The Fitchburg Senior Center’s Lunch & Learn series grew out of a desire for people to learn about some interesting people doing interesting things in the Madison area. Now in its third year, the program is organized by longtime Fitchburg resident Janice Hughes. This Wednesday’s event, titled “Exploring the journey of local authors with Dr. Carl Grant and Dr. Richard Harris,” will feature two local African-American trailblazers who will share stories from their amazing books and careers.
“We host the Lunch & Learn program every first and third Wednesday at the Fitchburg Senior Center and what I do is work with various businesses, organizations and leaders throughout Dane County to bring them in to speak on various topics, anything from education to health and wellness to arts and culture,” Hughes tells Madison365. “I like to focus on local talent that we have here and with Dr. Carl Grant and Dr. Richard Harris, we are really looking forward to Wednesday’s event.
“Dr. Carl Grant, who is a professor at UW, and to my understanding, is the longest-standing Black professor of over 50 years,” Hughes continues. “And then Dr. Richard Harris is one of the individuals from one of the first Black families here in Madison and the Dane County area. So we will have two incredible individuals who, besides one being a professor and one a great advocate and leader in Madison, are amazing Black authors.”
Dr. Grant has written several books and many articles for teachers that address student achievement, curriculum development, teaching strategies, and parent-teacher engagement. Dr. Harris wrote “Growing Up Black in South Madison: Economic Disenfranchisement of Black Madison” back in 2012 with the aim of preserving and sharing local African-American history that he and his family have been a part of for almost a century.
“It’s going to be engaging, educational, inspiring, and just a big inspiration to hear and know about the talent that we have here in the Dane County area,” Hughes says. “I just like to feature that and provide that platform as often as I can … especially these men that have been around for such a long time, and have done such amazing things.”
Hughes, who is a member of the City of Fitchburg Commission on Aging Well, says that she has been living in Fitchburg for more than 28 years and appreciates the diversity of the area.
“Before living here in Fitchburg, I had lived in Madison, but I started volunteering out here in Fitchburg and have recognized throughout those years that the population was very diverse,” she says. “However, as I went to the [Fitchburg] Senior Center, there were not very many people of color, and I’m like, ‘What’s going on? People don’t know about this place.’
“So one of the things I’m trying to do is outreach to let people know that Fitchburg is open and welcome, and we’re doing things out here to reach the diversity that is here,” she adds. “These Lunch & Learn sessions are open to any and everyone to come and enjoy and I feel like they can be really informative and interesting for people who attend.”
Hughes adds that she likes that Lunch & Learn offers a space for residents of all ages to get together and learn something new. The program starts at noon.
“We have a diverse population of older adults, but not many of them get an opportunity to participate in various programs out here in Fitchburg because they have to ride a bus — the bus picks them up, brings them to lunch and takes them back to their apartments,” Hughes says. “I thought, ‘OK, there’s a gap here.’ So I created this Lunch & Learn program. And while they’re there for lunch, I bring in speakers from a variety of fields, from health and wellness to education to arts and culture.
“So every other Wednesday, that lunchroom is full for Lunch & Learn. And people come from all the community, as well as people who come to the Fitchburg Senior Center on a daily basis. It’s been fun to watch it grow,” she adds.
To register, reserve a meal or request a ride (Fitchburg residents only for transportation) for Lunch & Learn, call (608) 270-4290 by 9 a.m. the day before. After Wednesday’s Lunch and Learn, the next session will be titled, “Myths & The Truths of Kidney Disease with Dr. Laura Maursetter,” on Wednesday, July 16.
