Welcome to the first newsletter of the Roots & Wings Foundation!
As a relatively new, growing foundation, we are eager to connect with our community and share updates on our progress. In this first issue you will find insights about the foundation, our grantee partners, and the issues we are advancing together.
One issue we care deeply about is helping children have a strong start in life (their ‘roots’), so that they can reach their full potential (their ‘wings’).
What is a strong start? We think a strong start is when a child is healthy, safe, loved and learning. A strong start is not the solution to everything, but without it, everything is put at risk for a child.
In that spirit, we work to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), where trauma from things like hunger, abuse, and lack of shelter can profoundly impact a child and endanger her chance of success in life.
We also try to address the social determinants of health. Did you know that only 20 percent of a person’s health is determined by the clinical care they receive? The remaining 80 percent of a person’s health is impacted things such as housing, living environment, available resources, and education.
Therefore, to prevent early childhood trauma and to improve our community’s whole health, we fund things such as food, shelter, housing, legal aid, early childhood education, home visiting, parent education, abuse prevention, gun violence prevention, reducing incarceration, healthcare and mental health.
We encourage you to spend a few minutes reading this first newsletter to learn more about how we and our partners are tackling ACEs and addressing the social determinants of health. As a learning organization, we also look forward to hearing from you about how we can strengthen this work over time.
We are planting seeds today for a stronger tomorrow. Thank you for helping our community grow!
P.S. We invite you to share this newsletter with colleagues who may have an interest in the work Roots & Wings is doing. Also, keep an eye out for future issues twice a year.
RISE Wisconsin provides education, support, stabilization, and coordination of care to children, families, and individuals throughout Dane County, including women like Monicka Whitehead.
Monicka “Mo” Whitehead had just overcome two and a half years of homelessness when she met a staff member from RISE Wisconsin at a backpack giveaway in Madison. Whitehead’s youngest daughter was two years old at the time, and the RISE representative was there signing new families up for a program called ParentChild+. The two formed a fast connection, and before the afternoon was over, Mo had enrolled her daughter in the program. It was a decision she wouldn’t regret.
“The ParentChild+ program opened more doors than I can begin to explain,” Mo said. “They helped me understand and accept that my baby girl had a speech impediment, and because of that we were able to access speech therapy and programs to address some of her unique needs before she reached school age. They also helped me navigate things like Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and other supports I might never have known were even available. It made all the difference — for me and my daughter.”
Mo Whitehead and family attending her daughter’s ParentChild+ graduation celebration.
Mo’s journey is emblematic of the critical direct service work that RISE Wisconsin provides every day. RISE believes in the power of human connection and the resilience that exists within everyone. They embrace strengths-based, solutions-focused approaches to addressing the mental health and wellness needs of the Madison community. And their services provide education, support, stabilization, and coordination of care to children, families, and individuals throughout Dane County.
It’s also why Roots & Wings is so honored to call RISE Wisconsin a grantee partner. The Foundation provides general operating support for RISE, making a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of Dane County families, including Mo’s.
RISE’s impact speaks for itself. In 2019, more than 1,700 individuals and families received emergency or planned childcare through the RISE Respite Center. Nearly 900 Dane County families were served by RISE’s mental health programs. And an astounding 87 percent of kids in Parent Child+ graduated ready for kindergarten success. It’s an extraordinary role to play in a county where 1 in 6 children under age 5 live in poverty, 22,000 children have mental health challenges, and nearly 1,000 children are experiencing homelessness at any given time.
Meet Nicole Smith, a program officer at Roots & Wings who brings a passion for service and learning, along with 30 years of experience in public health programs and policy.
Tell us about your role at Roots & Wings, and what brought you to this work?
As the program officer, I have the honor of serving as the primary point of contact for our grantee partners. Consequently, I try to be aware of their programs and activities by scanning information they share through their newsletters, websites, and direct communications. I also try to understand the challenges and opportunities they are facing. One of the things I love about our work is the chance to address the social determinants of health in ways that I was unable to during my twenty-plus years of working in public health. Because I’ve wanted to work in philanthropy for more than 30 years, the chance to work with a new, small family foundation that practices a trust-based approach is thrilling. Every day I have the opportunity to connect with people, to learn, and to help improve people’s health and well-being.
As you look at your current portfolio, what challenges stand out?
I see the need for systems-level changes to ensure everyone’s basic needs are met so that they can thrive. In the past, I would have thought of those basic needs as things like access to health care, education, food, and housing. I now have a much greater awareness of, and appreciation for, ensuring that everyone is also treated with respect and dignity. Collectively we need to do more to prevent, address, and stop the individual and multi-generational effects of trauma.
Because of the pandemic and escalating social and racial injustices, I know there are many more people in need. I am continually in awe of our partners’ dedication and passion for service. I also worry greatly about the resilience of their staff and volunteers as the pandemic continues.
And what inspires you or gives you the greatest hope about where Roots & Wings is heading?
I am inspired by the generosity and trust-based approach of our founders, Judy and Gordon Faulkner. There is a genuine commitment to increase the number and size of grants, to provide flexibility in how grant funds are used, and to minimize the administrative burdens on nonprofits. As Roots & Wings becomes more visible, I hope our approach to philanthropy will help encourage other funders to consider adopting a trust-based approach. And, with the upcoming addition of a couple more staff, we’ll be able to continue learning, have an even broader reach, and do even more in service of our grantee partners.
