MTZ Charitable Marks Five Years of TRY Program
The TRY program, which brings community volunteers into the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center to lead discussions with youth, has reached an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 kids since 2021.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Secondary Education
MTZ Charitable marked the fifth anniversary of its TRY program, which sends volunteers to the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Each visit lasts about an hour and centers on discussions with detained youth.
Why it matters
Organizers say the need to reach young people in the juvenile justice system is greater than ever, and they have observed an increase in the severity of offenses for which youth are sentenced. The program traces its origins to a rise in car thefts in Madison in 2016.
TRY has reached an estimated 1,000-1,200 kids in five years, with each volunteer visit lasting about an hour. Organizers have not provided outcome data measuring the program's effect on youth reoffending or sentencing.
The players
MTZ Charitable
MTZ Charitable is the organization that runs the TRY program, sending community volunteers into juvenile detention to lead discussions with youth.
Dane County Juvenile Detention Center
The Dane County Juvenile Detention Center is the county facility that holds young people in the juvenile justice system and hosts TRY sessions.
John Bauman
John Bauman is the Juvenile Court Administrator who granted TRY volunteers access to young people at the detention center.
Rev. Marcus Allen
Rev. Marcus Allen is a local clergy member whose car was stolen from his garage on the same night as his wife's, an incident tied to the program's origins.
The details
Community volunteers enter the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center to lead discussions with youth, and Badger athletes join when their schedules allow, typically during the off-season. Juvenile Court Administrator John Bauman granted access to kids at the detention center, and JP Hair and Design offers instruction in barbering, beauty, and hygiene with certificates provided to participants.
Timeline
2016: Planning for the program began after car thefts rose in Madison.
2021: The TRY program launched after COVID-era lockdowns lifted.
Second and fourth Sundays of each month: Regular volunteer visits to the detention center.
November 2, 2026: The fifth anniversary of the TRY program was marked.
November 8, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.: The next scheduled visit to the detention center.
Local Roots
The TRY program grew out of the 2016 surge in juvenile car thefts in Madison, when local leaders sought a way to engage young offenders directly. Five years after its 2021 launch, it continues to operate inside the Dane County juvenile justice system as a community-based intervention.
Community members interested in volunteering can join TRY visits on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, with each session lasting about an hour. Those who can offer skills in barbering, beauty, or hygiene may find the program's instruction model a practical way to get involved.
The takeaway
Community volunteers can make a measurable difference in young people's lives by showing up consistently, even for a single hour a month. Reaching youth before they enter the justice system remains a practical way to address local concerns about youth crime.
What happens next
The program's next scheduled visit to the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center is November 8, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education to see how youth programs like TRY connect to education and mentorship in Madison.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Madison365.
