Mission and approach
Why we do this work
Breaking Barriers Mentoring is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit serving youth, young adults, and adults who have been directly or systemically impacted by incarceration. We unite community leaders, mentors, and organizers to provide support at both the individual and community level for people facing systemic barriers to success.
Our vision
We envision communities where people affected by incarceration and systemic barriers have the relationships, resources, opportunities, and power to build safe, healthy, and self-determined futures.
Six pillars
Credible Mentorship
Mentors with lived experience who show up consistently and are trusted by the people they walk beside.
Leadership Development
Young people practice leading — planning projects, speaking up, and guiding peers.
Wellness and Healing
Movement, mindfulness, and connection as everyday tools for stress, grief, and pressure.
Conflict Resolution
Conflict-resolution education and peer mediation that keep disagreements from becoming harm.
Opportunity Pathways
Practical steps toward work, training, and education after systemic setbacks.
Community Partnership
Shared work with residents, schools, and organizations so change holds at the neighborhood level.
Who we serve
Youth and Young Adults
Young people facing systemic barriers who want mentorship, leadership, and a path forward.
Adults Impacted by Incarceration
People returning home or living with the long reach of the criminal legal system.
Families and Caregivers
Parents, guardians, and relatives holding households together through hard seasons.
Wisconsin Communities
Neighborhoods organizing for safety, opportunity, and self-determination.