365 Amplified

The race for Dane County Executive is heating up. Wes Sparkman has worked for the County for more than 25 years, and currently serves as Director of the Tamara Grigsby Office of Equity and Inclusion. He joins us today to talk about his first foray into elective politics, the campaign for County Executive, and how he hopes to translate his civil service career into an elected role. Plus, Muriel's Plate is a weekly dinner to celebrate Black History Month, catered by Black chefs at Muriel's Place on Madison's east side. Our Dave Dahmer sat down with Will Green, founder of Mentoring Positives, to get all the details. Finally, we speculate on what Grammys our team could win (and stare at each other in stunned silence at one man's terrible pun). Today's episode is brought to you by Steinhafels and the OuttaDeeBox Podcast.

Stephanie is on assignment this week but Rob, Dave and Omar hold it down with Dee Star, host and producer of the OuttaDeeBox Podcast, who has some exciting news to share: his award-winning show is the newest addition to the 365 Media podcast network! Today he shares the history of the show and the voices he's trying to amplify. Then, longtime community leader, activist and theater artist Dana Pellebon announced this week that she's running for Dane County Executive. She stopped by the studio to talk about her time on the County Board, her vision for Dane County and lots more.

UW-Madison clinical law professor Steve Wright joins the show to bring some expertise to our ongoing discussions of the anti-DEI efforts targeting programs at UW-Madison and other institutions. Then Rob Chappell speaks with Madison School Board president Nichelle Nichols about the search for a new superintendent of schools, the three finalists for the job and how you can get involved. Finally, in honor of Sun Prairie West High School's recent TedX event, we ask the team: what's your Ted talk about?

Some helpful links:

https://madison365.com/conservative-group-files-civil-rights-complaint-against-uw-alleging-discrimination-against-white-students-in-fellowship-program/

https://blueprint365.org/featured/conservative-group-sues-over-law-school-diverse-clerkship-program-blsa-adviser-urges-students-to-opt-out-amid-privacy-concerns/

https://madison365.com/madison-metropolitan-school-district-announces-three-superintendent-finalists/

https://madison365.com/tedx-event-tonight-at-sun-prairie-west-high-school-organized-by-sun-prairie-west-student-quinton-maddox/

It's a 365 team roundtable this week as Stephanie, Rob, Isaac and Omar react to the latest official complaint over a diversity program from the rightwing and oxymoronically named Legal Insurrection Foundation. We also discuss the departures of three high-profile leaders and the upcoming local and national election landscape in Wisconsin.

Links:

https://madison365.com/conservative-group-files-civil-rights-complaint-against-uw-alleging-discrimination-against-white-students-in-fellowship-program/

https://blueprint365.org/featured/conservative-group-sues-over-law-school-diverse-clerkship-program-blsa-adviser-urges-students-to-opt-out-amid-privacy-concerns/

https://madison365.com/vanessa-mcdowell-atlas-says-farewell-to-ywca-madison-aftere-nine-years/

https://blueprint365.org/news/latino-academy-of-workforce-development-exec-director-to-step-down/

Welcome to 365 Amplified! Today, hosts Stephanie Díaz de León and Rob Chappell welcome Jenny Fierro and Rodlyn-mae Banting, who wrote a deep dive on three cases of race fraud in Madison – Jessica Kreug, CV Vitolo-Hadad and Kay LeClaire – their lasting impacts and why this kind of thing is so prevalent in this white liberal city. Next, Rob heads to the Mitby Theater to talk with Nobleman Theater Troupe founder Denzel Taylor, who's bringing "The Meeting" to Madison College for Black History Month. Finally, we gather the 365 reporting team to talk through what we're leaving behind in 2023 and what we're bringing into 2024.

Links:

Jenny and Rodlyn-mae's piece in Tone Madison:

https://tonemadison.com/articles/why-is-madison-a-hub-for-race-fraud/

Rob's original story on Kay LeClaire:

https://madison365.com/indigenous-arts-leader-activist-revealed-as-white/

And the follow-up:

https://madison365.com/indigenous-community-looks-to-heal-weeks-after-a-pretendian-is-exposed/

The story Isaac mentioned toward the end:

https://www.reddit.com/r/wisconsin/comments/194aoc9/cedarburg_mayor_changes_mlk_proclamation_to/

Free tickets for "The Meeting:"

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=mitby

Coming THIS FRIDAY! 365 Amplified, with more news, more analysis, and most importantly, more voices!

The fifth and final installment of our Most Influential Black Leaders list drops today. Plus, this podcast is changing, and we'll tell you how and why.

President Biden visited the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Madison College will host a free performance of The Meeting for Black History Month and today we publish part four of this year's most influential Black leaders

Here are the stories we're talking about today:

https://blueprint365.org/news/president-biden-visits-wisconsin-black-chamber-of-commerce-in-milwaukee/

https://madison365.com/madison-college-to-spotlight-award-winning-play-the-meeting-with-malcolm-x-and-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/

https://madison365.com/wisconsins-51-most-influential-black-leaders-for-2023-part-4/

What’s the future of Madison’s Northeast side?

Alex Booker is the new manager at Badger Rock Neighborhood Center, the city of Madison unveiled its plan for the northeast side and our list of Wisconsin's most influential Black leaders continues.

Here are the stories we’re talking about today:

https://madison365.com/alex-booker-steps-into-new-role-as-manager-of-newly-renovated-badger-rock-neighborhood-center/

https://blueprint365.org/featured/more-walkable-more-connected-city-of-madison-unveils-plan-for-northeast-side/

https://madison365.com/wisconsins-51-most-influential-black-leaders-for-2023-part-3/

The 365 team covered a handful of events this weekend, the University of Wisconsin will cover tuition for Indigenous students and the list of Wisconsin's most influential Black leaders continues

Here are the stories we’re talking about today:

https://madison365.com/a-lot-of-people-didnt-make-it-this-far-omega-school-grads-share-inspirational-stories-at-ceremony-saturday/

https://blueprint365.org/the-hustle/holiday-bazaar-draws-crowd-to-support-madisons-black-owned-businesses/

https://blueprint365.org/news/protesters-target-astronautics-over-idf-contract/

https://madison365.com/university-of-wisconsin-will-offer-free-tuition-for-indigenous-students/

https://madison365.com/wisconsins-51-most-influential-black-leaders-for-2023-part-2/