The Black Men Coalition Foundation’s annual Revitalize Gala on Friday, Dec. 19, will be a night of networking, inspiration and community at an event dedicated to raising funds for Black Men Coalition’s diverse and impactful programs.
The theme of the gala, which will take place at The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Madison, will be “The Art of Breaking Free.”
“That’s what we do for a living, and I think we do a decent job of it,” Corey Marionneaux, founder and CEO of Black Men Coalition of Dane County, tells Madison365. “The individuals we work with are in the process of breaking free and in the process of getting themselves in a position where they can win and become independent, taxpaying citizens and able to give back to their community.
“That’s the work we’re in. And I feel like if we’re going to be doing this type of work, we might as well makes sure that our reach can go a little farther, as well,” Marionneaux continues. “So we’ll be releasing our book at the Gala from BMCF, and the title of the book will be ‘The Art of Breaking Free.'”
The full title of the book, written by Marionneaux, will be “The Art of Breaking Free: 8 Steps to Reflect, Refocus and Rise Above Your Circumstances.”
The Black Men’s Coalition’s mission is to foster and develop a safe and inclusive environment for those most vulnerable in Dane County through community involvement, mentorship, education, employment skills, and supported housing. By providing these opportunities, the organization believes it is generating a sense of belonging, which is critical to social and emotional development.
In mid-November, BMC launched a certificate program in the Dane County Jail, in partnership with eCornell — the external education unit of Cornell University — creating new pathways for participants to gain valuable credentials, strengthen job readiness, and support them in rebuilding their lives. “We just graduated our first class inside the Dane County Jail,” Marionneaux says.
In late November, the Salvation Army of Dane County and the Black Men Coalition Foundation (BMC) formally launched a new partnership aimed at expanding pathways to employment, housing, and long-term stability for individuals and families navigating homelessness and housing insecurity.
“I’m happy to say we have a lot of good stuff going on at Black Men Coalition,” Marionneaux says. “Our financial literacy program is doing great, and we are also teaching at the Dane County Jail. Our housing program is coming along, and we have a whole team working with us now on that. Our supporters are eager to see it happen.”
The Revitalize Gala is not just a celebration but a call to action for those who share the vision of empowering and revitalizing communities through targeted initiatives. The funds raised at the event will go towards vital programs such as supported employment, housing, transportation, financial literacy, education, and youth baseball. Each program is designed to address specific needs and foster sustainable growth.
“This gala is a big fundraiser for us. It supports a lot of our programs every year, but it also updates our supporters and our donors on what we’ve been doing for the year and what our plans are for the future,” Marionneaux says. “So I think those things are important when people support you, that you can reflect upon the impact of their support.”
The networking hour for Saturday’s Revitalize Gala will take place from 5-6 p.m., with the dinner and celebration to follow
“This is a black-tie gala. We are excited that we will have a team of people from the Madison Symphony Orchestra. We will have performances. We’ll have a clip from our movie we’ve been working on,” Marionneaux says.
The Gala will also be a chance for people to see the actual lives that have been impacted by the programs and work of the Black Men Coalition.
“We’ll have all types of stories where people can see the impact,” Marionneaux says. “We’re learning that if you don’t show your work, no one knows what you’re doing… and how do you get support when no one knows your work? So we will have some amazing stories to show the community because I believe we do amazing work.
“I think that a life-changing story is a beautiful thing to be able to share with others who may also be going through the same thing, but it’s also great to share with the people who are unaware of the circumstances that many people face and have no idea what’s going on in our community,” he adds. “So I think that’s needed, as well.”
Sponsorships for the Gala are still available. Tickets can be purchased here. The Edgewater Hotel is located at 1001 Wisconsin Ave. There will also be an after-Gala celebration at The Roxxy in downtown Madison.
“I hope people will come out because it will be a fun time for a good cause,” Marionneaux says. “We’re excited about the community partnerships we’ve made this year. It’s exciting that other organizations are seeing our work and are happy to work with us. It feels good to be able to help more people and have that type of support and to be able to collaborate with so many great people and organizations in this community.”
