The Urban League of Greater Madison will host its 7th Annual Unity Picnic Saturday, July 24. From 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., village elders and community partners will convene at the Urban League, 2222 S. Park St., then from 1-4 p.m., the public is invited to come to eat and enjoy the festivities.
“We started the picnic six years ago, when I came on as the president and CEO of the Urban League,” said Dr. Ruben Anthony. “During that time, there was a lot of discord in the community, Tony Robinson had been shot and killed by the police. and it was just so much going on that I thought that we needed an opportunity to have a chance to relax with each other, break bread with each other. The Unity Picnic is a picnic that invites people from all across the community to come.”
Food will be provided by BP Smokehouse and Kipp’s Catering. People have the choice of chicken or pork with sides and dessert. Beverages will be donated by Pepsi. SSM Health along with esteemed community groups will be at the picnic providing free vaccines.
“We know that Black and brown people have gotten sicker and die more often when they come in contact with COVID-19,” said Anthony. “It is a public health issue — a severe public health issue as it relates to us. I think that leaders in the community and people who are known in the community have to set an example and emphasize to people that is safe to take the shot and it’s important to take the shot. You will be in much better shape if you take their shot than not.
“So many of us have had families who’ve gotten sick, and many of us have had family and friends who have died from COVID. We can save one life, if only one person shows up and get the vaccine,” he added.
There will also be an on-site job fair at the event represented by companies including Target, SSM Health, Frank Productions, and Amazon who will be providing resources and information about job opportunities in the Madison area. Click here to register for the job fair.
“We are looking to create greater access to opportunities and companies that provide a sustainable-wage job of better,” said Anthony. “Jobs that are not just jobs … jobs that lead to long-lasting careers … jobs that allow how people to transform their lives. So that’s what we do, trying to help the community partner with industries here in Madison.
The Urban League is working to provide resources and opportunities to help those in need in Madison. Anthony is hoping that the community can come together, eat good food and enjoy themselves.
“I’m hoping that this would be a symbol that we are almost out of the storm … that we are making it through COVID and signs of that are more people coming out, but at the same time people are being cautious and people are being safe,” said Anthony. “We know that there is this variant out there and we’re going to mask up, we’re going to keep washing our hands. We’re going to keep staying six feet away until we’re totally through this. Showing up in strong numbers for the picnic is an indication that we got hope and that we got faith that we’re going to overcome. And that we’re going to get back better than we were before COVID disrupted our lives.”
Anthony encourages Madisonians to stay tuned in to the Urban League of Madison, their trainings/classes, events, and opportunities. More information can be found here.
