Meet Our Heroes

Literacy Learner of the Year

She was an accountant in Vietnam who came to the United States 17 years ago.  When she arrived, Loan did not have the English skills necessary to continue her career here, she struggled to communicate, and she couldn’t drive her daughter with special needs to medical appointments.  Since 2007, she has been studying with Sandy, her tutor from Literacy Green Bay. Loan now has her driver’s license, is a U.S. citizen, and works full-time as a licensed nail stylist.

Outstanding Achievement in Workforce

Leddy Luebke, a bilingual Human Resources representative with Quad, recognized the growing need for employees at Quad to improve their English language skills.  Their 12-hour work days posed a barrier to attending classes at Casa Guadalupe Education Center in the Hartford community.  Leddy spoke with department supervisors and touted the benefits of Quad employees improving English proficiency, which eventually lead to basic and advanced English classes on site at their Hartford plant.  

Innovative Program of the Year

Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Innovative Program of the Year, has an internship program in partnership with the Dane County Highway Department. The internship prepares adults for their class A Commercial Driver's License, allowing them to operate big rig trucks and other commercial vehicles. Jobs in this field often start at about $20 an hour, a wage that makes all the difference for learners like Andres Velazco. Before participating in this internship, Andres, a father of 5, struggled to make ends meet even though he worked multiple jobs.

Outstanding Achievement in Health Literacy

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Outstanding Achievement in Health Literacy winner, uses trauma-informed care and recovery approach to shift the Tribe's culture of health. Behavioral health visits at the tribal clinic have increased, school suspension rates have decreased, and graduation rates have improved from 60% to over 90% since 2008. The Menominee Nation continues to heal and recover, making policy and systemic changes that promote long-lasting positive outcomes for their community members.

Outstanding Services to Literacy – Advocate

Doris Grajkowski, Outstanding Services to Literacy – Advocate winner, has made a significant impact over the past 49 years as a passionate advocate for reading and for all those facing low literacy.  She shared her passion of reading as teacher and librarian for 35 years and served on Fond du Lac Literacy Services (FLS) Board of Directors for 14 years.  Doris frequently spoke to local service groups about the FLS mission and dedicated selfless hours spreading awareness on behalf of FLS.  Her initiatives demonstrate lasting results impacting thousands of individuals in her community.

Outstanding Service to Literacy – Tutor

Robin Reif, Outstanding Service to Literacy – Tutor winner, has been a Fox Valley Literacy tutor for over 6 years, supporting adult learners who had little or no access to education prior to coming to the United States as refugees. These adult learners often face health, transportation, immigration, and family-related challenges, making it difficult to focus on education. Robin has helped her students develop from true English language beginners to U.S. citizens with digital and workplace literacy skills. She also mentors other tutors on pre-literacy teaching methods and curricula and provides staff with helpful insight and resources

Courage Award for Achievement in a Correctional Setting winner (tie)

When Alejandro Ramirez Gonzalez, Courage Award for Achievement in a Correctional Setting winner (tied), was 13, he moved from Mexico to Milwaukee with his family. Having to learn a new language and academic subjects at the same time, he struggled to keep up in school.  After going to Racine Youthful Offender Correctional facility, he says, "That is when I decided to change my life and help others.”  Since then, Alejandro has completed his HSED, improved his English language skills, taken vocational courses, and become a tutor in the masonry vocational class offered within the correctional facility.

Courage Award for Achievement in a Correctional Setting winner (tie)

Tony Tran, Courage Award for Achievement in a Correctional Setting winner (tied), earned his high school equivalency in 2015, while incarcerated.  He didn’t stop there. Tony went on to earn Moraine Park Technical College credits through several classes offered within the correctional institution. He also achieved his tutor certification in 2019, allowing him to serve as a tutor and role model to other justice-involved adults who want to improve their basic literacy skills.  He recognizes the importance of staying connected to his children and takes advantage of both the Madison Area Urban Ministry (MUM)-sponsored Reading Connection Program that video records him reading books for his children and the Angel Tree Program that supply gifts to inmate children who visit.