Women on the Rise

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About

ABOUT US

Women on the Rise is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Atlanta, Georgia. Led by formerly incarcerated women, our work reaches communities across the state of Georgia.

FOUNDED BY LIVED EXPERIENCE

A Movement Led by Those Most Impacted

Women on the Rise was founded in 2013 by two women who knew the system was stacked against those most impacted by it and believed change was possible. Marilynn Winn, a formerly incarcerated woman, and Xochitl Bervera, a longtime organizer, built the organization on a simple but powerful belief: those closest to the harm are closest to the solutions.
jail 6 jordan flaherty
robyn speaking at podium for event

Lived Experience Leads

Justice-Impacted Leadership

Women on the Rise is led by formerly incarcerated women. That’s not a footnote to our story—it’s the foundation of our work. We believe that those most impacted by incarceration must be at the center of the solutions.

Our staff, members, and board are deeply impacted by the criminal legal system—we have experienced its lasting consequences firsthand. Our lived experience shapes our analysis, drives our solutions, and strengthens our victories. Our impact on this movement is lasting because of our proximity to the work. Our leadership cannot be outsourced.

MEET Our Team

The People Leading the Work Forward

robyn
Director & CEO

Robyn Hasan-Simpson

Meet Robyn
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melodie
Director of Organizing & Leadership Development

Melodie "Pooh" Rosser

Meet Melodie
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trindalin
Reentry & Office Supervisor

Trindalin Browning

Meet Trindalin
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britney
Membership & Office Administrator

Britney Smith

Meet Britney
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ronnie
Campaign & Inside Organizing Lead

Ronnie Fuller

Meet Ronnie
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keisha
Reentry Specialist

Keisha Dickerson

Meet Keisha
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Guiding Our Mission

Board of Directors

julianne androshick
Board Member

Julianne Androshick

nneka tapia jones
Board Member

Nneka Tapia Jones

nicole d. porter
Board Member

Nicole D. Porter

tamika webb
Board Member

Tamika Webb

falica blakely
INSIDE BOARD MEMBER

Falicia Blakely

rosita stanley
IN LOVING MEMORY

Rosita Stanley

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robyn
Director & CEO

Robyn Hasan-Simpson

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Robyn Hasan-Simpson served 10 years inside of Georgia’s prison system and, while there, created a newsletter to help uplift and organize women inside.

She has also co-founded a statewide coalition to educate formerly incarcerated people to vote across Georgia called HOAPE (Helping Others Achieve Power and Equity). She launched Women on the Rise Inside, a cohort of Women on the Rise’s membership comprised of women currently serving time in Georgia state prisons. She has been featured in local and national news speaking about mass incarceration and voter disenfranchisement, including Time Magazine.

Robyn has completed fellowships with JustLeadershipUSA, Women Transcending Collective Leadership, and Women Organizing for Justice & Opportunity. She currently serves on the Board for the Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice, the Client Council Board for NLADA (National Legal Aid and Defender Association), and is the Chair for the Vision Committee for Fulton County Diversion Center’s Justice Policy Board. She resides in Atlanta with her husband, Ronald, and four-legged friend, Nova.

melodie
Director of Organizing & Leadership Development

Melodie "Pooh" Rosser

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Melodie Rosser is the Director of Organizing and Leadership Development at Women on the Rise GA, where she leads organizing, leadership development, membership engagement, coalition building, and advocacy efforts centered on women and communities directly impacted by incarceration.

After serving 20 years in Georgia’s prison system, Melodie transformed her lived experience into leadership, organizing, and policy advocacy. She is a Certified Peer Specialist and Forensic Peer Mentor and has completed extensive leadership, policy, and organizing training, including the Black Futures Policy Training, George Jackson School of Organizing, SBJ Leadership Training, and Mass Liberation Organizing Training.

Melodie has become a respected directly impacted voice in criminal justice and public policy advocacy. She has provided expert testimony and shared her lived-experience expertise with state senators, policymakers, and the United Nations International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement, helping decision-makers understand the real-life impact of incarceration, reentry barriers, parole, and systemic inequality.

Melodie was also an active member of the Play Fair ATL coalition, which organized to ensure that Atlanta’s preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup did not repeat harms experienced by vulnerable communities surrounding the 1996 Olympic Games. Through this work, Melodie became a frequently invited speaker, using her platform to advocate for the protection, dignity, and inclusion of unhoused people, formerly incarcerated people, and other vulnerable Atlanta residents as the city prepared to host a major international event.

Her work includes developing formerly incarcerated people into community leaders, organizing around criminal justice and public policy issues, building coalitions, conducting civic engagement and voter education, and advocating for policies shaped by those most directly affected.

Melodie is also a published author, with a letter to the editor published through Influential Women. She continues to use organizing, public speaking, policy advocacy, and leadership development to ensure formerly incarcerated people are not simply included in conversations about change, but are prepared, supported, and positioned to lead them.

trindalin
Reentry & Office Supervisor

Trindalin Browning

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Trindalin’s life story is one of resilience, compassion, and empowerment. Despite facing challenges, she has emerged as a beacon of hope and support for others, especially women transitioning back into society after incarceration. Her journey from Whitworth Women’s Facility to becoming a re-entry specialist exemplifies her commitment to using her experiences to uplift others.

