The Rainbow Project, Inc.

04/16/2026

Save the Date 💃Rhumba 4 Rainbow 🕺🏿 Friday, September 18th, 2026 from 7pm-midnight at Monona Terrace in Downtown Madison 🎟️ Get Your Tickets Now at the link in our bio

04/13/2026

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month — a time to pause, reflect, and grow beyond what we were taught to accept as “normal.”

“Give your child a refuge in you.” — Eric Crawford, Child & Family Therapist, The Rainbow Project, Inc.

We recently joined Dr. Alvin Thomas on The Black Fathers’ Pulse Podcast to talk about one of the most taboo and emotionally charged topics in parenting: spanking.

Many parents say, “I was spanked and I turned out alright.” We hear it often. But decades of research show that even well‑intended corporal punishment—spanking, popping, pinching—has lasting negative effects on children.

As our Founder & Executive Director Sharyl Kato shares in the episode:

“There are over 1,574 studies showing that spanking is harmful… linked to increased aggression, strained parent relationships, lower self‑esteem, anti‑social behavior, and even lower IQ in early childhood.”

In this powerful conversation, we explore:

- The prevalence of spanking within the Black community
- The critical role of fathers in shaping healthy discipline
- How to push back on community expectations rooted in survival, not support
- Real, practical alternatives to spanking when kids misbehave

This isn’t about blame. It’s about breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma, unlearning harm, and choosing connection — especially for children who deserve safety, dignity, and care.

🎧 New episode out today. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NOxmkjpqQX3Jsu5F8aPV3

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-spanking-black-fatherhood-and-the-new/id1779171940?i=1000761116896

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d006cb6c-fd26-48d4-b56e-f4727d01f7b6/episodes/843f4b5c-b2d4-47bf-84a5-5cb89cb54637/the-black-fathers'-pulse-podcast-beyond-spanking-black-fatherhood-and-the-new-era-of-discipline

04/01/2026

📘 This is Indigo’s story—one filled with courage, connection, and steady growth. With the support of his caregivers, therapist, and our community, Indigo is learning to feel safe, build regulation skills, and navigate big transitions with increasing confidence.

🔷Every day, kids like Indigo remind us that healing is possible—and that none of this work happens alone.

💙 Thank you for being part of the circle that helps children and families move toward stability, hope, and resilience.

🌈 You can read more about Indigo and see an array resilient journeys on our website (🔗👇)
https://www.therainbowproject.net/success-stories/indigo

04/01/2026

🌈 This is Indigo’s journey—one filled with courage, connection, and steady growth. With the support of his caregivers, therapist, and our community, Indigo is learning to feel safe, build regulation skills, and navigate big transitions with increasing confidence.

Every day, kids like Indigo remind us that healing is possible—and that none of this work happens alone.

💙 Thank you for being part of the circle that helps children and families move toward stability, hope, and resilience.

You can read more about Indigo and an array of resilient stories on our website: 🔗 in bio & 👇

https://www.therainbowproject.net/success-stories/indigo

03/04/2026

Yesterday, we were grateful to welcome 9 incredible volunteers from Exact Sciences who spent their afternoon with us from 12:30–2:30pm helping around The Rainbow Project. 💛

Their team jumped right in—sprucing up therapy spaces, deep‑cleaning children’s toys, and tackling projects that help us keep our environment safe, welcoming, and healing for the little ones and families we serve.

We’re so appreciative of partners who give their time and heart to support our mission. 💜🌈

Thank you, Exact Sciences team, for making a meaningful impact!

02/03/2026

We're hiring! 💛 Are you or a friend looking for a part-time position? The Rainbow Project is looking for an afternoon Receptionist & Program Support professional to be the friendly face at our front desk in Downtown Madison between the hours of 1:30-6:30 PM CST.

Apply today + learn more: https://www.therainbowproject.net/careers

Come work with us. Come work with purpose. Come work with heart.

