MADISON, WI -- For the third event in the Live Well @ Your Library series, Madison Public Library is collaborating with two fantastic events in south Madison's Penn Park (2101 Fisher St) on August 29. Live Well @ Your Library is joining the Black & Brown Unity Picnic and the Latino Chamber of Commerce's La Plaza Market for an exciting outdoor event that approaches wellness in an interactive way. 

“Live Well @ Your Library has worked to listen to the community and uplift BIPOC voices and practitioners. By joining forces with these two events, we're excited to offer a wider range of activities, while still staying true to our mission to provide self-care and wellness opportunities for the community,” said Community Engagement Librarian at Goodman South Madison Library Farrah McDaniel.

The combined event will include live music, food carts, dancing, face painting, blood pressure checks, screen printing, bilingual storytimes and other events for kids and adults. Wellness activities include one-on-one reiki experiences, 15 minute acupuncture sessions and a community conversation in conjunction with the Black & Latino Unity Picnic that will focus on wellness.

“We are very excited to join forces with the Madison Public Library and the Latino Chamber of Commerce. We would like to invite all the community to join the conversation about wellness, our communities and how we can unite efforts to resolve very important issues that affect us all,” said Clarissa Pearson, an organizer for the Black and Brown Unity Project. 

“It's an honor to share this space with the Madison Public Library and the Black & Latino Unity Project to offer the wonderful opportunity for the community to interact in wellness opportunities,” said Jessica Cavazos, President for the Latino Chamber of Commerce. “Being able to discuss wellness is extremely important within our community, and what better way to engage in this topic than through interactive workshops and live music, all while supporting local vendors and businesses."

Live Well @ Your Library: Restoration
Sunday, August 29, 1-4 p.m. | Penn Park (2101 Fisher St)

Main Event Times:

• 10-3 p.m.: La Plaza Market from the Latino Chamber of Commerce 
• 1-4 p.m.: Live Well @ Your Library: Restoration
• 2:30-4:30 p.m.: Black & Latino Unity Picnic

As always, there will be a mixture of passive and experiential events offered throughout the events, including:

• Welcome table with giveaways from Be Well Madison and Madison Public Library
• Food Carts as part of the Carts in the Parks program with the Latino Chamber of Commerce
• Support small, local minority-owned businesses with the Latino Chamber of Commerce
• Facepainting, local poets and artists with the Black & Latino Unity Picnic
• A martial arts demonstration with Perfect Moves Martial Arts
• Screen printing station with a custom screen for the event! Bring your own t-shirts or screenprint free tote bags! "The Stage is For the People"
• A self-guided station for kids + adults featuring Bubbler Artist Cohort member Teenah Wilder
• Spanish/English Storytimes on the Spot with Savannah C. the youth librarian at Goodman South Madison Library
• Opportunity to contribute to a brief survey about wellness service access in your community
• One-on-one Reiki sessions with local practitioner Takeyla Benton
• Blood Pressure Checks
• Book Signing with local author Denise Hardnett
• League of Women Voters will be on-site to share information

Events Schedule:

• 1 p.m.: Live band at the pavilion courtesy of the Latino Chamber of Commerce
• 2-4 p.m.: 15 minute acupuncture sessions with Dr. Heidi Eimermann of Whole You Acupuncture
• 2:30 p.m.: Cupid Shuffle Dance Off with the Black & Latino Unity Picnic
• 2:45-3:15 p.m.: Community Conversation on Wellness with Live Well and the Black & Latino Unity Picnic
• 3:15-4:30 p.m:
  • Food treats, door prizes (while supplies last)
  • Local talent entertainment
  • Community discussion on Black and Latino Community Matters.

Participants can drop in between 10-4:30 p.m. or stay for the duration of the event. There is extra parking available at Goodman South Madison Library (2222 S Park St) and Villager Mall. Masks are strongly encouraged at all outdoor library events for those age 2 and up.

Future events: 
The Live Well @ Your Library summer series will conclude with a larger gathering at Central Library on Sunday, September 19 from 1-4:30 p.m. Save the date and stay tuned for more information coming soon!

Register and learn more at madpl.org/livewell.

Can't participate but interested in future programming?  Participate in the Live Well @ Your Library Community Wellness Survey

About Madison Public Library
The Madison Public Library's tradition of promoting education, literacy, and community  involvement has enriched the City of Madison for more than 145 years. All 9 library locations are currently open for in-person browsing, pickup-up of holds, computer service and in-person reference. Stay up-to-date with Madison Public Library by following us on social media. @MadisonPublicLibrary on Facebook and Instagram and @MadisonLibrary on Twitter.

About Live Well @ Your Library:
Madison Public Library, Be Well Madison and Wisconsin Mujer, are hosting a series of events centered on health and wellness titled Live Well @ Your Library. Events take place the last Sunday of each month in different Madison Public Library neighborhoods from June-August, and focus on themes of Reflection, Renewal, Restoration and Celebration. In September, a longer culminating event will take place at Central Library with the Celebration theme. 

"Live Well @ Your Library" is inspired by the work of Venus Washington, Jasmine Timmons, Araceli Esparza and Nikki Cook and their "Nourish You" Library Takeover Project, and seeks to empower those who have not always felt included in traditional wellness spaces, particularly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. These events are made possible thanks to grants from Lululemon and All of Us - UW.