- A Quick Look at National Volunteer Month
- COVID-19 Community Outreach Grant
- Southeast Regional Adult Literacy Symposium
- Southwest/South Central Regional Meeting
- Northwest Regional Meeting
- Northeast/North Central Regional Meeting
- Fox Valley Literacy Seeking an Adult Literacy Program Specialist
- 74 interview: Black mothers on parent activism, self-determination and the fight for educational change post-pandemic
- Badger Bounceback Session on Education Today!
- Advocate Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic Events
- Meet Matt from Shawano County Literacy Council
- Member Spotlight: Shawano County Literacy Council
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A Quick Look at National Volunteer Month |
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Like the brightness of spring flowers, volunteers brighten the lives of students around our state. Whether they are tutors, trainers, office assistants, board members or even cookie bakers, literacy instruction would be hard-pressed to happen without them.
Marsha Connet, Southeast Regional Consultant, shares a brief history of volunteerism in America and tips on how to thank your volunteers.
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COVID-19 Community Outreach Grant |
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Wisconsin Literacy received a COVID-19 Community Outreach Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The goal of the project is to address COVID-19 information, misinformation and vaccination hesitancy in 35 communities statewide.
Wisconsin Health Literacy will co-create and implement with member agencies and community partners, a COVID-19 vaccination train-the-trainer (TtT) program with easy-to-read curriculum, talking, points, and other resources that literacy staff and tutors can share with their communities.
For more information, contact Anna Bierer, Northeast Regional Literacy Consultant at anna@wisconsinliteracy.org or (920) 212-1649.
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Southeast Regional Adult Literacy Symposium |
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Monday, April 19, 2021 - Friday, April 23, 2021
Sponsored by Wisconsin Literacy and Literacy Services of Wisconsin
Participate in sessions for volunteers, staff and instructors. Topics include health literacy/Finding Reliable Health Information on the Internet, Making Math Fun for Low Level Learners, a Director’s Roundtable, Adapting ELL Strategies and much more.
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Southwest/South Central Regional Meeting |
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Monday, April 19, 2021 from 9:00 am - 3:45 pm
Are you a Wisconsin Literacy member or partner in the Southwest/South Central Region? Contact Beth Gaytan at beth@wisconsinliteracy.org to register for the regional meeting.
Topics include:
- What’s Working Well in Our Region
- Introduction to TABE Mastery: Ann Beeson (New Reader’s Press)
- Virtual Literacy Activities for Kids
- Networking sessions:
- Learner screening, registration, and orientation
- Supporting families during virtual learning
- Working with your local technical college
- Virtual connections – keeping in touch and celebrating successes
- Teaching pronunciation virtually
- Managing Multiple Priorities and Interruptions: Dr. Michael Leitz, Leadership and Training Specialist (Accent Learning and Consulting)
- What’s Next – Plans for 2021
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Northwest Regional Meeting |
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Tuesday, April 27, 2021 from 9:00 am - 3:45 pm
Are you a Wisconsin Literacy member or partner in the Northwest Region?
Agenda:
- 9:00- 9:45 "Welcome, Introductions and Agency Updates"
- 9:45-10:45 "Building Recognition-Sharing Your Agency’s Story" with Liz Fitzpatrick, Data and Communications Manager. We will discuss best practices for reaching your target audience and some tools that can help you share your agency story effectively and efficiently.
- 11:00- 12:00 "Reading Strategies for Beginning and Emerging Readers" with Anna Bierer, NE/NC Regional Literacy Consultant. The strategies are adapted for virtual tutoring and small group instruction.
- 12:45-1:00 "Wisconsin Literacy Board- Member Representation" with Liz Hart-Executive Director, Literacy Chippewa Valley, board member
- 1:00-2:00 "Making Connections with your local Workforce Resources" with Patti Huse- Workforce Readiness Specialist
- 2:00-3:00 "How to Engage Learners through Book Clubs" with Cheryl Hernandez, Executive Director, and Cassie Christianson, Program Coordinator, Kenosha Literacy Council.
