Lawmakers slipped a measure into the state transportation budget that bans municipalities from condemning land — also known as eminent domain — for sidewalks, bike paths and recreational trails. Mayor Soglin is not happy. “This is nothing short of ridiculous or cruel, for that matter,” Soglin says. He says the city has always been able […]
News Archives
The transportive lyricism of Derrick Austin
Derrick Austin‘s poetry has an ability to quickly and quietly transport the reader to a serene place. His work pulls from history, religion, and mythology, while at the same time using imagery that reflects contemporary figures and pop culture. What makes his debut collection, 2016’s Trouble The Water, so attractive and enchanting is its scope. […]
Four Ways Podcast: Urban Community Arts Network
Welcome to the first full Four Ways podcast episode! Stacy Harbaugh and Kira Stewart sat down with members of Madison’s Urban Community Arts Network in July to discuss the extraordinary work this local hip-hop advocacy nonprofit is doing in our community. Throughout the discussion, we talk about UCAN’s origins and mission, their focus on community […]
How UCAN is breaking the cycle of overpoliced hip-hop shows
How was Madison’s Urban Community Arts Network instrumental in breaking the cycle of overpoliced, anti-hip-hop attitudes through organizing and pressuring the city to do something meaningful for a local arts community? DJ Pain 1 addresses the roots of racism in the local hip-hop controversy and described how UCAN worked directly with Madison police, venue owners and […]
Hip-hop in the classroom
On Tonight’s Four Ways, ShaH Evans from the Urban Community Arts Network digs into the outreach UCAN is doing to make hip hop a creative and effective way to educate our youth. Focusing on their Academic Rap Up program, ShaH gives us a peek into Ms. Lewandowski’s Blackhawk Middle School class and shows us just […]
Innovating professional development in hip-hop
Tonight’s Four Ways commentary comes from DJ Pain 1 from the Urban Community Arts Network and is the second in the four-part series. DJ Pain 1 tells us why hip hop should very much be considered a part of the local, thriving arts and cultural economy… but to grow this musical arts scene, it […]