Simpson Street Free Press senior editor and reporter Deidre Green.

HIGH SCHOOL REPORTER GETS THE SCOOP

In the thirty-five-year history of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) School Bell Award in Public Media, no high-school student has ever won. The award, which recognizes those who make outstanding contributions to education news coverage in the state, usually ends up in the hands of a veteran news reporter, education columnist, or journalism teacher. (In 2007, Wisconsin Public Radio news reporter and host Mary Jo Wagner won the award.) But history was made in 2008 when Deidre Green, a reporter and columnist for the Simpson Street Free Press and a senior at LaFollette High School in Madison, took home the School Bell Award in Public Media. "Deidre's entry was of outstanding quality because of her research on state and national educational initiatives," says Jane Weidner, WEAC's public relations committee chair. "I was amazed that a 16-year-old student was able to not only understand and care about achievement gaps, but also that she can write so well and be so inspiring on a major educational issue."

Green won the award for her regular column, "The Gap According to Green," which appears monthly in the Simpson Street Free Press, a Madison-based community newspaper written and staffed by middle- and high-school students. The column, which examines issues concerning the educational disparities between minority and white students within the Madison Metropolitan School District, reflects the findings of a 2006 report by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute. The report, The Status of High School Education in Wisconsin, shows that Wisconsin has one of the largest racial achievement gaps in the country and details how the "graduation rate of black students in Wisconsin (50%) is barely half that of the state's white students (91%)."

Although the column has been around for only one of the four years she's been at the Press, Green's provocative mix of social critique and practical advice on bridging the minority achievement gap is a must-read for educators, parents, and students alike. "In order to overcome the much-talked about and growing achievement gap, we young people must take our educations and our futures seriously," she writes. "But we should also remember that we have the potential to be an important and positive force for change." Green takes her work seriously, and her experiences at the Press are emblematic of what this nonprofit organization aims to inculcate in its student reporters: professional standards and academic success.

"Dierdre is an excellent example of students who blossom in our program." says Press executive director James Kramer. The Simpson Street Free Press was founded by Kramer in 1992 as a way to help struggling students overcome writing deficiencies and to foster academic success and community engagement. By working collaboratively on a monthly newspaper, Kramer found that young people not only could acquire essential vocational and academic skills, but they also became mentors for other youth through their actions and words.

"Peer-to-peer revision is the key to getting buy-in from the kids," says Kramer, "older kids help the younger ones." He and assistant director Bronna Lehman advise their reporters to write on the issues and ideas that matter most to young people. While honing their writing and communications skills, the reporters in turn spread the positive message of youth achievement, academic success, and community service to others in their age groups. The 23,000 copies of the Simpson Street Free Press that are circulated each month carry this positive message to the minds of young readers in schools and throughout southcentral Wisconsin.

Simpson Street Free Press is run much like any other professional news organization--just with much younger reporters. The newsroom has student staff reporters, ages eleven to eighteen, a few adult supervisors, and college interns from UW-Madison. Working alone and with student-tutors, reporters write and research articles and submit drafts to the editor for revision. "We do the three Rs here," says Bronna Lehman with a smile. "Revision, revision, revision." A large sign on the wall reads: Think, don't guess. The sign below it reads: Never hand in your first draft. It's easy to spot the recurring theme in this newsroom, and Green, a senior editor, spends a lot of time working on revisions with younger reporters and enforcing deadlines. She also notes that "nothing goes out without being fact-checked."

Reporters are required to check in when they arrive, and everyone has their own desk space, even their own business cards. The newsroom atmosphere truly nurtures professionalism, and the Press holds their reporters to the highest writing standards. In addition to their monthly newspaper, the Press also hosts a Summer Media Institute in which students can enroll in four-week internships at local newspapers and television stations. It's a great way for young reporters to get some real-world experience: Green has spent her summers working at WKOW-TV 27, Madison Magazine, the Isthmus, and the Capital Times.

Green's story is like many of those who work for the Press, and Lehman notes that this it is "one that has been replicated year after year." The Press's formula is a successful one by any standard, especially if you measure success in scholastic achievement. Four high school seniors who worked at the Press last year received college scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year. Press staff and supervisors alike insist that their program enhances the academic performance of students at school, citing the fact that over 90% of reporters see an increase in their GPA within six months of working in the newsroom. Even more amazing is the 92% of former Press reporters who have gone on to college. According to Kramer, working at the Press can also help students overcome learning disabilities and improve grammer for struggling ESL students.

