South Madison’s renaissance took another step forward Thursday when a longtime pillar of the neighborhood, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the forthcoming MTZ Family Life Center.
After a short program that included remarks from Rev. Marcus Allen as well as community leaders and elected officials, attendees headed outside to watch Allen, invited guests Rep. Mark Pocan, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and building committee members toss a few shovelfuls of sand in celebration. A light rain didn’t dampen the palpable joy.
The MTZ Family Life Center, which will be built at 2019 Fisher St., will be a gathering place for youth, families and
seniors. MTZ Charitable Organization, a nonprofit separate from the church, is building the new center in order to expand its capacity and community programming.
Current programs offered by the nonprofit have included free mental health services from Anesis Therapy, an Academic Learning Center for youth, services for older adults and more. The new building will expand what MTZ can do, providing more room for educational workshops, behavioral health clinic services, wellness and recreation, intergenerational programs and charitable outreach. There will be spaces for meetings, fellowship, celebrations and a food pantry.
Construction on the 40,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin this month and be complete in May 2027.
“We’re often asked, how are you all able to do so much with not large funding,” Allen said during his remarks. “It’s because we have passionate people, who care about the people in which they’re serving and willing to come in and sacrifice their time, and their talents, and their treasures to make sure those who are disenfranchised, those who are vulnerable have the services in which they need.
“So thank you to all of you,” Allen said to the crowd, which included, in addition to Pocan and the mayor, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, Madison Police Chief John Patterson as well as community leaders, members of Mt. Zion’s congregation, donors and neighbors.
As Allen reflected on the existing aging building, built in the 1960s, he said church members recently shared stories of how their lives were changed, how they found hope, how families were strengthened and how people were inspired to be better by coming together there.
“But the demolishing of this building is not destruction of a legacy,” Allen said. “It’s a building on top of a foundation that has already been set for us.
“Many years ago there was a conviction that this church had a responsibility to serve this community beyond Sunday morning. Over the years that conviction grew to what we now know as MTZ Charitable Organization.”
To those who have already contributed to the project, Allen said, “You did not just simply give to a construction project, you invested in people.”
Allen said so far, the group has raised $4.9 million of the $8.8 million total cost. Last fall, Ascendium donated $1 million to the group for the new center. MTZ Charitable Organization plans to raise enough funds to open debt-free.
“This is not only a groundbreaking service, this is a fundraiser also. Amen!” he quipped, to laughter.
Allen specifically recognized Park Bank, Dane County, SSM Health, construction partners Tri-North Builders and Foxhole Construction, as well as Strang, the architecture and design firm for the facility, among others, during his remarks.
“Serving as the construction manager for this project is a great honor,” Dennis Limmex, Tri-North senior project manager, said in a statement. “Buildings have the ability to shape our communities. The new Family Life Center will allow MTZ Charitable Organization to expand on its existing outreach while responding to the area’s evolving needs.”
