Waleisah Wilson is Founder and Executive Director of NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit that provides employment-related services to individuals who have been directly impacted by a criminal record. Driven to enact lasting positive change in her community, she and her associates are raising awareness and doing the work to disrupt a system known to be biased, unsympathetic and too often careless in the way it enforces its policies. She is an impassioned advocate for the reform, removal and abolishment of the bail system, mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, the death penalty, sentencing laws, stigmas associated with having a criminal record, and felony disenfranchisement.
Additionally, she works to root out voter suppression and the discriminatory policies that criminalize Blacks, immigrants, the poor, disabled and those of the LGBTQ community. She is a champion of disability justice and immigrant rights, and is driven by the understanding that “we are people FIRST and… when given the tools and opportunity to be successful, we EXCEL!”
Waleisah is also Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Recruiting & Employment Services, LLC. The firm specializes in helping small businesses and nonprofit organizations fulfill their recruiting and staffing needs in an ethical, efficient and effective way, while building lifelong relationships. She and her team provide solutions to support and empower their customers, and also offers team training.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Stillman College, Waleisah went on to complete dual master’s degrees: in Human Services with a specialization in Social and Community Services from Capella University, and in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Walden University. She holds postgraduate certification in Criminal Justice and was a 2020 Soros Justice Fellow, a 2019 leader in Southerners On New Ground’s Black Leadership cohort The Lorde’s Werq, and a 2017 JustLeadershipUSA Leading with Conviction Fellow. Most recently, she has been recognized as a 2022 Represent Justice Ambassador.
Currently, Waleisah sits on the board of directors for NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc., OAA, the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (GCHEP), the Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration (EMI) and Restore Georgia, a new 501c3 that advocates for the changing of Georgia’s sex offense laws. She recently facilitated a “faith and reentry” training for the deacon postulants of the Diocese of Atlanta and the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center at The Cathedral of St. Philip.
Based in Atlanta, Waleisah credits her success to being a professional, organized, outspoken, compassionate, hard-working, humble and passionate leader and team player.
Worldwide Women’s Association Member Waleisah Wilson can be found on the Association Directory, where she is looking forward to networking with you.