Green is busy these days trying to decide whether she wants to go to a big school like UW-Madison or Marquette University, or a smaller school like Carroll University. While the UW might be nice because she would be closer to home, Green thinks that the intimate atmosphere at Carroll might make it easier to focus on her journalism major. Losing their star editor and columnist might seem to be bad news for the Press, but staff and supervisors alike can take heart in knowing that they are one step closer to overcoming the achievement gap that their soon-to-be former reporter writes about with insight and maturity.

--Cristina Springfield

---

WOLVES 101

While many of us would be inclined to run away from howls and yelps in the dark of night, others will spend a weekend studying these sounds during the Wolf Ecology Workshop at Treehaven, near Tomahawk. Treehaven, a 1,400-acre nature preserve now owned and operated by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, was founded by Dorothy and Gordon Kummer of Milwaukee. The Kummers planted over 140,000 trees on the property, a remarkable feat of land stewardship and one of the nation's finest examples of sustainable forest management by private landowners.

Hosted at Treehaven's large facility, the Wolf Ecology Workshop leads participants on a course of wolf history and ecology. (Participants can even earn college credit as part of the UW-Stevens Point Continuing Education Program.) Gray wolves have been in Wisconsin long before European settlers made their homes in the Midwest. At one time, wolves numbered between 3,000 and 5,000 in Wisconsin and played an important role in the state's natural ecology by controlling elk, bison, and deer populations. While wolves roamed over much of North America as long as 300,000 years ago, the wolf population has dwindled drastically over the past two centuries. With the recent reclassification of gray wolves to the federally endangered species list, the workshop takes advantage of the fact that Wisconsin is one of only nine U.S. states where wolves still freely roam the land.

Wolf tracking and nighttime howling surveys are two highlights of the workshops, which also feature lectures on wolf-human attitudes and values as well as demonstrations of wolf trapping techniques. The workshops, led by ecology professionals and members of the nonprofit Timber Wolf Information Network, run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, with two sessions this year: one on February 6-8 and another on February 27-March 1. Meals and lodging at Treehaven are available. The workshops are designed for adult audiences, although children accompanied and supervised by parents or adult chaperones are welcome to attend. To learn more about the Treehaven program or to register for a weekend workshop, call 715-453-4106.

--Cristina Springfield

---

UNIDOS staff members and volunteers (left-right) Anne Nichols, Julie Andersen, Rosario Angulo, Guadalupe Torrentera and Keiko Nemoto Vandeberg stand together in front of an altar honoring one-time UNIDOS volunteer Viviana Téllez Girón, who was killed in a domestic violence dispute in October of 2008. One third of all arrest in Dane County are related to domestic abuse.

UNIDOS SUPPORTS ALL WISCONSIN WOMEN

Julie Andersen's piercing blue eyes seem almost too striking for her muted surroundings. The few cubicle partitions, the laminated posters, an old Samsung microwave, and the miscellaneous assortment of holiday candles scattered about the conference room don't reflect the extraordinary and important work her office does.

Andersen is the interim executive director of UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence, a Madison-based nonprofit agency that strives to end domestic violence in Latino and migrant communities across Wisconsin. It is problem that not many people in the state understand, or even know about. And, although most recognize that the Latino population has been growing faster than any other minority group in the state-41% from 2000 to 2007, according to U.S. census data-many community service agencies have been slow to expand their services to meet the unique needs of immigrant and migrant communities.

The services these communities might benefit from include providing basic information in Spanish or offering cultural sensitivity training to staff members. Andersen points out many community service agencies just don't know how to do these things. "In a lot of places, they might say, '[Latinos] don't need our services because they aren't coming to our agency.' " Instead of ignoring this population, Andersen believes that these agencies need to reach out. "Okay, let's figure out why Latinos aren't coming to your agency," she says. "We know that in any community there is violence. You know it's here in the mainstream community, so it's going on within the Latino community. So let's figure out how to help them."

Immigrant victims of domestic violence, although they may suffer physical and emotional abuse, often refuse to speak out or ask for help because they fear legal repercussions. UNIDOS works to bring the issue of violence against immigrant and migrant women to the fore in Wisconsin. "I think a huge challenge that UNIDOS faces is a lack of understanding of the immigrant," Andersen says. "We operate under the belief that all people have the right to live a life free of violence." Her eyes radiate with conviction when talking about the women the office serves. "We could have a whole parade across the state of women who have been assisted by UNIDOS services. And they will say, 'You changed my life, you were my support.' But that's not true. We always say, 'We've been there for you so that you can change your life.' "

In Spanish, the word unidos means "united." UNIDOS advocates unite with already-established outreach and service agencies to help create welcoming, supportive environments for Latino and migrant victims of domestic violence. UNIDOS advocates currently work in a total of 16 counties across Wisconsin, with the program's six advocates covering three to four counties each. Their individual caseloads are heavy, but more work means more progress. The goal, according to Andersen, is to eventually expand UNIDOS's services across the entire state.

