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Celebrating Identity and Inclusion: City of Madison Disability Pride Flag Raising Ceremony. The City of Madison hosted its second Disability Pride Flag Raising Ceremony to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ceremony & news conference took place on Wednesday, July 8, at 11:30 a.m. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, disability advocates, and community leaders participated in the ceremony. "The disability community is a valuable part of Madison. With the growing threats of defunding disability services and possible institutionalization from our federal government, it is crucial that we vocally affirm who we are as a city. I will work to ensure that we are a city where dignity is not negotiable, and where everyone who calls Madison home knows they belong here," says Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford. Rebecca Hoyt, Disability Rights and Services Specialist for the City of Madison, and Nicki Vander Meulen, MMSD school board member and disability rights advocate, also spoke at the news conference. “At a time when legislatures seek to push us back to institutions, health agencies seek to cure, and institutions bury our histories, we must exist together in bold audacious pride,” says Hoyt. July is nationally recognized as Disability Pride Month. The ceremony will honor the strength and resilience of the disability community while highlighting Madison’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all residents.

Wear Orange Day, bringing together public officials, concerned citizens, and community organizations, to call for an end to gun violence. The Violence Prevention Unit at Public Health Madison & Dane County is organized the event at Centro Hispano on Saturday June, 6 2026 "Gun violence is a serious and urgent threat to public health and safety. In Dane County, someone dies from gun violence approximately every 10 days through suicides, accidents, and homicides," said Director Janel Heinrich. "These deaths are preventable. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors, our children, and our community to practice safe gun ownership." The Wear Orange movement(external) began after the 2013 death of Hadiya Pendleton. A Chicago man shot and killed the 15-year-old girl while she hung out at the park with friends. Now, every June, communities across the country stand together to wear orange and raise awareness. In a show of support, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and County Executive Melissa Agard issued joint proclamations declaring Saturday, June 6 Gun Violence Awareness Day in Madison and Dane County. "We are committed to taking a holistic approach to preventing violence in the City of Madison. That commitment is paying off in the form of progress. In 2025, we saw a drop in violent crimes(external) in the city," said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. "But our work is not done, and this weekend, we're asking you to get involved. Wear orange to honor survivors of violence. Practice safe storage. Join us at an event and meet your neighbors. Every step towards safety makes our community better." Community action is crucial to creating and maintaining public safety. It starts with responsible gun ownership in the home. Securing firearms using trigger locks and gun safes ensures the weapon doesn't end up in the wrong hands. “Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe - at home, in our schools, in our parks, and everywhere in between. Wear Orange Day is a chance to honor lives lost to gun violence and to take that first step toward action together," said County Executive Agard.

The Community Development Division and the Madison Area Community Land Trust are holding a ribbon-cutting event for two new twin homes (4 total units) in the Owl Creek neighborhood, a project the mayor attended the groundbreaking for in October 2024.