Advocacy at GSAFE. Before stepping into this role, Katie facilitated district-wide LGBTQIA+ advocacy efforts for the Madison Metropolitan School District, and worked as a classroom teacher at Sherman Middle School on the northside of Madison. Katie felt drawn to work with GSAFE to continue her work around advocacy in education, and she is driven by the urgent need for LGBTQIA+ youth of color to see themselves represented in leadership and feel supported as they navigate their identities.

Katie is a Milwaukee native and moved to Madison to attend Edgewood College. She holds a degree in K-12 Education and has experience teaching Spanish at all levels, as well as ESL in the U.S and abroad. Katie is a queer woman and an Indian-adoptee. In her free time, Katie loves hiking, kayaking, writing, traveling, painting and spending time with her family. 

Where art and activism collide, a workshop to inspire creative thinking and writing while confronting social justice issues and elevating your personal experiences. 

Presenter Bios: 

Ali Muldrow: Parent, Partner, MMSD Board of Education Treasurer, Tuesday host of a Public Affair on WORT 89.9 FM

Mary Swenson: English teacher / educator, Instructional Coach, poetry lover 

Explore Solarpunk concepts of a liberated future with a deep connection to nature as you creatively imagine a more equitable future through an art form of your choice. Then, discover some concrete organizing steps that you can lead to bring your visions to life! 

Presenter Bio: Karen Polnitz (she/her) is a writer, performer, organizer, and educator who enjoys growing alongside each new group of students she is able to guide in exploration. She holds a B.A. in Playwriting from UC Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Teaching from Fresno State University. She has served as an arts, high school, and spirituality educator for the last decade, organizes and supports social justice efforts in the Madison area through Families for Justice and within her virtual job based out of Fresno, CA. 

Learn how to take an idea for social change and take the next steps in formalizing your concept into a bigger cause. Presentation will touch on research, fundraising, marketing, organizing volunteers, and basic needs for getting started. 

Presenter bio: Rowan Childs founded nonprofit, Madison Reading Project 10 years ago in response to learning about the discrepancies in literacy rates in Dane County. Rowan wanted to help provide fun new books to kids they could keep, grow their home libraries and literacy skills.

Background: Rowan grew up in England, Germany, and Chicago, and attended many schools throughout. Books and travel were always her constant companion. She has a background in sales, marketing, and community development which all of those skills helped her create and run a successful nonprofit. 

This workshop will be centered around how to support LGBTQ+ youth. We will talk about terminology and definitions, why it's so important to support LGBTQ+ youth, and how to support and protect LGBTQ+ youth. 

Presenter Bios: 

Tyrone Creech Jr. (he/him) is the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at GSAFE. He comes from one of the longest standing black families in Madison, going back four full generations. Graduating from East High School in 2007, Tyrone went on to UW-Platteville to focus on his successful post high school athletics, where he discovered himself and came out at the age of 21. Upon returning to Madison, he’s gone back to pursuing higher education at MATC, focusing on a Communications degree with emphasis on LGBTQIA+. Tyrone has worked with GSAFE as an adult mentor for over four years, being a staple at the Leadership Training Institute camp that is held every year. Since sports have been a part of his life for so long, he dreams of one day focusing his advocacy in the queer community on LGBTQIA+ young athletes, providing guidance through his experiences and hope to nurture their confidence and activism into their future lives. No matter the occasion, Tyrone brings his leadership, confidence, and loveable personality to the table in hopes of positively influencing everyone he connects with.

Sue Neeley (she/her) is the Director of Youth Programming and Family Engagement at GSAFE. She is very passionate about serving children and youth and supporting educators and families. Sue has worked with children and youth as an Assistant Director (Pre-K through 5th) at Goodman Community Center. All of the work she has done, since graduating from Winona State University in 2006, has been centered around children and youth in some capacity. Sue is a first generation American. Her parents left Laos and stayed in a refugee camp in Thailand during the Secret War in Laos. They were later able to immigrate to the United States with most of their family. She speaks Lao fluently and enjoys cooking and sharing Asian cuisine with her family and friends. Sue is a proud wife and a mother to 3 beautiful children and 2 lovely dogs. When she's not working or volunteering, Sue enjoys walking in the woods, dancing, martial arts, playing games, and singing karaoke.

Students will learn about issues in our community that affect Black and Brown students and what BPSADC is doing that impacts them, directly. Students will have an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue. 

Presenter Bio: Kirbie Mack is a community activist, civil rights leader and has served as a former City of Madison and State of Wisconsin Government official. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She possesses a BA from Northeastern Illinois in psychology and a MA from the University of Wisconsin in Policy Affairs and Public Administration. Her community activities include:

• Madison Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc., Charter Member and 1st VP

• Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County, Inc, Vice President

• JFMJ Academy, Inc, Vice President

• Madison’s Justified Anger, Advisory Board

• NAACP, Madison Branch, former President and current Environment and Climate Justice Chair

• Southside Raiders Football and Cheerleading Coach and former Booster Club, President

The Native American Center for Health Professions presents a fun and interactive opportunity to learn about health professions and health equity through the lens Tribal Communities. Participants have the chance to exercise their new knowledge to win a prize!

Presenters: Breanna Brzezinski, Lina Martin, Tashya Chevalier, Autumn Chevalier 

The Native American Center for Health Professions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison works to enhance the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of health professional students and promote health education. Working with students from 6th grade through residency, our goal is to create a supportive community for students to continue on their educational journey whether it is within the health professions or not. 

Can reading a book transform your world?  Why are those behind bars denied the right to read?  We will talk about Wisconsin Books to Prisoners and how you can get more involved! 

Presenter Bio: John Peck is one of the founders and longtime volunteers of Wisconsin Books to Prisoners.  He also has family members who are formerly incarcerated.