Stories

Beverly Walker

Beverly Walker is the dedicated wife of Baron Walker, who has been incarcerated under Wisconsin’s old law for over 21 years. They have five children and five grandchildren. Beverly and Baron grew up as neighbors on Milwaukee’s north side in ZIP code 53206.  They first dated as teenagers and years later married.

Beverly is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where she studied education and early childhood education. She currently works as a paralegal and a notary public. Having started several businesses in the past, including two child care centers, she recently completed a business certificate program at Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. Baron, who is also a paralegal, and Beverly plan to open a paralegal firm once Baron is released from prison.

Beverly is an advocate for prison sentencing reform, solitary confinement elimination, and old law parole issues. She works with WISDOM, a grassroots multi-faith organization working for justice.

Watch this video of Beverly speaking about the impact of long and unfair sentencing at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milwaukee for the Moral Revival in 2016.

For more information on the Walker family go to www.familydeferred.com.

Dennis C. Walton

Dennis Walton, born and raised on Milwaukee’s North side in ZIP code 53206, is a community organizer, social entrepreneur and activist. He remains a resident of 53206 where he works daily to make it a better and stronger place to live. He is the co-director of Mayor Tom Barrett’s Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative. He also co-host the Gospel Morning Mix Radio Mix on 1560 am WGLB.

Dennis’s parents moved to ZIP code 53206 in the 1960’s and raised three children including Dennis’s two sisters. Like many Milwaukee families, his father worked for one of the big breweries in town. The neighborhood changed from a working class black community to a community ravaged by crime in the 1980’s during The War on Drugs. It was this time, as young man, Dennis started running the streets and found himself in the criminal justice system facing 40-years of prison time. When his case was dismissed, he recognized his second chance on life and chose to make change and pursue education instead of the streets. Dennis claims his time in the criminal justice system informs his work helping to transform incarcerated men to become better fathers.

Dennis, a father of three, enjoys spending time with my children, serving his community and working as a leader and activist to help facilitate change.

Watch this Q&A with Dennis with Milwaukee Independent about his personal journey in fatherhood and how he found his life’s calling in building stronger communities by building stronger men.

For more information on Dennis’s work and the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative go to www.milwaukeefatherhood.com.

Chad S.A. Wilson

Chad S.A. Wilson was born on Milwaukee’s North side in ZIP code 53206. He spent 10-years in the criminal justice system for non-violent charges and revocations. Because of this, he has an in-depth knowledge of the prison system culture and remains attached to the system by supporting friends and family still serving time. As a former drug dealer, his story displays the difficulties involved in transitioning living styles, with life long barriers in place due to attaining his first felony at the age of 18.

Today, Chad is a Reentry Guide for the Alma Center, and team member of the Alma Brothers-a transformative healing community for men returning home from incarceration. Chad builds a mentoring relationship with men in state institutions through weekly peer-to-peer connection during their final year of confinement and walks with them for at least another year upon release to support their healthy, productive and successful return home. He also is on the Community Justice Reform Coalition Speakers Bureau in association with PICO networks and LIVE FREE.

Listen to a United Way podcast interview with Chad on incarceration and fatherhood.

Chad loves playing basketball with his children and working toward making Milwaukee a better place. Chad runs his own website iammorethanafelon.com where you can find information on mass incarceration, current social issues, and his socially conscious t-shirt collection.

Muhibb Dyer

Muhibb Dyer, a native of Milwaukee ZIP code 53206, is a poet, community activist and motivational speaker. He has performed his poetry across the United States and in 2002 was a finalist at the National Poetry Slam, the nation’s top spoken word competition. Muhibb is co-founder of Flood the Hood with Dreams, an organization that conducts empowerment workshops and camps for at-risk high school students across the Midwest. The organization has also conducted several conflict resolution trainings, organized youth rallies and marches in an effort to end the cycle of violence plaguing the community.

Muhibb began a successful campaign to bring the art of the spoken word to inner city youth. He has conducted several seminars and workshops in the Milwaukee Public School system encouraging youth to take responsibility for their futures.

Check out this video of the work Muhibb is doing in the 53206 community and beyond. For more information on Muhibb go to www.iwillnotdieyoungcampaign.com.