UNIDOS advocates meet mainly with women to assess their needs and help them develop a plan for if or when they decide to get out of a violent relationship. The plan may include short-term relief-such as assistance with filing a restraining order or access to emergency shelters-or long-term guidance, like helping victims file for rent assistance or a visa application, if the person is eligible. In some situations, all of these are necessary. Advocates also offer advice on obtaining marriage counseling and, if requested, information on how to obtain a divorce.

In addition to helping women on a personal level, UNIDOS advocates also provide training sessions on cultural awareness and sensitivity, legal advocacy, and domestic violence victims' rights to a variety of professionals who work for or on behalf of domestic violence victims. In Dane County, for example, UNIDOS advocates have led workshops for legal professionals on the special considerations and ethical issues involved when working with immigrant and refugee victims of domestic violence. As a next step in support for victims, UNIDOS launched a new campaign in June of 2008: Hombres y Jóvenes en Contra de la Violencia Doméstica, which is aimed at getting more men involved in the fight to prevent domestic violence. "Violence is not a part of Latino culture. Most Latino men are not violent-as is true in all cultures," says Andersen. "There are many beautiful things that are a part of Latino culture that support and promote healthy relationships. So the idea of this mens' and boys' program is to bring [them] out to say; 'You know what? I live free of violence.' And we have pledge cards that we are passing around."

While UNIDOS has faced many challenges over the years, it has also won praise and acknowledgment for its accomplishments within Wisconsin communities. Rachel Rodriguez, one of the co-founders and a recent executive director of UNIDOS, was honored with the highly prestigious Sally Sunde Child and Family Advocate Award from Community Shares in September of 2008. And then there are hundreds of individual successes: women who, with the support of UNIDOS, have made the choice to get out of a violent situation and move forward with their lives.

--Cristina Springfield

---

A volunteer fixes spokes on a bicycle wheel at Wheels for Winners headquarters.

BIKE TO THE FUTURE

For many children, a bicycle is much more than just a mode of transportation. Bicycles foster feelings of independence and responsibility, and offer the promise of outdoor exercise and fun. But for young people who come from families with limited resources, the notion of bicycle ownership can be a fleeting dream. Wheels for Winners, a Madison-based nonprofit organization, offers the children of Dane County a chance at that dream. However, instead of simply giving away bicycles to students in need, Wheels for Winners offers them the opportunity to earn a free bicycle, helmet, lock, and license registration by completing fifteen hours of community service or independent book reports.

Wheels for Winners was founded to help children and their families address the economic hurdles to bicycle ownership while at the same time fostering civic engagement and social responsibility. Ruth Ann Schoer founded the organization in 1992 after working as a social worker in a low-income neighborhood. She noticed that children would often steal bicycles from higher-income neighborhoods because they simply could not afford their own. Instead of focusing on punitive measures, however, she struck upon a different way to curb this behavior after noticing the scores of bicycles that were simply abandoned around the city. Schoer envisioned a community service program that would put these neglected bikes to good use, and Wheels for Winners was born. The program encourages "children, many in traditionally poor, disenfranchised, and racial minority segments of Madison, to become interactive members of the community through volunteer service projects," says Wheels for Winners board treasurer, Dar Ward. "At the same time," Ward notes, "we provide environmentally friendly, economically sustainable, and active transportation options while removing bicycles from the waste stream."

Pictured is Jessica Clark from Thoreau Elementary, who received a bike through the Big Sister program. Jessica earned her bike by helping her teacher at school. She is pictured with Laura Witzling, Project Coordinator.

Wheels for Winners volunteers pass on these important lessons about the communal, environmental, and health benefits of bike riding to the kids in the program, making the program that much more vital for a population that often lacks traditional community resources and support. Students can earn their bicycle by stocking food pantries, serving as crossing guards, or cleaning up their neighborhoods. Past beneficiaries of the program were youth leaders in drug-free and fight-free programs, and some have even produced promotional videos for their neighborhood centers.

But many students who participate in the program earn their bicycle through reading books and writing book reports. An adult supervises all preapproved projects and vouches for each student's participation. The program relies on volunteers not only to educate youth on the benefits of bicycle ownership, but also to recondition donated bicycles, give bicycle safety workshops, and help participants to earn and select their first bicycle. In addition to drawing support from volunteers, Wheels for Winners partners individual sponsors and community organizations like the Packer Community Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. To donate a used bicycle, sponsor a student project, or volunteer your time in the Wheels for Winners bike shop, visit wheelsforwinners.org or call 608-249-2418.

--Cristina Springfield