Jared Kushner will visit Milwaukee Tuesday to discuss prison reentry programs

Jared Kushner, a senior adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump, will visit Milwaukee to discuss skills training for former inmates Tuesday, the same day President Donald Trump is set to hold a rally in the heart of downtown.

Kushner will join U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican senator from Wisconsin, and Ja'Ron Smith, deputy assistant to the president, to participate in a discussion about second-chance hiring and skills training.

Kushner's visit follows the first anniversary of the First Step Act, legislation aimed at overhauling the criminal justice system in an effort to reduce the number of people in the nation’s prisons and help former inmates rejoin society.

The discussion will also focus on The Joseph Project, an initiative that Johnson helped launch in late 2015 when he partnered with Pastor Jerome Smith of Greater Praise Church of God in Christ to link inner-city workers from Milwaukee to jobs in Sheboygan County. Classes have also been held in Madison and Wausau.

The Joseph Project is a faith-based effort named after a book by conservative Robert L. Woodson, who advocates for community- and faith-based programs to restore neighborhoods and reduce crime and violence.

The Joseph project also offers weeklong sessions to teach participants skills aimed at helping them get and maintain jobs, and connects participants with job opportunities.

"The First Step Act is a testament to the Trump Administration’s historic and bold efforts to uplift and revitalize America's forgotten communities through criminal justice reform, workforce development opportunities, job creation, and so much more," Kushner said in a statement. "I look forward to learning more about Senator Johnson's work in Wisconsin and exploring ways we can expand our efforts to partner with state and local leaders to better serve communities across the nation."

Smith, former Joseph Project participants and others are also expected to participate

Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS or Facebook at facebook.com/mary.spicuzza.