Be the Good: Celebrating Kindness in Our Community

Join the Goodman Center for “Be the Good: Celebrating Kindness in Our Community,” a storytelling event aimed at highlighting helpful acts both big and small. Goodman CEO Letesha Nelson and CDO Dani Luckett are joined by community members Imru Currie, Sarah Breland and Martha Pings in sharing their experiences of giving, receiving and witnessing acts of kindness. John Urban will emcee. Ticket sales support the Goodman Center's many programs, including after-school activities for children and teens, health-based programs for adults and seniors, a food pantry, and more.

media release: The Goodman Community Center opened sales for tickets to its event, “Be the Good: Celebrating Kindness in Our Community,” on Monday. The evening of storytelling will take place on April 27, and will be a heartwarming celebration of all the goodness happening in Madison and its surrounding areas.

“It feels like it’s getting harder and harder to find the goodness around us,” said Goodman CEO Letesha Nelson. “But every day in our community people are performing acts of kindness both large and small. At Goodman, we’re lucky to get to witness that goodness every single day. I’m hoping Be the Good will encourage people to search out the good in their day-to-day and focus on all the ways our community comes together to take care of one another.”

Nelson launched the #BeTheGoodMSN initiative at Goodman in 2022, a year after she joined the organization. The Be the Good event on April 27 is a celebration of that campaign, but even more so, a celebration of community.

Doors will open at 6:30pm with the program starting at 7pm. Attendees will be treated to an evening of storytelling from Nelson herself, as well as community members, youth and local leaders. John Urban, of Big Dreamers United, will MC the event.

In addition to Nelson, storytellers for the evening include Imru Currie, Sarah Breland, Martha Pings and Goodman Center Chief Development Officer Dani Luckett. Currie, Breland and Pings all attended a storytelling workshop hosted at the Goodman Center in March led by Mad City Story Slam founders Charles Pane and Zachary Shea. 

Goodman wants the event to be accessible to all, so tickets are available at a range of prices, including free.

“We just want as many people as possible to come out and bask in the good vibes,” said Nelson. “And then they can go home and do some good in their corner of the community.”

Hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and there will be a cash bar, as well as time to mingle and engage with other attendees. All are welcome, and it is expected that the evening will wrap up around 9pm.

The Goodman Center is looking to collect stories of kindness from the community leading up to the event. Those stories may be shared on the center’s website and social media channels, as well as on media partner Madison 365. Some may even be invited to tell their story on the stage on April 27.

Those wishing to share a story can visit goodmancenter.org/bethegood to find an online form, or record their story by calling 608-204-8029.

Those interested in attending can reserve their tickets at bethegoodmsn.eventbrite.com. The Goodman Center expects the event to sell out.

Learn more about #BeTheGoodMSN at goodmancenter.org/bethegood.

This event is presented in partnership with Madison 365 and Big Dreamers United, and sponsored by Exact Sciences, Hooper Corporation, Levy Giving Fund, Summit Credit Union and EUA.