FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ashley Reynolds, United Way of Dane (608) 416-0401 [email protected]

Community Leaders Make a Call for More Mentors, Seek to Reduce Crime Learn how you can help re-engage adolescents who are at risk of disconnecting

Madison, WI (Jan. 14, 2021) – The ’s office has partnered with United Way of Dane County, county and city government officials and other respected community leaders to help stop youth-led crime and make a call for more people to participate in local mentorship programs. These programs, facilitated by five local nonprofits, exist to offer support and guidance to youth in our community who may not have the advantages they deserve. Because when young people have a caring adult role model in their life, they’re more likely to succeed.

“Research shows that a present, adult mentor can provide children guidance and support in order to thrive,” says Renee Moe, President & CEO of United Way of Dane County. “Today we’re recruiting for mentors who can make a commitment to local youth who lack adult guidance in areas of life that go beyond the classroom. By signing up to be a mentor, through one of our partner agencies, you can help a young person see the bigger picture, explore their dreams and re-engage in healthy choices for themselves now and in the future.”

With that in mind, we’re calling on adults – especially those with lived experiences in poverty, violence or incarceration – to make a commitment to local youth who are in need of support and guidance. We need dedicated people who can be there for kids who otherwise would not have an adult in their lives to look up to and learn from. And we encourage you to consider this life-changing opportunity to both help young people thrive and keep our community safe.

Additionally, as part of this initiative, this group has worked to address gun violence directly through a PSA urging teens to consider an alternative to crime, and to seek mentorship through programs listed on www.volunteeryourtime.org.

“In the past year the City of Madison Police Department has responded to an increase of 78%+ shots fired calls,” says Ismael Ozanne, Dane County District Attorney. “This PSA is a community initiative aimed at ending gun violence and raising the call to action for mentors. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with community members and organizations to begin addressing the increased incidents of gun violence and plant the seeds for violence prevention moving forward.”

To view the PSA, visit https://youtu.be/LUtZ1qmTaYk. To sign up to be a mentor, or to seek out a mentor, visit www.volunteeryourtime.org and follow these steps:

• Click on “Mentor Local Youth Today” • Click to explore the three programs listed • Fill out the corresponding form or reach out to the contact for your chosen opportunity

To learn more or schedule an interview, please reach out to Ashley Reynolds, Director of Communications, United Way of Dane County at [email protected] or 608-416-0401.

### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ashley Reynolds, United Way of Dane County (608) 416-0401 [email protected]

NONPROFIT PROGRAMS DRIVING THIS INITIATIVE: • Brotha’ from Anotha’ Motha’ – facilitated by Trained to Grow Inc. in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County • Dear Diary – facilitated by Charles Hamilton Houston Institute, Inc. • Drive to Succeed – facilitated by Madison-area Urban Ministry Inc./Just Dane in partnership with Operation Fresh Start, Inc.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR COLLABORATION: Masood Akhtar – United Against Hate Greg Jones – President of Dane County NAACP Marcus Allen – Pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Jerrett Jones – Public Health Madison & Dane County Emily Auerbach – UW Madison/Odyssey Project Melvin Juette – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Samba Baldeh – City of Madison Common Council & Jeffrey Kostelic – Office of County Executive State of Representative Mary Lauby – Adult Injury Prevention Coordinator Diane Ballweg – Teacher and Community Member Dave Mahoney – Sheriff of Dane County John Baumann – Dane County Juvenile Court John Matthews – Former MTI President Administrator Maureen McCarville – Dane County Board of Chad Brecklin – Chief of Fitchburg Police Department Supervisors Amy Brown – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Barb McKinney – City of Madison Common Council Kaleem Caire – Founder & CEO of One City Schools Andy Miller – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Sheri Carter – City of Madison Common Council Everett Mitchell – Dane County Juvenile Judge Colleen Clark-Bernhardt – Equity and CJC Coordinator Renee Moe – President & CEO, United Way of Dane Dr. Anthony Cooper – Nehemiah County Dr. Jack Daniels – President of Madison College Matt Moeser – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Cortney Dunklin – United Way of Dane County Randy Molina – Public Health Madison & Dane County Analiese Eicher – Dane County Daniel Owen – pastor at Blackhawk Church Bejamin EIthun – UW Hospital Director for the Pediatric Joe Parisi – Dane County Executive Trauma Jeff “JP” Patterson – Business Owner, Community Dr. Stephanie Findley Member Julie Foley – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Lisa Peyton-Caire – CEO & President of the Barb Franks – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness Dr. Alexander Gee – Nehemiah Andrea Raymond – Dane County District Attorney’s Jennifer Ginsburg – Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Office Center Gloria Reyes – CEO of Briar Patch & Madison School Enid Glenn – Community Member Board President Janae Goodrich – UW Madison/Population Health Satya Rhodes-Conway – City of Madison Mayor Institute Kristen Roman – University of Wiscosin-Madison Erin Hanson – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Police Chief David Hart – Dane County District Attorney’s Office Dr. Floyd Rose – President of 100 Black Men of D’neece Hettrick – Retired MMSD Educator Madison Aaron Hicks – Nehemiah Aurielle Smith – Public Health Madison & Dane Jeff Hook – Dane County Sheriff’s Department County Frances Huntly-Cooper – Former Mayor of Fitchburg Corey Saffold – Verona School District Dr. Carlton Jenkins – MMSD Superintendent Wayne Strong – former City of Madison Police Officer Andre Johnson – Dane County Youth Justice Services Sheila Stubbs – State of Wisconsin Representative Manager Shawn Tessmann – Director of Dane County Human Michael Johnson – President & CEO, Boys & Girls Club Services of Dane County Luis Yudice – Former MMSD Security Chief Ron Johnson – Former Community Restorative Court Vic Wahl – Acting Chief of Madison Police Coordinator Department Kit Van Stelle – Retired Population Health John vaudreuil – Former US Attorney