EXPO Woman of the Year Cheri Branham
Cheri Branham has her bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and recently passed her exam to be a Certified Social Worker. She is also a Certified Perinatal Educator, Doula, Peer Support Specialist, Grant Writer, and has been a justice reform advocate for many years. She is a mother to 4, and her children mean the world to her. After giving birth to her first child while incarcerated in 2014 due to a crimeless revocation and a lack of treatment options, Cheri dedicated her life to improving conditions for incarcerated pregnant individuals and expanding services to allow family reunification. Her advocacy work began in 2018 after getting involved with EXPO, and she has worked with local and National organizations since. She believes no one should have to go through birth while incarcerated alone, and her vision is to fill this gap. Her vision is to take photos for people giving birth, support the babies in getting breastmilk, provide prenatal education, be a support for the birthing person during and after the birth- filling gaps she was unable to access.Cheri has diverse work experience giving her a unique set of skills that allows her to provide one-on-one support, as well as program coordination and development. Cheri shares her story with the hopes of bringing awareness to the need for change in our carceral system, especially for pregnant and postpartum people. She has devoted her time to seeing Wisconsin have a successful Prison Doula Project, following the work of the Ostara Initiative’s Prison Doula Projects across the United States. Upon hearing about this work 3 years ago, she has collaboratively worked with the Ostara Initiative and doulas across the state to build the Wisconsin Prison Birth Project. This project will better birth outcomes for incarcerated birthing people. She looks forward to working with a dedicated, talented group of trained Prison Doulas who share a passion for birth justice for the Wisconsin project.
EXPO Man of the Year David Murrell
David Murrell is a dedicated leader and community advocate based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has a deep commitment to uplifting underserved populations and promoting social justice. Known for his passion and drive, David has been actively involved in various grassroots initiatives, focusing on empowering marginalized communities, advocating for policy reform, and advancing criminal justice reform.David’s work has had a meaningful impact in Milwaukee, where he has been a key figure in addressing issues such as housing inequity, workforce development, and reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals. His efforts center on creating opportunities for individuals to rebuild their lives and thrive after incarceration.Through his collaborative spirit and leadership, David continues to inspire and mobilize others to create lasting change in Milwaukee and beyond.
EXPO Ally of the Year Peter Moreno
Peter Moreno directs Odyssey Beyond Bars and the Prison Education Initiative at UW-Madison. These programs teach college jumpstart and degree programs to students in Wisconsin prisons, in collaboration with other UWs around the state. Prior to founding these programs, Peter worked as an attorney and clinical law professor at the University of Wisconsin and University of Washington, where he represented incarcerated clients in wrongful conviction cases. Peter sees education as a path to empowerment and loves sharing that path with others.
EXPO Ally Organization of the Year LIFT Wisconsin
LIFT Wisconsin (Legal Interventions for Transforming Wisconsin) is committed to improving access to justice by transforming and reforming legal systems, increasing personal agency, democratizing data and dismantling legal barriers. Through innovation, technology and collaboration we work to elevate people and expand justice. One of the ways we seek to achieve this is through our Legal Tune Up tool.The Legal Tune Up tool uses innovative technology to create a simple, free, and web-based single-entry point to solve economically harmful civil legal problems. The tool gathers publicly available data from multiple sources to let the user know whether they have a criminal record, an eviction record, a small claims case pending, an outstanding child support order, or a driver’s license suspension. The tool then supports the user in issue resolution. The tool also connects individuals who may need further legal assistance with legal clinics and directs referrals to other needed resources. The Legal Tune Up tool makes it possible for thousands of Wisconsinites to address an issue without outside assistance, increasing individual agency by putting information and resources directly in the hands of those impacted.
Ramiah Whiteside Changemaker Award Ruben Gaona
Ruben Gaona, Executive Director of My Way Out, is a trailblazer in entrepreneurial leadership and re-entry advocacy. His dedication has earned him multiple prestigious honors, including 2021 Veteran Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Wisconsin’s 2022 Most Influential Latino Leaders, a recipient of the 2022 Google Latino Founders Fund, the 2022 Michael Boyce Outstanding Entrepreneur Award from the University of Notre Dame, and the 2023 Hispanic Professional of Greater Milwaukee Espiritu Award.
Ruben's personal journey is one of profound transformation. After serving eight years of a ten-year Federal sentence, he emerged in 2017 determined to create change, not just for himself, but for countless others. In 2019, he founded 2nd Chance Wisconsin*, empowering formerly incarcerated individuals to rewrite their futures. Through motivational speaking, Ruben continues to uplift those facing the challenges of reentry, helping them discover their potential and break free from the cycle of recidivism.
As a U.S. Navy Veteran and former Department of Defense employee, Ruben’s diverse
experiences bring a unique perspective to his advocacy. His first-hand knowledge of the justice system drives his passion to reform it. His vision led him to co-found The Way Out, a
groundbreaking fair chance employment platform aimed at dismantling barriers for those withcriminal records.
In 2022, Ruben took the helm as Executive Director of My Way Out, Inc., solidifying his
leadership in re-entry services. He regularly speaks at events throughout Wisconsin, sharing hispowerful story and championing second-chance employment initiatives. Ruben’s message isclear: Mistakes do not define you; what you do afterward does. His work is dedicated to creating a more just and equitable future for everyone in the United States.
Ruben Gaona’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and an unyielding belief in the power of
second chances. His journey from adversity to advocacy illustrates how one person’s
commitment can ignite lasting change for many.
Sep 27, 2024
