Since 2020
Transitional Housing and Personal Development
Our Founder
Annette Wise founded the Antonio Wise Foundation to help prevent the tragedies she witnessed her brother, Antonio, suffer through in the public education and prison systems before his untimely death. Feeling helpless and heartbroken she is inspired to provide inclusive communities that empower people to reach their full potential and live great lives.
With over 15 years as a residential service provider for developmentally disabled adults, she is utilizing her administrative experience and real estate profits to create housing solutions that address all aspects of successful re-entry to community life: work, education, health and wellness.
What Drives Us
Our Mission
The Antonio Wise Foundation mission is to provide temporary, drug and alcohol-free housing accommodations in a shared community for justice involved individuals who are experiencing housing insecurity.
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About Antonio
Antonio Wise was born in Japan, the fifth of six living children to William and Ruthie Wise. William was an Army enlistee, and Ruthie stayed at home with the six children. They were in their early 20s and uneducated, but both had exceptional intellectual abilities.
Antonio also had exceptional intellectual abilities but was unable to reach academic expectations. He started school while the family was stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia where he suffered numerous beatings and punishments for his academic failure in reading, writing, and spelling. A few years after returning to the United States, he was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. His mom spent so much time in the classroom trying to help Antonio complete enough work to pass, that she was eventually hired as a teacher’s aide for a few years. Attempting to find help for her son, Ruthie took Antonio to specialists in Napa, CA where he was tested and scored genius levels in many areas of the testing. Unfortunately, his parents were not able to afford the specialized help for him and he did not receive any interventions to prevent the worsening of the condition.
British American School, Asmara, Ethiopia. Kindergarten teacher advised to not pass to 1st grade.
Beginning middle school and beginning to lose hope.
Before final incarceration.
Middle school did not offer any help. He was assigned to the special ed classes held in trailers at the school perimeter. His classmates were developmentally disabled students, in wheelchairs, wearing helmets, nonverbal and physically deformed but Antonio was kind, patient, and protective with them. Vallejo public schools passed him each year and eventually awarded him a high school diploma without the ability to read well enough to take a driver’s license test. He was able to take that test orally.
His genius showed up in mechanical talents. He could rebuild a car engine, replace brakes, clutches, transmissions, etc. even though he needed someone to go to the auto parts store to look up the part numbers with him. He could take televisions and radios apart and put them back together.
Antonio was a big guy and is better known by his childhood nickname, Chubby. He became known as Chub in the streets where he adapted to violence and drug sales. Family life had also become highly dysfunctional as his parents battled each other during a bitter divorce lasting over 10 years. Then began his journey in and out of jail and prison.
This horrific journey ended with him being dumped at a motel on the edge of town by the California department of corrections. The concerned motel manager was able to reach his mother who found him delirious and dying. She called 911 and had him taken to the hospital where he passed shortly after.
Fortunately, Antonio left four beautiful and intelligent daughters, Jennifer, Jayme, Jasmine, and Jewel.