The latest happenings in the Odyssey program and community
Celebrating our remarkable alumnae
What better time to celebrate Odyssey’s resilient women students than March, known as International Women’s History Month and a time to honor trailblazers? Our own alumnae exemplify the spirit of resilience and determination that this …
March 4, 2025Incarcerated women join Odyssey Beyond Bars
OBB’s first course for incarcerated women welcomed 12 students at Taycheedah Correctional Institution as new Badgers. The students, who ranged in age from 25 to 55, quickly identified something they all had in common: a …
February 28, 2025Dr. Keith Meyer’s Story
An Interview with Odyssey supporter Dr. Keith Meyer Why have you chosen to donate so much money to the Odyssey Project? I have watched this wonderful program grow and flourish over the 22 years …
January 28, 2025Why Vote? A Celebration of Voting Event 2024
“Why vote?” asked Odyssey alum Blanca Laine, calling on fellow indigenous people to exercise a freedom denied their ancestors. In an effort to encourage increased voter participation and the understanding of voting, the Odyssey Project …
January 2, 2025Zawadi’s Family Story
“The eldest daughter of two refugees from South Sudan who escaped from war, I am a first-generation American who is proud of where I came from,” notes Odyssey Junior graduate Zawadi. Thanks to the generosity …
November 11, 2024Marking the dog days
See our photo gallery below celebrating Duke and a team of guest therapy dogs who listen patiently and non-judgmentally to Odyssey Junior children reading. Thanks to Go Team Therapy Dogs for frequent visits to our …
August 12, 2024Keeping up with the Joneses
As this summer ends, Sanford Jones congratulates a granddaughter just offered one of the 30 coveted spots in the new Odyssey Class of 2025 set to begin in September. Sanford has a participation record that …
August 12, 2024Writing as Revelation Inside Prison
“Our creative minds burst like piñatas when tapped into, for without creativity there would be no color in our bleak environment,” writes one Odyssey Beyond Bars student. “I write to find myself,” adds another, “and …
July 15, 2024Meet OBB trailblazer Jean Feraca
“Teaching in prison has been the most democratizing experience of my life,” says award-winning journalist and Odyssey cofounder Jean Feraca. She adds, “It cuts me down to size while it equalizes and exalts me. It …
July 15, 2024Building on a Record-Breaking Year
“Because of Odyssey Beyond Bars, I found hope and the pathway to becoming a better man and father,” wrote one incarcerated learner at Oakhill Correctional Institution. So much has happened in the five years since …
July 15, 2024
Scholarship superstars
Taken at a Madison Club luncheon for The Business Forum of Madison, the photo above shows four new scholarship winners (from left, Andrea White ‘23, Giana Mason ‘24, Sally Phelps ‘24, and Thedora Smith ‘21) …
June 17, 2024
Woman of distinction
Woman of Distinction When she applied for Odyssey in 2009, Keena was homeless and sleeping on the floor of a barbershop with her young son. Fifteen years later, Keena is not only a successful entrepreneur …
June 17, 2024
Exemplary Lifelong Learner
The Wells Family: A Legacy of Learning Across Generations “Returning to school after a 76-year hiatus is no small feat!” writes Mary Wells, Odyssey Class of 2007, about her 92-year-old mother. “It takes courage, determination, …
June 17, 2024Heading to UW in the fall
Anna was nine years old when her mother and uncle completed Odyssey, and she has fond memories of finding her own voice in Odyssey Junior. She was overjoyed to receive an acceptance letter from UW-Madison …
May 20, 2024
The Triumphant Class of 2024!
“Thank you, Odyssey,” said Cierra, “for creating an environment where dreams are nurtured and futures are shaped,” and Lucas noted, “Odyssey helped remind me of my worth and power, and I’ll forever be grateful for …
May 20, 2024
A Global Celebration
“I’m glad I could use getting old as an excuse to raise money for the UW Odyssey Project,” quipped 95-year-old Bob Auerbach, “and I plan to do it again for my 100th!” For two hours …
April 22, 2024
A Badger Spring – Day of the Badger 2024
Odyssey Rocks Day of the Badger! For the past few years, Odyssey has finished in the top ten on the leaderboard for the Day of the Badger, a spirited day of giving (and some good-natured …
April 22, 2024Loving our million-dollar match!
