Waleisah S. Wilson

Waleisah Wilson is the Southern Center for Human Rights’ (SCHR) Client Services Advocate, where she focuses on working with individuals whom SCHR has helped get released from prison or otherwise represented in SCHR’s impact or capital litigation. She ensures that SCHR’s clients have access to a robust support system that will help them flourish in their homecoming by connecting them with community resources and providing skill-building opportunities that will allow them to have a better quality of life and be successful and self-sufficient during their reentry. Her shared experience with the criminal justice system and the challenges to reentry, allow her to have a unique and valuable perspective that allows her to better assist SCHR clients with contributing to their families and their communities, reduce future interactions with the criminal legal system, and increase opportunities for them to live full and joyous lives.

Before becoming SCHR’s Client Services Advocate, Waleisah was a criminal justice reform activist and organizer in the Columbus, GA area and the Founder and Executive Director of a nonprofit organization that assisted hundreds of directly impacted individuals with securing employment, locating housing, receiving job readiness training and gaining other necessary resources needed in their reentry.

Waleisah received a Master’s degree in Human Services from Capella University and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Walden University. She has received several awards and accolades for her work in reentry and has participated in several state and national leadership fellowships.