Obstacles are overcome and barriers are knocked down on a daily basis at Literacy Services. There are truly
no limits
to what our students can accomplish!
But these accomplishments are only achieved through the dedication and support of the entire LSW community: students, staff, volunteers, partner organizations, and donors providing financial support.
I hope you received our letter a week ago introducing you to
Tarin
. As a student at LSW, Tarin has been busy shrugging off limitations and reaching towards her educational potential.
English language acquisition was the initial objective for Tarin, and that fed her ambition to earn a high school credential.
During her journey, Tarin spent time in all three of our program areas: English Language Learning, Adult Basic Education, and Adult Secondary Education. Hers is a powerful example of the impact of our collective and comprehensive community.
Financial support is a critical piece of this learning community
.
In a couple of weeks, many more students like Tarin will look toward the future with limitless possibilities at the
MATC Winter Commencement
!
Seventy-seven Literacy Services students will walk across the Cooley Auditorium stage at MATC and receive their GED or HSED diplomas on December 19
th
.
Support the continuum of student success with your gift today.
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Your donations support our world-class programs and help us reach more students, engage more community volunteers, impact more lives, and empower more adults to learn and grow. Thank you for your investment in our mission! LSW is always open to hearing additional ways that you may want to support our mission. Here are some ideas that we would like to share with you.
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Did you know...
that many Milwaukee-area employers have matching gift programs?
This means the employer will match every $1 that an employee gives to charity; a $20 donation becomes $40, $100 can become $200! This holiday season, consider asking if your employer offers to match charitable gifts. Make your own gift go TWICE as far! Click on the MATCH button to see a listing of some of the Milwaukee-area companies that match the donations of their employees.
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Did you know...
that you may be able to enjoy an additional charitable contribution tax benefit if you donate long-term appreciated stock instead of cash? Two benefits from one gift! Contact
Chad Knezel
at 414-344-5878 or
chad@literacyservices.org
.
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A New Citizen’s Voting Journey
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In their weekly tutoring lesson, Downtown ELL tutor Bobbie discovered that her student Paw, a refugee from Burma and a naturalized U.S. citizen, had never voted. Bobbie decided to help Paw get registered to vote, and so began an educational journey in civic engagement outside of the walls of LSW.
First, Bobbie accompanied her student to the Department of Motor Vehicles to update her address because Paw’s family had recently bought their own home. Paw had brought a utility bill as proof of the new address, but didn’t realize until they were at the DMV office that the bill was in her husband’s name. They returned to the DMV the next morning, proper proof of residency in hand, only to discover that Paw’s name was recorded incorrectly on her Social Security paperwork. Apparently, someone had misunderstood her name and misspelled it on her original application. But Bobbie and Paw would not die the proverbial death by a thousand papercuts; they were undeterred. They went to the Social Security office to correct the mistake, and then back to the DMV to finally get her license updated.
With updated and correct identification, Paw and Bobbie went to City Hall. Paw registered to vote and she and Bobbie took that opportunity to vote early. Afterward they walked into the ELL classroom, their voting stickers proudly displayed like well-earned badges of honor, and they received heaps of praise from the ELL program staff. Congratulations to Paw on completing her mission and casting her first vote!
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October was a busy month for ABE student Andrea. She spent most of her time talking to family, friends, neighbors, anyone who would listen – and even some who wouldn’t – about the importance of voting in the midterm election. Every election, Andrea organizes a massive voting effort to get everyone she knows to the polls. She has been leading this effort for years and, though it started small, she now succeeds at getting nearly 80 friends and family members to meet at City Hall and vote early, together.
Noting her female relatives are easy to engage, Andrea focused her energy on recruiting her male cousins, nephews, uncles, sons, and their friends. She took them to libraries to get them registered and to the DMV to get proper photo IDs. She told them, “Let’s not make up excuses. Let’s get it done.”
Andrea has taught her children the importance of voting from an early age. “I told my kids, ‘The best thing you can do is vote.’ I have 10 kids and only two didn’t vote – only because they are underage.”
A few years ago, her son asked her why she pushed them so hard to vote. She responded, “If you don’t vote, you ain’t got no voice. And if you got no voice, you can’t be heard.” Although she has her own strong political views, Andrea encourages her family to learn about issues from multiple viewpoints and make their own choices. She tells them, “You don’t have to pick who I pick, just vote. It’s your decision; it’s your voice.”
As the election approached, Andrea organized carpools and gave everyone two weeks’ notice of the meeting date. Though her grandmother fell ill a week before the family went to vote, they brought her to City Hall in a wheelchair. Those who couldn’t meet the group sent Andrea pictures of themselves wearing their “I Voted” stickers to prove they’d done their civic duty.
“Our votes count. They hear us,” Andrea stated proudly. She’s already talking about 2020 and plans to start a Facebook group so her family and friends can post their “I Voted” pics for all to see.
“We want to show people that this family votes and we believe in [voting],” Andrea said. “If you don’t speak out, you don’t have a say.”
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MATC City-Wide GED/HSED Graduation
Literacy Services of Wisconsin
will be participating in the
MATC GED/HSED Graduation
o
n Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 at Cooley Auditorium on MATC's Downtown Milwaukee Campus from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
LSW will have 10 GED graduates and 67 HSED graduates represented at this event.
