The Gathering Place

Our community. Everyone’s home.

The Gathering Place is our campaign to build a beautiful community center for the Bridge Lake Point Waunona neighborhood and its surrounding Southside neighborhoods and fill it with life-changing programs and services.

This landmark for Madison’s Southside will ​increase the space from 5,000 square feet of converted apartments to 19,000 square feet with a gym, youth wing, commercial kitchen, and more. 

This $7M comprehensive campaign includes funding to expand programs to serve 20,000 community members through our food pantry, wellness programs, family resources, youth programs, and more.

A Place to Gather

Your support toward The Gathering Place campaign will go beyond the bricks and mortar of a new building; it will be the foundation of our strong community.

It will provide a safe place for our community's children to play and learn, improve residents’ health, and boost employment. 

It will be a place for residents of all ages, races, ethnicities, incomes, backgrounds, and points of view to gather. And when people gather, they begin to seek to understand each other.

  • Welcoming spaces

    Welcoming gathering spaces such as a bike-up cafe and patio, a porch with rocking chairs, or couches in front of a fireplace

  • Spaces for rent

    A multipurpose rental space for parties and community meals

  • Expanded adult programming

    Expanded adult programming, such as dance, music, lectures, cooking classes, and workshops. Expanded senior services and intergenerational programs.

  • Programs for children

    Early childhood, children, and teen programming with designated literacy, STEM, art, and physical activity spaces

  • Professional development

    Workforce development services, such as computer basics, interview skills, and entrepreneurship support

  • Health and wellness

    Health and wellness services, including fitness classes, support groups, and cooking classes

  • Food pantry

    Access to nutritious food through a kitchen and food pantry

Connect

  • Welcoming gathering spaces such as a bike-up cafe and patio, a porch with rocking chairs, or couches in front of a fireplace

  • A multipurpose rental space for parties and community meals

  • Expanded senior services and intergenerational programs