We did it! YOU did it! Odyssey met its million-dollar match goal! We thank Pleasant Rowland and Diane Ballweg for their generosity and our donors for helping ensure Odyssey’s future. We reached our goal in …
February 12, 2024
A Record-Breaking Year
“Superlative” was one of the vocabulary words students learned this year, and we can use many when talking about our record-breaking year: we had the BEST attendance ever for our core class, the MOST alumni …
January 15, 2024
Pictures of success: A look back at 20 years of the UW Odyssey Project
As the Odyssey Project looks ahead to the next 20 years, we take a look back at the last two decades, in photos.
May 17, 2023
Celebrating Odyssey Junior 2023
Our youngest Odyssey students held a graduation celebration all their own last month, with parents, teachers, and community partners cheering them on. Before receiving certificates and gift bags, Odyssey Junior participants shared samples of their …
May 9, 2023
Remembering Chancellor Blank: A life well lived
“For the rest of my life, I’ll remember how Chancellor Blank treated me with dignity, kindness, and respect,” said Odyssey alum Char Braxton, who attended the chancellor’s memorial service and spoke to the chancellor many …
March 20, 2023
UW Odyssey Project celebrates 20 years of transformation through education
When Corey Saffold applied for the UW Odyssey Project in 2005, he had no idea it would change his life. Prior to attending Odyssey — an award-winning University of Wisconsin–Madison educational access program — he’d …
March 15, 2023
Creating a Class Cape with the Chazen
UW–Madison’s Chazen Museum of Art has been a longtime partner of the Odyssey Project, from hosting our 10th and soon, our 20th–anniversary celebration to welcoming Odyssey students to campus for 20 years to view and …
February 23, 2023
Odyssey alumni reflect on the power of writing
Five Odyssey alumni share their purpose in their role as writers and the power of using their words to change the world.
February 13, 2023
Instructors old and new ponder what makes Odyssey ‘magical’
Jean Feraca, Kevin Mullen, and Erin Celello share insights about the program's impact and some favorite teaching moments.
January 23, 2023
Odyssey Beyond Bars: Communities benefit from prison education program
This article is part of a series celebrating 20 years of the Odyssey Project. Follow along as we remember where we’ve been and look forward to where we’re going. After serving 38 years in …
November 29, 2022
One year out: OBB alum pursues graduate degree, community mentorship
In December 2021, alum Robert Taliaferro had a lot to look forward to. He was celebrating the end of a successful semester with Odyssey Beyond Bars, writing a feature for the Prison Journalism Project — and completing the last of his 38 years in prison.
November 28, 2022
Correcting the Narrative: Celebrating community success stories
At Odyssey Beyond Bars, we know that connecting people with high-quality education in prison equips them with tools for lifelong success — and we were thrilled to celebrate some of those successes at the Second Annual Correcting the Narrative Awards.
November 28, 2022
UW CHEP director’s letter – November 2022
Our alums remind us that returning home isn’t easy, and successes are sometimes interrupted by setbacks. Ongoing support is key to making sure the good days outnumber the bad. Our new Odyssey Beyond Bars Success Coach, Mike Exum, helps students navigate the inevitable struggles of reentry and provides a voice of encouragement in tough times.
November 28, 2022
UW Odyssey Project launches free education initiative for veterans
In fall 2023, veterans can start a new UW Odyssey Project course tailored to them. Read about the program and learn how to apply now!
November 14, 2022
From classroom to stage: Odyssey represents in The Moth StorySLAM
Each month, people gather in Madison to watch storytellers match “wits and words” at The Moth StorySLAM competitions, and Odyssey students and alumni are often found not only in the audience but in the stage’s …
November 2, 2022
Odyssey Project alums continue learning journey with Onward Odyssey
Since 2015, more than 160 graduates of UW–Madison's Odyssey Project's core course have earned additional college credits through its sister program, Onward Odyssey. Two of its students share their experience with the program — and what they'd like to do next.