That is a total of 77 graduates!
There will be 2 students receiving their Healthcare Customer Services Certificates from MATC who completed their HSED with LSW in the summer of 2018.
LSW will also have 10 graduates from the Construction HSED program in partnership with
WRTP/BIG STEP
participating in the ceremony.
This event is free and open to the public.
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Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
November 13 - December 16, 2018
In this clever and charming sequel to Jane Austen’s masterwork written by the most-produced playwright in America in 2017, the bookish and oft-forgotten middle child of the Bennet family finally has her day. An unexpected guest sparks Mary’s hopes for independence and the chance to be the heroine of her own story. Told with exceptional modern wit and dazzling period style, this romantic comedy will delight Austen aficionados and newcomers alike.
Get 25% OFF
tickets for Literacy Services community members!
Use code
AUSTEN when ordering at 414-224-9490 or
www.MilwaukeeRep.com (*Limit 4 tickets. Subject to availability. Not valid for Nov. 16 or Dec. 10-16. Other restrictions apply. Offer expires Nov. 12.)
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Bring your books!
For the duration of the performances, The Rep will be hosting a book-drive to benefit Literacy Services!
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December
6th -
Volunteer Orientation
9:30-10:30am
18th -
Student Honors Celebration
11:45am-1:30pm - Downtown Center
19th -
Winter GED/HSED Graduation
Save the date!
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Winter Break
-
Agency Closed
December 24th - January 4th
Classes resume January 7th
Follow local media announcements for weather-related closings, call our office, or check our website to verify if we have canceled classes due to inclement weather.
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January
9th -
Volunteer Orientation
9:30-10:30am
21st -
Agency Closed
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
22nd -
Volunteer Orientation
5:30-6:30pm
February
7th -
Volunteer Orientation
9:30-10:30am
20th -
Volunteer Orientation
5:30-6:30pm
March
5th -
Volunteer Orientation
9:30-10:30am
19th -
Volunteer Orientation
5:30-6:30pm
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Welcome Our Newest Staff Members
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Brian Engling
Assistant Program Director/Instructor - North ResCare Learning Lab
I come to Literacy Services with a Bachelor’s degree in English education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a background in sustainable landscaping and agriculture. The opportunity to serve the people of Milwaukee in a truly student-centered environment is what motivates and excites me most about joining Literacy Services of Wisconsin. In addition to UWM, I have attended Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute.
Born in the driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin and raised near the terminal moraine of Sauk County, I came to Milwaukee in 1990. As the son of a nurse and a school food service administrator, I grew up seeing work as service to people. Over the last 35 years, I have worked as a bread baker, a market gardener, a reporter at a small town newspaper, and a teacher in urban schools. I have planted and harvested cranberries, picked apples and pressed cider, and bartended at jazz clubs. I have experience with spice grinding and blending, coffee and tea service, and farmers’ markets. While landscaping, I worked on an exceptional variety of projects throughout Milwaukee county, including storm water mitigation, conservation and restoration, public trails and parks, and erosion control.
Literacy Services of Wisconsin is uniquely situated to provide adult educational services to some of the people of Milwaukee who need it most, and I am thrilled to be a part of it through the HSED 5.09 program and the ResCare Learning Lab.
My wife and I have a son in high school and a home in Wauwatosa. We enjoy music, traveling near and far, and spending time with family, friends, and dogs.
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Corrie Kennedy
Volunteer Coordinator
I am excited to be joining Literacy Services in the new Volunteer Coordinator position. Passionate about access to education and instilling the love of learning in our community, I am glad to have this opportunity at such a welcoming and inspiring organization. My background is in nonprofit management; I previously worked as a volunteer coordinator at a creative reuse store and interned at an adult literacy organization in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Through both experiences, I have developed endless appreciation for the work and dedication volunteers give to their communities.
New to the Milwaukee area, I am happy to find how kind and generous people are and I enjoy meeting new people every day. In my free time, I enjoy reading, making handmade books, cuddling with my cats, and walking nature trails around the city. My desk is in the ELL tutoring space at the Downtown location; please stop by and introduce yourself. I would love to meet you and learn how you got involved with LSW, what brings you joy, or any secret talents you’d like to share.
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Ginger Kinyon
MC3 HSED Instructor - Racine
I’m thrilled to be joining Literacy Services of Wisconsin. To be a part of an organization that reaches so many people in need is very exciting. Coming from a working-class family, I know how important the construction trades are in providing a comfortable living. I’m grateful to be helping my new students progress in their lives by being a part of their journey in working toward the construction trades.
I graduated from UW-Parkside with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a certification in teaching. I began my teaching career in 2005, and returned to school to earn my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, graduating in 2009. I’ve enjoyed teaching both elementary and middle school students for the past 12 years.
My most fulfilling moments from teaching are when my past students take the time to reach out to tell me how my classroom impacted their lives. As a teacher, I was very active in our teacher’s union and social justice. I participated in various campaigns and committees, fighting for both my students and fellow teachers to have better learning and teaching conditions.
My husband, Tim, our son, Sam, and I live in Racine. I enjoy reading, cooking, gardening, camping, and music. We’re looking forward to adding a new furry member to our family soon.
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