Johnson Hosts “Ramiah Project” Roundtable Exploring Commonsense Ideas to Remove Barriers After Incarceration

OSHKOSH — Sen. Ron Johnson will host a roundtable at the Urban League of Greater Madison on Friday, August 25 to explore commonsense ideas to remove barriers from incarceration to work. The senator’s work with The Joseph Project, a jobs program he cofounded in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Wausau, has highlighted the need for discussion on the barriers that exist which prevent people from a successful transition to work after incarceration focusing on the areas of work release, child support, and fraternization.

The Ramiah Project roundtable is inspired by Sen. Johnson’s relationship with Ramiah Whiteside.  The senator met Ramiah in 2015 while visiting a Wisconsin prison program called “Stories of Change.” Ramiah was paroled in 2019 after serving 24 years in prison. He met with the senator several times about ideas to remove barriers to successful transitions from incarceration back into society and the workplace. Ramiah was an inspiration to Senator Johnson and to so many more. In December 2022,  at the age of 47, Ramiah passed away from the very types of complications brought on by reentry from incarceration that this roundtable will discuss. This event will be held in his honor.