- 3:00-3:30 Final Thoughts and Announcements
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Northeast/North Central Regional Meeting |
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Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Agenda:
- 12:30-1:15 "Learner Recruitment and Retention" - Autumn Burton, Chief Program Officer & Director of Student Services, and Karen Coccioli, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Literacy Kansas City
- 1:25-2:10 Networking Breakouts
- 1:25-1:45 Session 1 (with Literacy Kansas City)
- "Involving Learners in Program Design"
- "Solutions for Virtual Connection and Recruiting Tech Savvy Volunteers"
- 1:50-2:10 Session 2
- "Intake and Assessments"
- "Online Tutor Training"
- 2:15-3:00 "Wisconsin Indian Education Resources – Knowing Your Neighbors" - Julie Schultz, Adult Education Coordinator/Instructor, Menominee Tribal Education
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Resources and Funding Opportunities |
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American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation Community Grantmaking |
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The American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation, Inc builds on a long-standing commitment and support of communities they serve by offering unrestricted, general operating grants to eligible non-profit 501(c)(3) partners.
The Dreams Foundation grant funding priorities are Academic Achievement and Education, Healthy Youth Development, Economic Opportunity, and Basic Needs. These priorities align with their organizational efforts to invest in and improve the communities where they serve.
Application Deadline: April 15th
Resources:
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Fox Valley Literacy Seeking an Adult Literacy Program Specialist |
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The position assists in the coordination and delivery of English Language Learning and Adult Basic Education services. The position helps coordinate all aspects of the English Language Learning and Adult Education programs, including learner recruitment, evaluations, matching learners with tutors, and on-going support of the matched pairs. The position also provides support necessary in the daily operations of Fox Valley Literacy. The Adult Literacy Specialist works as part of a team with other staff and volunteers to help carry out the mission of Fox Valley Literacy.
The full time (40 hours) Adult Education Program Specialist position offers competitive compensation, great time off benefits, health insurance and will average around 40 hours per week, Monday-Thursday. Benefits include 2 weeks of paid vacation, flexible hours, earned sick leave, and paid holidays including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
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74 interview: Black mothers on parent activism, self-determination and the fight for educational change post-pandemic |
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Abstract the article:
Since the late 19th century, Black women have taken a more active role in leading organizing efforts in their communities. From churches to beauty shops, to bus stops and schools, they carried out coalition-building efforts that drove change and, as a result, helped shape some of our most notable social movements.
More recently, we witnessed Black women, such as Georgia voting rights powerhouse Stacey Abrams, become the backbone of political organizing, proving to our nation that when they lead, communities at large benefit.
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Badger Bounceback Session on Education Today! |
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The Badger Bounceback Live Session on "What’s Best for Our Kids" will cover topics such as ensuring every kid has access to a high-quality, public education, providing mental health supports for students at schools, special education reimbursement rates, expanding access to early childhood education and childcare, and investing in our higher education institutions.
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Advocate Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic Events |
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Advocate Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic is hosting classes virtual on Zoom so that they can reach statewide. All events feature COVID-19 education re proper mask wearing, PPE and social distancing.
All languages are welcome.
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Story time and bedtime story/ PJ Party feature children’s books that address emotional health wellness and stress reduction for youth and their parents. This is hosted by a veteran primary school teacher and educational consultant / Welcome Neighbor Volunteer and CHW. Rona Wolfe, volunteer and former teacher reads the story in English and all of AWPCC CHWs are present for support. |
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Every Monday and Saturday from 1:45 -2:45 PM via zoom |
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Children Reading Time is an ESL interactive group conversational practice hosted by CHW. |
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If your clients are interested in attending contact Po Too Po.Too@aah.org.
If you would like more information about the development of these events and how your community might mimic or build on what is being done, contact Kai Gardner Mishlove LawandaKai.GardnerMishlove@aah.org
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Meet Matt from Shawano County Literacy Council |
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Having been raised working in the family business, Matt developed a strong work ethic from a young age, “I was very lucky to have that background from my parents making me work in that shop when we were young.” However, he was limited in opportunities to grow professionally.
He went to Shawano County Literacy Council to improve his reading and writing, helping him to better manage his landscape and supplies business.
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Member Spotlight:
Shawano County Literacy Council
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Shawano County Literacy Council, a volunteer run organization nestled in rural Wisconsin, works with English language learners and adults who want to improve their reading and writing, many of whom work on farms.
With volunteer dedication, they are 27 years strong. "I’m proud of the dedication of our tutors especially this past year. We navigated tutoring virtually with willingness and a can do spirit,” says Melody Boyd, Board Chair and tutor.
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Thank you for your support!
Wisconsin Literacy is a proud member of:
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211 S. Paterson St., Suite 170, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 257-1655 | info@wisconsinliteracy.org | wisconsinliteracy.org
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