Step into History:
Onesimus Beyond The Bible

A parallel narrative of why we call ourselves Onesimus arises from an enslaved African in 18th century Boston.

His owner, Cotton Mather, gave him that name based on the Onesimus of Scripture. Onesimus purchased his freedom from Cotton Mather in 1716 and disappeared off the pages of history. However, before he disappeared he taught Cotton Mather the procedure of inoculation, which was unknown in Boston.

What Onesimus taught Cotton Mather became America’s first lesson on how to vaccinate itself against smallpox, which ended up being responsible for the deaths of at least 1000 Bostonians. In 2016 Onesimus was voted among the 100 Best Bostonians of all time for the development of inoculation in Boston and the United States.

True to his name, Onesimus was an asset and made an invaluable contribution to society that many at the time were not able to see and appreciate. They could not get past his race and social status (or non-status). This Onesimus also fits in the narrative of this organization. We see Onesimus (our constituents) as assets who are capable of making great and impactful contributions to society as we see past that which would normally stigmatize.

The men and women in Wisconsin who have been helping change the landscape of re-entry, working as stakeholders and paving the way for those returning home and establishing connection points for those waiting to return home have been men and women who were formerly incarcerated... Onesimus.