In a partnership with Midwest Mujeres, WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” shares the stories of six women of color working to build community and better themselves in southern Wisconsin.
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Samantha Green of Madison has a philosophy she lives by.
“My motto for life is nothing is impossible. It’s just a matter of figuring out. All you have to do is keep at it. And before you know it, it will become your reality,” she said.
Green said thinking forward has helped her move past the road blocks in her life. The mother of three, grandmother of six — also known as her “grand blessings” — spoke about this as a part of a storytelling partnership with Midwest Mujeres in Madison.
Samantha Green poses with her “grand blessings” during a camping trip to Petenwell County Park in Adams County. (Courtesy of Samantha Green )
“I didn’t start with the best start, but I had a mother that taught me that ‘can’t’ is not part of my vocabulary and I can do whatever I choose to do. I do realize that sometimes I get down on myself, but I never give up. At one point in my life, I was a drug dealer and realized God and I required more of myself.”
Green was about to turn 30 and she knew something was off. She wasn’t even excited for her birthday, which was odd since since she usually enjoyed celebrating it.
“So I had this talk with God and I was like, ‘I know I’m not living out my purpose that you set for me. I need some help to get to that,'” said Green. “A month after that, I got arrested. Every step of the process, he showed up and made me realize, ‘I’m answering this prayer.'” And (then) people just started showing up.”
People from her past, people from church, people from every corner of her life. Green said her community’s support paired with her self-determination led to a pivotal moment: she went back to school.
Samantha Green on the UW-Madison campus just before recording her “Wisconsin Life” and Midwest Mujeres story on April 13, 2023. (Angela Major/WPR)
“Ever since I was little, I knew I was going to graduate from college. I knew I was going to have this career. I knew I was going to talk for a living. I knew I was going to help people. I knew it, I felt it,” she said.
And she did it.
Green got her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees by the time she turned 40. Since then, she’s worked in jobs helping people. Currently, she’s a program leader with Dane County Department of Human Services.
When she’s not working, you’ll often find Green outside.
Lifelong fisher Samantha Green of Madison holds a catfish she caught. (Courtesy of Samantha Green)
“I’ve always fished,” said Green smiling. “I’ve lived here in Madison since I was about four or five years old. Over at Brittingham (Park) … my grandfather lived (near) there. We used to cross that bridge over there and fish. We would have fish fries at the lake.”
And in 2020 during the pandemic, Green tried something new outside. She went camping for her first time.
“I fell in love,” said Green.
The next time she went, Green was stocked with her own tent and supplies. She also realized she was finding a deeper meaning in the camping trips.
“The more I went camping, the more I realized sitting around the campfire was a different feeling. The people that you share the campfire with is healing. The stories, the conversations that you have, like, it does something for your soul,” said Green. “People are really who they are without the stresses of the world. We don’t have to put on any faces at the fire. You can’t. We’re all sleeping outside. We all have the same equipment. We’re all going to be using the bathroom in this little pot or whatever is, right? We’ll all equal at this point. Our jobs don’t matter. Nothing matters. And it’s just you with these real life questions. You’re answering them. It’s soul searching.”
Samantha Green plays Trouble during a camping trip with “grand blessing #3 and #5.” (Courtesy of Samantha Green)
Now, Green wants to share that love of camping with others. One of her next goals in life?
“I want my own camping resort, Black-owned camping resort,” said Green smiling. “Of course it’s going to make money because people camp all the time. But I also want to offer teaching kids how to fish. Going through the trails. Teaching how to start fires. Teaching how to cook outside on an open fire. Setting up tents for people who don’t want to. Retreats for women, by women. Weekends away. Healing circles.”
She sees a real need for it in Wisconsin.
“Because we’re Black and Brown people, it hasn’t always been the best experience to be outside in especially woods. I go camping up north two and a half hours away. It’s not always the best thing to be outside, but I haven’t been into any negative experiences,” said Green. “I also look at everything as a teachable moment. People of different colors are learning about me. I’m learning about them. At the at the end of the day, we’re all the same.”
Samantha Green (center) with two of her best friends of 30+ years, Sharon Robinzine (l) and Vickie Lynn (r), during their last breakfast date. (Courtesy of Samantha Green)
Green is the type of person who’s energized by change. She’s at a point in her life when she’s embracing challenges rather than pushing them away. She creates vision boards and tries to really focus on where she wants to be in life.
This was partially inspired by the recent loss of her best friend, comedian and Black Women in Business Beloit Expo founder Vickie Lynn of Beloit, as well as Green’s sister.
“Life is really short. No matter what, you have to honor that inner voice within you. I think they both expressed theirs the loudest that they could,” said Green “It’s just up to me now to carry that with me.”
Samantha Green shared her story with us as part of a partnership with Midwest Mujeres in Madison. We’ve partnered with the organization to share stories of women who live in southern Wisconsin.
The Midwest Mujeres cohort just before recording their stories for Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life” on April 13, 2023. (top l-r) Yazmin Lopez, Shadayra Kilfoy-Flores, (middle l-r) Araceli Esparza, Angela Morgan, Katalina Sanchez, (bottom) Samantha Green. (Angela Major/WPR)