Career Opportunities at The Rainbow Project Current Openings: Adult & Family Therapist- Full or Part Time (multiple)Child & Family Therapist- Full or Part Time (multiple)Childcare Provider- Hourly (2 vacancies)Language Interpreter (Spanish & more) - Hourly (multiple)Registered Nurse- Hourly (1 vacan...

01/31/2026

💌 You’re invited! Register for FREE 👉 🔗 in bio

🌈 We’re excited to share that The Rainbow Project is launching a one-day, fully online Silent Auction Experience — and you are invited to help us test it, bid on cool stuff 👀, and make an impact!

🗓️ Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | Auction Opens at 12:00 AM. Bidding closes at 4:44 PM CST

📲 Online Only! – Register at the 🔗 in our bio

👥 Who’s Invited? Staff, Board Members, Volunteers, and Friends & Family are welcome to join this flash fundraiser

🎁 Featured Items: Home Goods, Family Activities, Personal Care, Entertainment, Apparel & Jewelry.

What is a flash fundraiser?

Think of this like a ‘Fundraising Soft Open’ meets ‘Flash Sale.’ The Rainbow Project is growing its donor engagement capabilities as intentionally as we treat our community. Now is the time while our intersectional community witnesses increasing need for the individualized, collaborative, culturally responsive and trauma-informed care, hope and healing that we provide.

So . . . Save the date! Shop the virtual silent auction. And tell us what you think so that we can deliver the best possible experience. After the event, we’ll send a short survey to collect your thoughts and improve the experience.

💛 Thank You
Your engagement in this pilot event helps us strengthen our capacity to provide hope, healing, and stability to children and families throughout our community.

01/23/2026

Even at –17°F, community care shines bright ❄️✨
A big THANK YOU to Judith Huerta and her husband Tim for restoring and repainting our Little Lending Library—adding fresh color and love in the middle of a snowy deep freeze. We’re incredibly grateful for volunteers like you! 📚💙

12/04/2025

Take a deep breath like a big, cozy bear! 🐻✨ This fun breathing exercise helps kids feel calm and strong. Watch the full Bear Breath tutorial on YouTube and practice together!

This spring breathing exercise, "Good Morning Bear", teaches kids how to be mindful by stretching and breathing like a bear when they are overwhelmed with b...

12/03/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🌈💜

Because of YOU, we can continue providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services to children and families in Dane County.

Whether you gave through our website or through United Way of Dane County and employer campaigns, every gift makes a difference. Together, we’re building hope and healing.

👉 Learn more or give anytime: therainbowproject.net/donate

11/27/2025

When Aurelia came to The Rainbow Project at just 8 years old, her world was filled with uncertainty and pain. After six years of mental health support, Aurelia now embraces her strengths: "I’m intelligent and creative. My stories—even if they’re somber—are how I express my feelings about experiences that are too hard to process in the moment.” With words like that, it's no surprise that Aurelia is excelling in school, running cross country, and completing her trauma narrative. Her growth is a brilliant example of supported healing and resilience.

Aurelia’s story is just one of thousands that The Rainbow Project has supported since beginning this work in 1980. We are proud to serve young children and families around Dane County who have experienced some of life's darkest moments—abuse, death, gun violence, neglect, addiction, or separation. Your generosity enables us to provide an effective, individualized approach to each person. We provide trauma-informed care with comprehensive assessments, therapy, parent education, and long-term support. So, whether you donate once or every month, The Rainbow Project does the work to support healing that lasts.

Donate this GivingTuesday (Dec 2nd) to help children like Aurelia turn trauma into hope 💜 Visit our website to give: https://www.therainbowproject.net/donate

Aurelia: Latin for 'golden'. Her story and quote are authentic + carefully anonymized for her safety. Stay tuned for more stories from |

11/21/2025

📅 Mark your calendar: GivingTuesday is Dec 2!
Since 1980, The Rainbow Project has helped children and families heal from trauma and thrive. Your generosity this GivingTuesday continues a legacy of care and creates brighter futures.
👉 Staying present? Donate now: https://www.therainbowproject.net/donate