About Us
Our History
Our Partners
Our History
The Voices of Power was founded in 2024 by Aaron Hicks and Frank Davis to provide a space for individuals impacted by the criminal legal system to find their voice and drive meaningful change.
Our Vision
Our Partners
Our History
A society where every individual, regardless of their past, is equipped with the resources and belief to thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Our Partners
Our Partners
Our Partners
We are proud to partner with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a variety of local organizations to provide the best possible support to community members.
About the Founders
Aaron Hicks
Aaron Hicks is a passionate community leader who works tirelessly to support formerly incarcerated individuals and improve their mental health. He understands the challenges they face because he's faced them himself. He combines his lived experience with collaborative research efforts to find practical solutions and advocate for meaningful policy change. Through his work with community organizations and research partnerships, Aaron is making a real difference in the lives of many, proving that healing and positive change are possible.
Frank Davis
Community advocate and Inspirationist dedicated to breaking down barriers for Justice Impacted People. Having experienced the challenges of re-entry firsthand, Frank combines his lived experience with years of professional expertise to create meaningful change.
As someone who has navigated the complexities of life after incarceration, Frank leads with a deep understanding of the struggles faced by individuals coming home. His work ensures they are met with better opportunities, resources, and support systems than he once had. Frank firmly believes that solutions must come from those who truly understand the journey—from people who have lived it.
By blending personal insight with collaborative efforts, Frank is building bridges for others to succeed. His commitment is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and a shared vision for a better future.
Board Members
Deborah Mejchar
Cecelia Klingele
Cecelia Klingele
Deb Mejchar is a Chaplain with certification in grief counseling who worked for 17 years in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. She works with the Prison Ministry Project on bringing restorative justice programs to prisons across Wisconsin. A Certified Peer Specialist, she walks alongside incarcerated peer specialists who serve others while serving time, and she has received additional Train the Trainer certification. She co-facilitates our community advisory board and contributes to research projects on restorative justice and mindfulness during reentry.
Cecelia Klingele
Cecelia Klingele
Cecelia Klingele
Dr. Cecelia Klingele is a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
https://law.wisc.edu/profiles/cecelia.klingele
Dennis Franklin
Cecelia Klingele
Dr. Jimmy Cheffen Jr
As a trained peer specialist, Dennis has a wealth of lived experience walking with individuals working through past & present traumas. Having spent 19.2 years total in incarceration, Dennis participated in many groups, mentoring many he encountered along his journey. After incarceration, Dennis has worked in the community, walking with individuals who are formally incarcerated & those wanting to surround themselves with a supportive network.
Dr. Jimmy Cheffen Jr
Dr. Jimmy Cheffen Jr
Dr. Jimmy Cheffen Jr
Dr. Jimmy Cheffen (E.D., Texas Tech University) serves as Community Impact Manager of the Division of Culture Climate and Culture at Madison College and is the host and organizer of the podcast The Navigationalists, which interviews scholars, researchers, and authors to discover navigational strategies for underrepresented faculty and staff. Throughout his 20 years of higher education experience, he has worked to dismantle the hierarchies of race, body, gender, abilities, and other concepts to enhance the retention of underrepresented faculty, staff, and students. His recently published work is “Navigating Higher Ed for a Sense of Belonging” in the book Belonging in Higher Ed: Perspectives and Lessons from Diverse Faculty.
Janie Ocejo
Dr. Jimmy Cheffen Jr
Janie Ocejo
Janie Ocejo currently serves as the Administrative Coordinator at Madison College's Center for Reentry Education, which provides higher education programming in 8 of Wisconsin correctional facilities and on campus. She previously served as the Program Coordinator for the Peer Support Initiative and the Bilingual Resource Specialist at Just Dane, leveraging her expertise as a certified peer specialist and her lived expertise as a former participant. Before becoming a staff person, Janie served on the Board of Directors for Just Dane. Other professional roles include serving as a Relief Counselor at ARC Maternal & Infant Program, a residential treatment center, as well as a statewide coordinator and advocate with the field of domestic violence, a social services and interpreter coordinator at a community health center and has worked at an independent living center in WI.
Janie is a board member for Chrysalis and Uptown Sanctuary, and continues to be involved with several other local, state, and national groups that operate at the intersection of mental health, substance use, trauma, and other barriers individuals entering or exiting the carceral system face. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social welfare and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as graduate credits in social work. Janie has been a recipient of awards that have recognized her work and volunteer activities. Janie also received a Pardon from WI’s Governor Tony Evers in 2024.