Wisconsin’s Mass Black Incarceration Crisis: Anthony Cooper on Reentry & Reform
By Lana Reid | July 13, 2022
As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Anthony Cooper, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Reentry Services at Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, to discuss Wisconsin’s mass Black incarceration crisis. Anthony shares insight into the systemic barriers facing formerly incarcerated individuals, the policies that contribute to high incarceration rates, and what meaningful reform and reentry support must look like to create lasting community impact.
In this episode of The Male Perspective, Anthony Cooper offers a grounded and informed examination of mass incarceration and reentry through the lens of policy, lived experience, and community leadership.
Anthony explains how Wisconsin’s incarceration system disproportionately impacts Black communities and why reentry services must address more than release alone. He highlights the challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face upon returning home, including access to employment, housing, education, and restorative support systems.
Throughout the conversation, Lana Reid and Anthony explore the role of community-based organizations in addressing systemic injustice. Anthony emphasizes that effective reentry requires collaboration between policy makers, service providers, and communities, with a focus on dignity, accountability, and long-term support rather than punishment alone.
The discussion also examines the purpose of incarceration and what true reform demands. Anthony shares why reentry must include pathways to opportunity, healing, and reintegration, and how community-driven solutions can reduce recidivism while strengthening families and neighborhoods.
This episode underscores the importance of rethinking justice through restoration, equity, and community leadership, offering a deeper understanding of how reform and reentry intersect.
About the Guest
Anthony Cooper is Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Reentry Services at the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development. His work focuses on justice reform, reentry services, and community-based solutions that support individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society.
For more information on Anthony Cooper :
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-cooper-sr
https://nehemiah.org
https://www.focusedinterruption.org/cooper
About the Series
This episode is part of the Black Men Matter Series, highlighting Black men working in policy, advocacy, and community leadership to address systemic injustice and create pathways to restoration.
About the Host & Organization
The Male Perspective is hosted by Lana Reid, founder of Conversations in Color, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community-building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.
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