August / September 2021

Features:

Ever wonder why certain people cross our paths in life? I know I do. 
A rare and special jewel bringing joy and laughter forever.
The last 18 months have been like nothing any of us could imagine. The COVID-19 pandemic has had us working, worshipping, and schooling from home. Students without reliable Wi-Fi have been at a distinct disadvantage and the lack of regular peer-to-peer as well as adult interactions have taken a toll on their social and emotional well-being.
Herman Amos Jr. is undoubtedly a creature of good habits. Arriving to work early to get a jump start on the day is an inherent part of his nature. That personal trait saved his life.
It feels like only yesterday when the world woke up to the unfolding horror of hijacked planes deliberately being flown into the twin towers at the heart of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York. In fact, it was 20 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001.
Dr. Tremayne Clardy has spent his career breaking down barriers as a Black man. 
It was another long morning in early September, and, like countless other parents, Jodie Pope-Williams, an academic advisor at Madison Area Technical College, found herself in the same place yet again: tired, anxious and crying, trying to balance her own remote work with her son’s virtual learning.
There’s a growing number of Black college students experiencing depression, but campuses can help those in crisis.

Calling all artists!

Put your artwork on a UMOJA cover! Works selected will fit the monthly editorial topic and reflect the county’s unique stories, history, and people.

UMOJA Inside:


Black Minds Matter

Cover: Illustration:Mr. Jackson's Stars Artist:Jerry Jordan



UMOJA Publisher/Editor: Summer 2021 A Time to Remember

Ever wonder why certain people cross our paths in life? I know I do. 



School Renaming Ceremony Evokes Cultural Pride, Tears of Hope

A rare and special jewel bringing joy and laughter forever.



Are We Preparing for Radical Welcoming of Our Students?

The last 18 months have been like nothing any of us could imagine. The COVID-19 pandemic has had us working, worshipping, and schooling from home. Students without reliable Wi-Fi have been at a distinct disadvantage and the lack of regular peer-to-peer as well as adult interactions have taken a toll on their social and emotional well-being.



Milwaukee Man Recounts Horror of Watching 9/11 Unfold in NYC

Herman Amos Jr. is undoubtedly a creature of good habits. Arriving to work early to get a jump start on the day is an inherent part of his nature. That personal trait saved his life.



Where Were You 20 Years Ago During the 9/11 Terrorist Attack?

It feels like only yesterday when the world woke up to the unfolding horror of hijacked planes deliberately being flown into the twin towers at the heart of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York. In fact, it was 20 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001.



Q & A With Verona’s New Superintendent: Dr. Tremayne Clardy

Dr. Tremayne Clardy has spent his career breaking down barriers as a Black man. 



School Without Walls:

It was another long morning in early September, and, like countless other parents, Jodie Pope-Williams, an academic advisor at Madison Area Technical College, found herself in the same place yet again: tired, anxious and crying, trying to balance her own remote work with her son’s virtual learning.



2021-22 School Year Masks Mandates

High Schools, Middle Schools, Elementary Schools: Madison Metropolitan School District, in compliance with CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people, recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Students are required to wear cloth masks during outdoor activities on school grounds, but when eating and drinking. [...]



What to Know About Depression in Black College Students

There’s a growing number of Black college students experiencing depression, but campuses can help those in crisis.



Plan for Vel Phillips Statue at Wisconsin State Capitol Moves Forward

The State Capitol and Executive Residence Board is poised to add another first behind Vel Phillips’ name.



Black Girl Calls Home

As a poet in Newark, New Jersey, Jasmine Mans ’15 is surrounded by a vibrant artistic community.



BBQ With A Purpose

The Urban League of Greater Madison’s 7th Annual Unity Picnic served as a breath of fresh air for many seeking fun and community bonding, following months of physical and social isolation from pandemic mandated cocoons.



Derrick Smith, Tracy Williams to Focus on DEI Education, Development & Contractors

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA) recently announced that Derrick L. Smith has joined its management team as senior co-director of External Relations, Partnerships, and Development. Smith will share duties with Tracy Williams for the coming year, while Williams assists in the development of the university’s Supplier Diversity Program for the Division of Business Services with the associate vice chancellor of finance.



Jerry Jordan’s Artistic Endeavors Rise High Above A Simple Hobby

Jerry Jordan is a household name to many across Madison. His artistic talents earned him a place among a growing movement of painters that are reinterpreting classical painting into what is called contemporary realism.



Hot Nights, Cool Tunes at Mad Lit Concert Series

If you plan it, they will come. 



Ju-Ju’s Annual Block Party Showcases Black Unity, Community and Culture

Julian Walters recalled being unable to shake the heartache he felt around the negative publicity making headlines about the Black community in Madison. The reports didn’t reflect his fond childhood memories.



UMOJA SHORTS — August/September 2021

UW–Madison’s Ladson-Billings elected as a fellow to The British Academy The British Academy elected 84 new fellows in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the SHAPE subjects — the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Among this year’s cohort of new fellows is the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Gloria Ladson-Billings, a professor emerita with the School [...]