The Committed Citizens Dinner presents us with an opportunity to recognize and honor a few of our many "committed citizens"--people or businesses who make a positive impact, not just to the Goodman Community Center but to the greater Atwood neighborhood as well. The 2006 dinner was held on October 10th.
OUR COMMITTED CITIZENS FOR 2006
Alexandra De Grandis
For the past 10 years, Alexandra has been a loyal and valuable volunteer at the Goodman Community Center. Every Wednesday and Friday, and almost every Monday, she is busy with the older adults and community meals.
Brad Berkenstadt Brad is a sophomore at East High School. Stepping into leadership roles is natural for Brad. He is an active member of the Goodman Community Center's Teen Leadership Board, is a counselor at the Summer Leadership camp, and is on the By Youth For Youth of Dane County Board.
Emily Savage
Emily devotes more than 10 hours a week as a volunteer in the preschool, meal programs, and food pantry at the Goodman Community Center. She is a volunteer who is willing to help with any task and always does so with a smile.
Joe Krupp Joe Krupp is a local developer with strong ties to and fondness for our east side neighborhood. His commitment through his developments and Food Fight have resulted in the revitalization of our east side community. Joe is also a strong supporter of the Goodman Community Center and other east side causes that he sees as important to the stability of the neighborhood.
Jim Hansen Jim is a middle-school teacher, a musician, and a parent volunteer who is always willing to lend a hand in big and small ways. He has built benches, volunteered in the classroom, and helps out with field trips. The children always look forward to his guitar concerts and light up when he walks into the room.
East Higher Ground East Higher Ground is an East High School alternative program for teens who struggle to fit in the East High environment. An integral part of their curriculum is community service which has resulted in a steady volunteer force at the Goodman Community Center. For the past six years, the kids have been there every Thursday to help with weekly pantry distribution.
Kraft / Oscar Mayer Twelve years and $600,000 later, Kraft / Oscar Mayer is the Goodman Community Center's strongest corporate partner. Through their community grant program, they have awarded an average of $50,000 per year for the last 12 years. In addition, Kraft / Oscar Mayer work crews are at the center on the Day of Caring and throughout the year for employer-sponsored community days.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Peter Leidy, emcee
Peter has been learning from people with developmental disabilities since 1983. He worked for Options in Community Living from 1985 to 2004, a supported living agency in Madison. He believes community is for everyone. Since 2004, Peter has been consulting with individuals, families, organizations, counties, and states in areas such as supported living, self-determination, organizational development, building community relations, and supporting and valuing staff. Peter also writes and sings humorous and thought-provoking songs about life in the human services system. His songs touch on themes of self-determination, advocacy, personal care assistance, hiring employees, and the human services bureaucracy.
Madison Police Chief Noble Wray, special guest
On October 2, 2004, Noble Wray accepted the position of Chief of Police with the Madison Police Department after serving in the Department for twenty years. He was promoted through the ranks to the position of Acting Chief. He served in the capacity for seven months in 2004 before being appointed as Chief of Police. He started his law-enforcement career in Madison in October 1984 and was selected as the first neighborhood officer in the Simpson Broadway neighborhood. Over the years, Chief Wray continues to build strong relationships within the Madison Community. Chief Wray was ill and unable to attend the Committed Citizens Dinner.
Julia Witherspoon, keynote speaker
Julia Burney Witherspoon is the founder of the COPS N' KIDS Reading Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Julia started working for the City of Racine in 1979 and became a police officer five years later. She spent a great deal of time strying to establish closer relationships between law-enforcement officers and citizens, especially children. Knowing the importance of reading and its benefits, Julia founded the COPS N' KIDS Reading Center, which provides free books to children and builds positive relationships between children and police officers. Julia hasa been the recipient of many awards, including the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award in 2004, Wisconsin State Assembly Home Town Hero Award in 2004, six Exemplary Officer Awards, the NAACP Youth Advocate Award in 1999 and was featured on the Oprah Winfrey show as part of Oprah's Angel Network.
| COMMITTED CITIZENS DINNER 2006 PHOTOS |
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Our Event Sponsor: American Family Insurance
Our Table Sponsors • Absolutely Art •
Goodman Community Center Board •
Goodman Community Center Staff •
Capital Water Softener, Inc. •
Good 'N Loud Music •
Johnson Block •
Kraft Foods / Oscar Mayer •
Madison Kipp Company •
Martin Glass •
McGrath & Associates •
SASYNA • TDS Custom Construction •
Tex Tubb's Taco Palace •
Three Bells LLP •
Tom's Auto Center •
Trinity Church •
Wegner CPA's, LLP •
Vogel Brothers
Our Other Supporters • Bunky's Cafe •
Flagstad Floral •
Habitat ReStore •
Johnson Bros. Coffee •
Judith Durley •
Left Bank Wine Co. •
Archie Nicolette •
Peggy Graves •
and all the volunteers who made the evening possible!
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