September 2020 | Your connection to literacy tips, trainings and resources
In this Issue:
  • How to Advocate for Literacy
  • Make Literacy a Priority This AEFL Week
  • Refugee Advisory Council Update
  • New Virtual Plain Language Series
  • Virtual Adult Education Workshop Series
  • Discounted Zoom Licenses
  • From Paper to Pixels: Literacy Services' 55th Anniversary Celebration
  • Fiesta Week: Support Casa Guadalupe Education Center
  • Meet Yannick from Literacy Services of Wisconsin
  • Member Spotlight: Literacy Services of Wisconsin
  • Racial Justice Resources
Advocacy News
How to Advocate for Literacy
What does it mean to “advocate” for an organization or cause, and how do you do it?

People advocate to draw attention, change and resources to a cause.

You can advocate in different ways. For example, you can:
  • talk to friends and neighbors about an issue that needs their support. 
  • contact influencers, such as elected officials, who can address your issue through policy changes, new legislation, funding or awareness. 

Click below for advocacy tips from a staffer who received advocacy calls for a Senator.
AEFL Week Logo
Make Literacy a Priority This AEFL Week
September 20-26 is Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (#AEFLWeek).

We must engage policymakers, the media, and communities to make literacy a priority.

Wisconsin Literacy will talk to state representatives about the importance of literacy and their commitment to support it. Watch us on Facebook.

How will your agency recognize AEFL Week?

  • Set up a meeting with your state legislator with help from Michele Erikson.
  • Follow #AEFLWeek for news and updates
  • Share your own messages about adult education and family literacy on social media. Go to ProLiteracy's Toolkit for suggestions.
  • Contact your local radio and television stations to highlight an adult literacy success story

Engage elected representatives and the media with:
Refugee Advisory Council Update
Anna Bierer, Northeast Regional Literacy Consultant, serves on the Refugee Advisory Committee in the Department of Children and Families as part of our advocacy work.

Here are updates from the August 12 meeting:

  • The Refugee Section is becoming its own Bureau under the Division of Family and Economic Security (in the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families). This will elevate the profile of refugee programs in the state.

  • Refugee resettlement resumed in the United States on August 1. We anticipate a surge of new refugee resettlement in the coming few months. Refugees self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving.
Professional Development
New Virtual Plain Language Training
Now that we’re connecting primarily through phone, virtual meetings and email, clear communication is more important than ever. 

Wisconsin Literacy offers a new virtual training series around plain language, with introductory prices. (Literacy members get a discount. See your RLC/RCC for more information.)

Plain language strategies:
  • save time and money by getting your message across faster.
  • motivate your readers to act quickly and accurately.
  • reduce time you spend prompting readers, clarifying questions, and correcting errors.

Learn more or register for upcoming trainings at: https://wisconsinliteracy.org/training/virtual-plain-language.html
Virtual Workshop Series
Literacy Services of Wisconsin, in partnership with the YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin, is offering a virtual workshop series this fall that will focus on the foundational aspects of adult literacy education.

This series has been developed to support staff, volunteers, partners, and other friends of literacy in thinking more deeply about how they can actively facilitate and enhance their online and distance learning courses in a COVID-19 world.

Topics include:
  • Assessments
  • Lesson Planning
  • Student Experience
  • Adult Learning Theory
  • Strategies
  • ELL Instruction

You can sign up for individual courses with the button below.
Resources and Funding Opportunities
Many of you have been using Zoom to offer virtual instruction.

To help ease any unexpected strain on your budget, ProLiteracy negotiated a discounted price for Zoom licenses.

Here’s what you need to know:
  • The price: $96/year ($8/month) per license. A normal Zoom license is $14.99/month. Our price saves you $84 a year per license.
  • Each license includes one 500 seat meeting space and one 500 seat webinar space, plus training and support.

Click here to learn more and sign up. If you have questions, contact zoomsupport@proliteracy.org.
Member Events
From Paper to Pixels
Literacy Services' 55th Anniversary Celebration
Save the date!
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
7:00 pm

With fifty-five years of support, Literacy Services of Wisconsin has transformed, expanded, and innovated to become a leader in adult education service delivery.

As their current programming has transitioned to the digital realm in response to COVID-19, so has their annual fundraiser.

Join them to celebrate from the comfort of your home!

Help them honor some of the inspiring individuals who exemplify the history, spirit, and future of LSW. Connect with live chat and share your virtual hugs, applause, and inspiring stories. Your support will help them continue to provide valuable educational opportunities to our diverse community.
Fiesta Week
Support Casa Guadalupe Education Center
Join Casa Guadalupe for Fiesta Week September 27th - October 2nd.

To support them:


  • get dine in or carry out at participating restaurants. A portion of the sales benefit Casa Guadalupe.

All funds raised will help them continue education programs for the local Latino community and build a scholarship fund for Latino high school students in our Dream to Succeed Program!

Want to donate a raffle prize? Let them know at noelle@casaguadalupeonline.org.
Success Stories
Meet Yannick from Literacy Services of Wisconsin
Yannick, a student with Literacy Services of Wisconsin, arrived in the United States from Cameroon a few years ago.

He was hired to work on the floor at Penzey's Spices. As a native French speaker, he had trouble with the speed and content of American speech, so he enrolled at LSW. Yannick has a degree in Engineering, as well as experience in computer science. He and his tutor began to explore what he could offer his employer beyond the job description for which he was hired.
Member Spotlight:
Literacy Services of Wisconsin
"We're trying to look at the broader impact of our work and how adult literacy is interconnected to so many issues. How it impacts families and communities when we engage adults in the different programs that we offer."

Holly McCoy, Executive Director of Literacy Services of Wisconsin, shares why adult literacy is essential to building stronger communities.
Racial Justice Resources
Julie McKinney from the Institute for Healthcare Advancement shares two resources with our network. They were written to help people with intellectual disabilities understand the current outrage and protesting around racism in the U.S.
Free Online Courses on Race, Racism, and Racial Justice
Many of us want to learn how we can contribute to the movement and be an ally.

Try the free college-level courses listed on BestColleges.com to learn how you can be an ally: https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/online-courses-racial-justice/.
Thank You
Please send news you want to share to info@wisconsinliteracy.org so we can include it in the October 2019 e-news.

Thank you for your support!

Wisconsin Literacy is a proud member of:
211 S. Paterson St., Suite 170, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 257-1655 | info@wisconsinliteracy.org | wisconsinliteracy.org