Why Literacy Matters
1.5 million people in Wisconsin need help building literacy skills. With literacy support, adults and children:
- learn to read and understand math;
- earn their GED credential;
- understand their health;
- improve their spoken and written English; and
- build work readiness skills.
With Wisconsin Literacy, literacy programs across Wisconsin can gain strength and sustainability to do the groundwork. Donate to strengthen literacy statewide.
Recent Success Stories
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When Jacob first sought help with reading and speaking English, he only knew a few words of the language. That was more than eight years ago. Since then, his English has improved so much that he now translates for others in the local Hispanic community when they need to buy something or get medical care.
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In the 10 years since the Marinette and Oconto Counties Literacy Council was founded, the number of people in the area who speak English as a second language has increased. Many are immigrants who work at nearby dairy farms. Unlike more urban areas, low literacy is more common in the outlying areas of the two counties.
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Miriam Morales tackles challenges head on. Furloughed from her job as a dental assistant when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, she wanted financial stability and a better education to support her then three-year-old son.
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Thinking outside the box is more than a goal at the Latino Academy of Workforce Development. In fact, innovation is a key part of the strategy aimed at connecting students with career pathways.
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Mauro has come a long way – all the way from Mexico when he was 18, with limited English skills. His ability to speak English improved greatly in the past 40 years but reading and writing remained difficult. So, when he decided to become a U.S. citizen, he knew he’d need help. The civics test, comprised of 100 questions, is challenging even for those educated in the United States.
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Partnerships are the key to success for One-to-One Literacy in Manitowoc. The Manitowoc Public Library Foundation provides support for the program, which was established in 2014. Lakeshore Technical College, which has a satellite campus in Manitowoc, partners with the program by referring students and sharing materials.
