More about Albert, Krista, and Hedi
Albert Watson, graduate of Odyssey’s Class of 2008, now serves as the interim juvenile court superintendent for Dane County, building on over a decade of work in the juvenile court system helping at-risk youth turn their lives around. The Joshua Clauer “None in the Gap” award he won was granted to “a professional who has a passion for helping others and has turned their passion into their life mission.” Albert says he loves giving back to the community and has done so in the past through starting cooking programs and holiday celebrations in detention centers and giving youth structure, skills, compassion, and hope.
UMOJA magazine recently featured Albert: “Albert Watson leads pilot program offering a fresh start for at-risk youth in Dane County.” UMOJA commends Albert for using “shared meals, creative programs, and a steady commitment to care” to transform lives, “rewriting what justice and support can look like for youth in Dane County.”
Albert credits Odyssey not only for putting him on the right educational path but also for demonstrating to him the power of helping others. “Being a part of the Odyssey Program was a blessing! The compassion, generosity, and educational component made a major impact on me! I feel the reason many Odyssey graduates end up with ‘helping professions’ and winning community awards is simple: Odyssey helped us!”
Another award winner now in a helping profession is Krista Mellott, graduate of Odyssey’s Class of 2020. Krista graduated from UW in May, and this fall she will be honored with a transformation award from MOSES (Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity) for her work in criminal legal system reform. Krista writes eloquently about the way Odyssey helped her gain back her self-esteem after years of incarceration and addiction robbed her of belief in the future.
“Odyssey played such a powerful role in my life. Before I entered those classroom doors, I was carrying more than transcripts and textbooks. I was carrying years of shame, silence, and self-doubt. I had failed out of college twice. I had walked through darkness that made me question if I had anything left to offer. But Odyssey met me where I was. It didn’t ask me to be polished. It asked me to be present. And in return, it poured light into places I thought were long shut down.
Being part of the Odyssey Project was like standing in the sun after a long winter. Every week, every assignment, every conversation thawed something in me. I began to bloom. I began to believe, not just in the idea of education but in the possibility of a future that included me. Odyssey wasn’t a detour in my journey—it was the road back to myself.”
Krista, like many other Odyssey alumni, has chosen to pursue a master’s degree in social work, using her training and her lived experiences to help others in the community in empowering ways. In page after page (too lengthy to include in full!), Krista pours out her gratitude for Odyssey’s role in her life: “Odyssey has been the echo behind every step I’ve taken. When the world doubted me, they reminded me. When systems made me feel small, they spoke my name with reverence. They handed me tools, lifted my chin, and helped me write a story I once thought was over. Odyssey didn’t just give me a second chance; they gave me back my narrative.”
Odyssey gave alum Hedi Rudd, Class of 2012, a sense of belonging: “Odyssey is family, it is home.” She used the class as a springboard for her work as a photographer and community activist. Along the way, she has received many recognitions: a Photographer of the Year award, a Backyard Hero award, and the Nan Cheney Social Justice Award. She heard the mayor pronounce it “Hedi Rudd Day” in Madison and was named as one of Wisconsin’s most influential Latinx leaders.
This June, she received another recognition, the prestigious YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. She joins other Odyssey women from past years who received this prestigious award—alumni Keena Atkinson and Teresa Tellez-Giron, as well as Odyssey’s director/co-founder (Emily Auerbach), director of development (Jenny Pressman), and guest faculty member (Christy Clark-Pujara),
The YWCA award for Hedi praised her groundbreaking work as the Co-Executive Director of Rooted and the Director of the Badger Rock Neighborhood Center, her photography, and her tireless work as a volunteer and activist. “I like to share my time, talent, and treasure with the community whenever possible,” Hedi notes, “and I like to create opportunities for the community to convene, collaborate, and access resources.” In her award acceptance speech, Hedi traced her journey from homelessness and abuse to self-reliance and self-esteem.
“When I think about a younger me,” Hedi reflects, “she never knew that her life would be so blessed. Today I feel very fortunate to have broken the cycles that I have in my life. Two of my children graduated from UW Odyssey, and my youngest just completed his second year at UW Law School. I am a very proud mom and grandma.”
We salute Hedi, Krista, and Albert—and so many other Odyssey alumni—for the way they are giving back to the community and making us proud.