overcoming adversity and achieving dreams through higher education
“In my role as the success coach for Odyssey during this pandemic, I have never witnessed so much suffering among marginalized populations,” notes Brian Benford. Just elected alder for Madison’s sixth district, Brian graduated from Odyssey’s Class of 2007 and went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from UW–Madison. Brian …
“Jean Feraca epitomizes the Wisconsin Idea as well as the ideals of the Athena Award,” a nomination letter reads, as “she has demonstrated excellence throughout her career as a broadcast journalist, creativity in her work as an author, initiative in her cofounding of the transformational Odyssey Project and in her work in Wisconsin’s prisons, and …
“The Odyssey Project has been life changing not just for the students in the program but for me as well,” Odyssey Codirector Emily Auerbach remarks in a new video launching the UW’s Community Chats series. Emily’s video begins a series of UW talks with local leaders who received the LaMarr Billups Community‐University Engagement Award. Interviewer Brenda …
Thank you all for being part of the circle of love that flows between Odyssey students, staff and supporters! Your gifts in 2020 allowed us to support our students and alumni as they valiantly overcame obstacles during these unimaginably challenging times. We continue to need help with technology access to enable students to fully participate …
Every February in Odyssey classes, students start an essay with the two words, “I love.” We ask them to think beyond Hallmark cards, Cupid and romantic evenings to other kinds of love. Here are some of our student responses: “I love the way my son hugs me. He wraps his little arms around my neck …
We love supporting graduates of our two‑semester jumpstart program as they go on to earn two‑year, four‑year and advanced degrees. In the photo collage above, you’ll see five of our alumni who earned degrees in 2020 despite the pandemic. None of them got to walk across a stage, and some never rented caps and gowns …
Odyssey students start the new year just after Martin Luther King Jr. Day by reading his powerful 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” With its fervent call for justice, equality, unity and love, King’s words ring with especially urgent relevance this year: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” “I doubt that you would …
COVID‑19 hit home for Odyssey last month as even our online Odyssey Beyond Bars classes were suspended due to the complete quarantine mandated to stop the rampant spread of the virus in state prisons. More of our Class of 2021 Odyssey students tested positive and grieved the loss of loved ones. Sunni wrote, “I was …
“Odyssey is a journey I need to complete so I can overcome fears and make a new life for myself,” Michelle wrote on her final assignment for 2020. Classes for the second half of our two‑semester Odyssey Project course will begin January 27, with students eager to continue their life‑changing adventure. Having shared writing about …
As a new member of the prestigious UW System Board of Regents, Odyssey alum Corey Saffold advocated to make Odyssey part of the agenda. Corey was joined on November 5 by Odyssey Codirectors Emily Auerbach and Kevin Mullen, Odyssey Beyond Bars Director Peter Moreno and alumna Keena Atkinson in presenting to the Board of Regents. …