November 1, 2022
From personal to professional: Odyssey’s bazaar returns this holiday season
“I didn’t realize that my products were both going to be my platform and my vessel to care for people,” Jasmine Banks told Madison Magazine this past April, describing how she created her business following …
October 31, 2022
From service to stories: Odyssey beyond wars
“The transition from military life back into the civilian world is a lot more difficult than most people realize,” said Joe Robinson, Army veteran and alum of Odyssey’s very first graduating class. “Odyssey is life …
October 30, 2022
An empowering trip on “Odyssey Day”
Madison’s mayor proclaimed October 12, 2022, to be “Odyssey Day” in recognition of our 20 years of changing lives. Instead of holding a regular Wednesday evening class, the Class of 2023 traveled again by bus …
October 3, 2022
A magical evening in Spring Green
What a magical evening we had last Sunday at American Players Theatre seeing A Raisin in the Sun with 70 Odyssey students, alumni, staff, and guests! Current student Aida, whose nine-year-old son loved attending the …
October 2, 2022
Class of 2023 conquers campus
For the first time since 2019, we resumed our annual tradition of taking 30 new Odyssey students by bus from South Madison to the UW campus. The first stop was Union South, where the Wiscard …
October 1, 2022
Duke Ellington passes his tests
Congratulations to Duke Ellington, a German shorthair pointer, for achieving certification by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and for making progress towards becoming a Canine Good Citizen! Owner-trainer Brian Benford, Odyssey alum and full-time success …
September 7, 2022
Chancellor hails Odyssey alchemy
“You are extraordinary!” UW’s new chancellor told Odyssey alumni as she visited Odyssey’s South Madison home on her second day on the job. Odyssey Codirector Emily Auerbach welcomed Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, gave her a brief …
September 5, 2022
Odyssey Beyond Bars Library brings the gift of books to Wisconsin prisons
Caption: Books from the OBB Library collection on their way to prisons around the state “Freedom begins with a book.” — Reginald Dwayne Betts, a formerly incarcerated Yale-educated lawyer, poet and founder of Freedom Reads Peter …
August 10, 2022
Twenty years of experiencing A Raisin in the Sun (September 18)
Caption: APT’s Gavin Lawrence coached Odyssey students in readings from A Raisin in the Sun. Just tell me where you want to go to school and you’ll go. Just tell me what it is you want …
August 9, 2022
New enrichment classes build educational momentum
“We make a choice each moment that affects the rest of our lives and the lives of everyone around us. The decision is about whether we are the situation we are in — or if …
August 8, 2022
UW CHEP director’s letter
Caption: Students from OBB’s English 100 course at Oakhill, spring 2022 In May, Odyssey Beyond Bars (OBB) concluded an incredible semester of growth in which we offered courses in three new prisons, in addition to …
August 5, 2022
A seat at the table for Michael Lozano
UW–Madison may be only an hour’s drive from the Huber Correctional facility, but for Michael Lozano, caught in a cycle of incarceration, it might as well have been on the moon. By the time he …
July 6, 2022
Odyssey Project welcomes new instructors
The Odyssey Project is excited to announce the addition of two new staff members/literacy instructors, Erin Celello and Ben Shannon. Both Erin and Ben trace their passion for Odyssey’s mission in part to a parent …
July 3, 2022
20th Odyssey class selected
July marks the official start of the 20th year of the UW Odyssey Project. Thirty new students have been selected to form the Class of 2023. Beginning in September, they will receive two semesters of …
July 1, 2022
Recognizing our amazing monthly donors
Joy discovered Odyssey while working as a custodian at UW and found the program life-changing, a place where she felt unconditional love from staff determined to remove obstacles that got in her way. Five years …
June 20, 2022
Recognizing our award-winning team
As she stepped to the podium to accept her YWCA-Madison Woman of Distinction award last month, Odyssey teacher and Friends of Odyssey board member Professor Christy Clark-Pujara said, “I would like to thank Emily Auerbach …
June 10, 2022Michelle Bozeman doesn’t give up
When Senator Tammy Baldwin visited the Odyssey Project, she asked alumni in the room how they discovered the free UW humanities program. Michelle Bozeman responded: “You asked me, ‘Did I find Odyssey or did Odyssey …
May 2, 2022- More Odyssey Updates
Join our mailing list
Use this form to join the UW Odyssey Project mailing list. Sign up to receive just emails, just print mailings, or both.