During incarceration, Trindalin quickly began to see and understand that her time at Whitworth was an opportunity she could use to encourage others. Trindalin’s experience of incarceration provided her with a unique perspective and firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by justice-impacted women.

Trindalin’s incarceration equipped her to become a re-entry specialist because she learned to foster some of the following qualities from her lived experience: Empathy and Understanding, Firsthand Knowledge, Resilience and Resourcefulness, Credibility and Trust, and Motivation and Passion.

Trindalin’s incarceration not only shaped her understanding and skills but also made her a beacon of hope and a source of practical support for other women navigating reentry.

Trindalin’s nickname, “the Quiet Storm,” speaks volumes about her character. Though she may not seek the spotlight, her presence is impactful, quietly influencing those around her for the better. Her belief in the inherent value of every individual, regardless of their past or circumstances, underscores her work and interactions.

britney
Membership & Office Administrator

Britney Smith

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Britney Smith is the Membership & Office Administrator at Women on the Rise Georgia, where she combines professional training with lived experience to support justice-impacted individuals navigating reentry, recovery, and rebuilding their lives.

Over the course of 10 years, Britney experienced addiction and repeated incarceration in Georgia’s county jails. Each release required her to navigate reentry and the difficult process of rebuilding life on the outside. Having personally navigated reentry multiple times gave Britney practical insight into the barriers many justice-impacted women face when returning home. Her experiences allow her to support others navigating employment and housing challenges, access to resources, addiction recovery, motherhood, and the everyday realities of rebuilding stability after incarceration. She understands that successful reentry requires not only resources, but also guidance, encouragement, and support from people who understand how difficult starting over can be.

Britney pursued studies in Political Science at Howard University and Business Economics at Georgia State University and has professional experience in finance and real estate. Britney holds Certified Peer Specialist – Mental Health, Certified Forensic Peer Specialist, and Maternal Peer Support Certifications.

Britney uses her education, professional background, certifications, lived experience, and faith to connect people with resources, opportunities, and meaningful support. She believes that transformation begins with the small opportunities we are given each day to choose better, do better, and move forward—choices that, over time, open doors to new opportunities and an entirely new life.

Acts 5:19–20 reflects Britney’s heart for reentry and policy reform: “But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’”

ronnie
Campaign & Inside Organizing Lead

Ronnie Fuller

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Rev. Ronnie Fuller is the Lead Campaign & Reentry Organizer at Women on the Rise GA, where he supports advocacy, leadership development, reentry planning, and programming with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, he works at the intersection of reentry, parole policy, civic engagement, restorative justice, and systems change.

Rev.Fuller is a Certified Peer Specialist and Forensic Peer Mentor and has completed extensive training in transformational leadership, restorative justice, conflict resolution, career guidance, and workplace safety. He earned an Associate’s degree in Christian Ministry from International Christian College and Seminary with a 4.0 GPA and is continuing his education in Christian Leadership. He is also an ordained Reverend and Georgia Notary Public.

His leadership experience includes years of peer advocacy and institutional leadership while incarcerated, including serving as a Staff-Offender Communication Representative from 2015 to 2022, where he served as a liaison between incarcerated individuals and facility administration. Since returning home, he has expanded that experience into policy advocacy, coalition building, reentry support, public education, and direct engagement with lawmakers, corrections officials, parole stakeholders, legal professionals, and community organizations.

Rev. Fuller serves on the National Board of Directors of the Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration and on the Advisory Board of the Alyssa Rodriguez Center for Gender Justice. He is also the founder of More Than a Number – Behind Bars,Inc, an initiative that uses the arts, civic education, advocacy, and community engagement to empower justice-impacted people and advance meaningful second chances.

His work is grounded in developing practical solutions that strengthen reentry outcomes, expand civic participation, build leadership among directly impacted people, and promote greater transparency and accountability within the criminal legal system.

keisha
Reentry Specialist

Keisha Dickerson

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Keisha Dickerson is a Reentry Specialist and Health Campaign Organizer with Women on the Rise, where she advocates for justice, healthcare equity, and successful reentry for women impacted by incarceration.

Having served 15 years in the Georgia prison system, Keisha transformed her lived experience into a lifelong commitment to advocacy, education, and systemic change. She witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers affecting women, including inadequate healthcare, poor living conditions, limited access to quality nutrition, and obstacles to obtaining essential services. Rather than remain silent, she became a trusted advocate among her peers, educating and empowering women to understand their rights, navigate institutional systems, and advocate for the care and resources they deserved.

Keisha holds an Associate Degree in Medical Administrative Assisting (MAA) and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, further expanding her knowledge and understanding of the social systems, institutions, and inequalities that impact individuals and communities.

Today, Keisha works to improve healthcare continuity, expand access to Medicaid and other essential services, and strengthen reentry support for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration. She is passionate about advancing policies that promote health equity, reduce barriers to successful reentry, and create opportunities for lasting change.

Keisha believes that everyone deserves a second chance and that meaningful transformation begins with education, perseverance, and self-advocacy. Guided by her belief that knowledge is power, she inspires others with her personal motto:

“You have a voice—use it. It’s time to speak up and speak out.”