Odyssey Beyond Bars

How Does OBB Create Paths to Success?

Odyssey Beyond Bars (OBB) offers college jumpstart programs to students incarcerated in Wisconsin state prisons, creating meaningful pathways to higher education and long-term success beyond completion of the program. OBB offers both noncredit and for-credit courses, complemented by ongoing support though tutoring, academic advising, and a growing alumni support network.

Many OBB alumni use their education as a first step toward earning a college degree and as a foundation for success as they leave prison and return to their communities.

OBB is a part of the UW Odyssey Project, which for 23 years has empowered students living in poverty to overcome obstacles, find their voices, and reframe their futures.

Hear It From Our Students

“This class has already opened my eyes to a better life for myself.” 

“The program lit a fire in me to get an education.”

“The Odyssey Beyond Bars program was a journey in self-discovery for me.”

“The most important thing I learned was that I could succeed in a place where a person feels like a loser.”

“I gained a confidence that I had felt I had lost.”