The Community

Our mission is to foster the full potential of people with criminal records through Pre-entry and showcasing their successes, humanity, and agency through Correcting the Narrative.

Our mission is to foster the full potential of people with criminal records through Pre-entry and showcasing their successes, humanity, and agency through Correcting the Narrative.

Upcoming Events

For the most updated information on our events – sign up for our email list or follow us on social media.

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Latest Video, Podcast episode, and Newsletter Issue

All In All Out is a podcast partnership between The Community and the Milwaukee School of Engineering University Scholars Honors Program. It explores the nuance of topics and promotes greater collaboration in the reentry/reform/decarceration ecosystem in Wisconsin, as well as showcasing the successes, humanity, and agency of people with criminal records.

How to support this work

Donate now with PayPal

Donate with PayPal

Make a one-time donation or sign up for monthly donations here.

Donate with CashApp

Donate with CashApp

Click the icon or use $thecommunitynow on the CashApp app.

Donate with PayPal

Donate with Venmo

Click the icon or use @thecommunitynow on the Venmo app.

photography image by Heather Langton Photography

Heather Langton Photography

Heather Langton Photography captures the vibrance of unfiltered nature to bring renewed hope and healing to those who need it. They donate 25% of profits from photography purchases to The Community.

Dev Cabin Technologies logo

Dev Cabin Technologies

Dev Cabin Technologies offers digital solutions for your business or personal needs, whether you need web design and development, apps, digital marketing, and more. Use the name “The Community” and they will donate 20% to us.

Donate Now with PayPal

Donate with PayPal

Make a one-time donation or sign up for monthly donations here.

Donate with CashApp

Donate with CashApp

Click the icon or use $thecommunitynow on the app.

Donate with PayPal

Donate with Venmo

Click the icon or use @thecommunitynow on the app.

photography image by Heather Langton Photography

Heather Langton Photography

Heather Langton Photography captures the vibrance of unfiltered nature to bring renewed hope and healing to those who need it. They donate 25% of profits from photography purchases to us.

Dev Cabin Technologies logo

Dev Cabin Technologies

Dev Cabin Technologies offers digital solutions for your business or personal needs, whether you need web design and development, apps, digital marketing, or more. Use the name “The Community” and they will donate 10% to us.

Some Of Our Partners

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison
FairShake
Kohler Foundation
The Bradley Foundation
Bader
Community Warehouse
The Way Out
Milwaukee Turners
WisconsinVoices.org
Represent Justice
Bader
Bader
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
Project Return

Some Of Our Partners

Our Team

Shannon Ross
Shannon Ross

Executive Director

Shannon Ross was born to biracial parents and raised on Milwaukee’s north side, where he received a 17 year prison sentence for a violent crime when he was 19. Over the course of his incarceration, he acquired his bachelor’s degree in business administration, created and ran a mental health program in the prison for 2 years that still exits, had several articles published locally and nationally, and founded The Community with invaluable outside support in 2014. Since his release in 2020, Shannon is also a founding partner of Multidimensional Justice Solutions firm called Paradigm Shyft, an Education Trust fellow, a Marquette University EPP fellow, a graduate of the Masters in Sustainable Peacebuilding program at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and a first time father.

Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers

Preentry Liaison & Information Analyst

Roy is a public speaker, advocate for “juvenile lifers” in the Wisconsin prison system, and an associate of the Wisconsin Alliance For Youth Justice (WAYJ). Roy has over two decades of experience mentoring and counseling youth during his 28 years in prison from the age of 16. He is a graduate of the Madison Area Technical College and certified in Entry Level IT training at the New Horizons Computer Learning Center in Milwaukee and CompTIA ITF. And he also serves as a musician at the Progressive Baptist Church.

Kaleigh Atkinson
Kaleigh Atkinson

Promotions and Communications

As an artist, the mantra we are the walking wounded has tremendously impacted Kaleigh’s vision. The main influence on her work is that of selfless service. She believes documentary film, installation art, and vulnerability through storytelling are powerful tools that advance consciousness + compassion in humanity.

https://kaleighatkinson.com

Megan Czarnyszka
Megan Czarnyszka

Megan is a compassionate and driven individual who is deeply passionate about social justice and helping others. With extensive experience in brand marketing, she skillfully combines her professional expertise with empathy and humor in her work. Her journey exemplifies the powerful impact of merging expertise with a genuine desire to make the world a more equitable and compassionate place.

 

Our Directors

Tracie Sparks - President
Tracie Sparks - President

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Belonging Manager - North America for Manpower

Ryan Ramnarace - Vice President
Ryan Ramnarace - Vice President

Founding member of Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

Iran Amandah - Treasurer
Iran Amandah - Treasurer

Co-founder of LRL Capital

Catherine Pederson
Catherine Pederson

Founder & Executive Director of Loving Venti

Aldira Aldape - Secretary
Aldira Aldape - Secretary

Business Office Manager at the Milwaukee Police Association

Keith Stanley
Keith Stanley

President and CEO at University City Partners, Inc.

Kobena-Marcus J. Collins
Kobena-Marcus J. Collins

Diversity & Inclusion Professional

Peter Borg
Peter Borg

Marquette University Professor and Consulting Historian

Daniel Rivera
Daniel Rivera

Deputy Sheriff and 40 Under 40 class of 2023

Nikia Woodard
Nikia Woodard

Behavior Health and Social Program Administrator and Former Probation and Parole Agent with DOC, Division of Community Corrections

Kelli Thompson
Kelli Thompson

Head Wisconsin Public Defender