MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Athletics is celebrating Black history in February. The Badgers have a full schedule of events throughout the month available for student-athletes, staff, alumni and also the general public, along with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's event schedule. Please read below for more information:

February 2

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan Summary (PDF)

• Student-Athlete leaders in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Student-Athletes Equally Supporting Others (SAESO), and our Affinity Group Ambassadors (AGA) will provide feedback on key priorities and current actions.

 

February 3

My Words

• Read through our collection of stories written by our Wisconsin student-athletes, coaches and alumni. Sharing their world. In their own words.
• Feature #1 National Girls & Women in Sports Day
  • Student-Athlete: How Can I Be That Change? By Imani Lewis, Women's Basketball and MSAU AGA

To our Black student-athletes, staff & alumni, we celebrate you. We recognize & value your achievements, your history & especially the energy that has helped propel us toward a more equitable tomorrow.

myWords: Imani Lewis
How Can I Be That Change?https://t.co/DUJIJIrAA7

— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) February 3, 2021

February 10

Forward360 app Live Broadcast: Black Student-Athlete Summit Experience

• This is a live question & answer session within our one-of-a-kind Wisconsin Badgers Forward360 app, which helps current Badgers connects with one of the country's strongest alumni networks.
• Student-Athlete: Armoni Brown, Women's Track & Field and Minority Student-Athlete Union (MSAU) AGA
• Session: More Than an Athlete
• Student-Athletes, Staff and Wisconsin Athletics Alumni Only
  • Are you a letterwinner? Contact the W Club to receive more info on the Forward360 App. Email wclub@athletics.wisc.edu.

February 7–13 Week

My Words

• Read through our collection of stories written by our Wisconsin student-athletes, coaches and alumni. Sharing their world. In their own words.
• Feature #2
• Staff: Connecting To Our History by Joe Suiter, Assistant Director of Career & Leadership

Where does your mind go when someone asks you about the significance of Black History Month?

Joe Suiter's answer to that question sends him back to his college days and an invitation that would have a significant impact on his life

myWords: Joe Suiterhttps://t.co/Uwr6lXZVD2

— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) February 12, 2021

February 14

F360 app Live Broadcast: Black Student-Athlete Summit Experience

• This is a live question & answer session within our one-of-a-kind Wisconsin Badgers Forward360 app, which helps current Badgers connects with one of the country's strongest alumni networks.
• Student-Athlete: Maema Njongmeta, Football and MSAU AGA
• Session: Get Global: Black Athletes Abroad
• Student-Athletes, Staff and Wisconsin Athletics Alumni Only
  • Are you a letterwinner? Contact the W Club to receive more info on the Forward360 App. Email wclub@athletics.wisc.edu.

This Black History Month, Wisconsin Athletics is proud to launch Play It Forward. This campaign creates an opportunity to honor the achievements of our Black students, athletes, staff and alumni. Specialized programming to follow in Feb. and throughout the year. #UWPlayItForward pic.twitter.com/7JOckpBq9l

— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) February 2, 2021

February 14–20 Week

My Words

• Read through our collection of stories written by our Wisconsin student-athletes, coaches and alumni. Sharing their world. In their own words.
• Feature #3
• Student-Athlete: Peyton Frankenreider-Slack, Men's Track & Field and SAESO/SAAC Strategic Partnerships Chair

February 16-19

Soul Food & Music Week
UW Athletics will host its annual Soul Food Night (SFN) event virtually via YouTube. In taking advantage of the virtual space this year, we are extending SFN beyond just a day and offering a week-long celebration, including events offered by the Black Cultural Center and their theme of Music as Medicine: Evolution of Music in the Black Community.

• 2/16: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Step
• 2/17: Black Cultural Center's Turn up the Volumes Hip Hop Experience
• 2/18: Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Gospel
• 2/19: Zion Rich, Rap & Alando Tucker, Spoken Word
• Logistics & links to come soon.

 

February 21

F360 app Live Broadcast: Black Student-Athlete Summit Experience

• This is a live question & answer session within our one-of-a-kind Wisconsin Badgers Forward360 app, which helps current Badgers connects with one of the country's strongest alumni networks.
• Student-Athlete: Imani Lewis, Women's Basketball and MSAU AGA
• Session: How to Use your Platform to Transform
• Student-Athletes, Staff and Wisconsin Athletics Alumni Only
  • Are you a letterwinner? Contact the W Club to receive more info on the Forward360 App. Email wclub@athletics.wisc.edu.

February 23

Soul Food & Music Week finale

• Melly Mell's Soul Food distribution
• Melly Mell's is a Black-owned Madison business created to, "Satisfy your soul food cravings and to keep black culture alive."
• Logistics to come soon.

February 24

@uwforward360 Instagram Live Broadcast: LES 2.0 Featuring SAESO Executive Board

• This is a live question & answer session on our Wisconsin Badgers Forward360 Instagram page.
• Student-Athlete: Tyra Turner, Women's Track & Field and SAESO Director of Community Outreach
• Session: Women of Color in Sports

February TBD Events

Learning Edge Series - The Roots of Hip Hop and Why it's Important to Black Student-Athletes & Coaches

• In an effort to provide more opportunities to build capacity around diversity, equity, and inclusion within our Athletic Department, the Inclusion & Engagement team has created the Learning Edge Series, which will allow staff, coaches, and administrators to engage in meaningful DEI education and discussion.
• Featuring Mr. Duane Lee Holland Jr., Assistant Professor in the School of Education Dance Department
• Wisconsin Athletics Staff only

Badgers Give Back Community Engagement

• Two virtual roundtable discussions featuring Men's Basketball student-athletes and staff with Black and Brown youth from the Madison community. These discussions will provide community engagement and an opportunity to learn more about the Wisconsin Athletic experience as Black individuals.

February Campus Events

Black Cultural Center's Black History Month Music as Medicine Event Calendar

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth, #UWMadison! This year's #UWBHM theme is "Music as Medicine: Evolution of Music in the Black Community."

Follow @UWMadisonBCC and https://t.co/pKvhVszTip to find events to explore the deep and wide legacy of Black music and musicians throughout February.

— UW–Madison Diversity (@uw_diversity) February 1, 2021