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FRIENDS OF THE UW ODYSSEY PROJECT INC

Overcoming adversity and achieving dreams through higher education

Madison, WI   |  http://odyssey.wisc.edu

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Mission

The UW-Madison Odyssey Project provides adults facing economic barriers with a chance to start college for free. Now in its seventeenth year, this inspirational project has empowered more than 450 low-income adults to find their voices and get a jump start at earning college degrees they never thought possible. In this six-credit English literature course, UW-Madison faculty members introduce adults to great works of literature, philosophy, history, and art and help them improve skills in writing and critical thinking. Graduates of the program have journeyed from homelessness to UW-Madison degrees, from incarceration to meaningful work in the community.

Ruling year info

2010

Executive Director

Emily Auerbach

Main address

2238 S Park St

Madison, WI 53713 USA

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Formerly known as

Odyssey Project Inc.

EIN

27-1073291

NTEE code info

(Adult, Continuing Education) (B60)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Programs and results

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Odyssey Junior

While their parents are in class, over 50 children and grandchildren of Odyssey students, ages 2.5-18, participate in one of our three Odyssey Junior classrooms. Recognizing that breaking the cycle of generational poverty involves whole families, we piloted Odyssey Junior in 2015 to support children in self-discovery, literacy, and expression through a variety of forms, including writing, speaking, visual arts, music, movement, and theatre.

A recent evaluation found that Odyssey Junior helps children develop their love of reading, improve their writing ability, and develop goals for their future, including attending college. Students shared that “I like reading more, learning new words” and “[Odyssey Junior] reintroduced me to reading.”

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Each year, thirty new students enroll in a two-semester UW-Madison program taught by award-winning faculty in English literature, philosophy, American history, and art history. The students receive free tuition, textbooks, childcare, and a weekly dinner. One-on-one tutoring is also available for both adults and children. In class, students read, write about, and engage in lively discussions of Emily Dickinson, Martin Luther King, Shakespeare, Lorraine Hansberry and more. Through exposure to these great works of literature, philosophy, history, and art, Odyssey students gain six credits from UW-Madison, skills in critical thinking, a sense of empowerment, and a voice.

Over 90% of Odyssey students complete the program each year (an unparalleled completion rate for a program of this kind). After Odyssey, 75% of students continue to enroll in post-secondary education. To date, approximately one-quarter of students have earned a college degree or a technical/professional certificate.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students

With three-quarters of Odyssey graduates taking additional college courses after Odyssey, there is an enormous opportunity to work more closely with these students on their education pathways to increase college retention and graduation rates.

Onward Odyssey addresses this need by connecting alumni with other UW-Madison courses taught on or off the UW campus. In the past, these courses have included a Special Education Paraprofessional training course, a Food Systems course taught by Professor Alfonso Morales, and an African American Studies course taught by Professor Craig Werner. In addition to these courses, for the past four years Dr. Kevin Mullen has offered an English 100 class to Odyssey alumni focusing on intensive writing skills. Onward Odyssey offers a supportive learning community that leverages the strong relationships that Odyssey Project alumni have with each other and with faculty and staff.

In addition to courses, Odyssey can provide some direct financial support to students to supplement their financial aid, helping students struggling to pursue degrees while often supporting a family. Odyssey, with the help of campus partners, offers academic, career, financial, and personal counseling as well as one-on-one tutoring two nights a week. If Odyssey helps to light a spark within students, Onward Odyssey is focused on feeding this flame.

Population(s) Served
Students
Economically disadvantaged people

Odyssey Beyond Bars is Odyssey's newest initiative to offer credit-bearing, face-to-face UW-Madison courses to students in prisons across Wisconsin. First offered at Oakhill Correctional Institution in Oregon, Wisconsin, English 100 was taught by Professor Kevin Mullen and was a huge hit with the students. This course is now offered in other Wisconsin prisons and has been met with the same interest and success. Students who complete the semester will obtain three UW-Madison credits that can then be transferred if the incarcerated learned decides to continue in higher education once they are released. During the semester, students have access to academic and financial advising, as well as tutoring once a week. These students are given the opportunity to build a community and share their voices through writing and lively discussions focused on transformative texts and ideas.

Population(s) Served
Incarcerated people

Where we work

Financials

FRIENDS OF THE UW ODYSSEY PROJECT INC
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Operations

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FRIENDS OF THE UW ODYSSEY PROJECT INC

Board of directors
as of 05/14/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Alison TenBruggencate

Donald Miner

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 6/8/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Gender identity
Female

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

Transgender Identity

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data