Fox Valley Literacy: Turning Learner Stories Into Songs
Written by Isaac Hauffe, Volunteer Writer
Fox Valley Literacy is committed to empowering adults through education. In 2024, the organization served 708 learners—a 56% increase from the previous year. Offering group classes and one-to-one tutoring in English, General Education, Civics & Citizenship, and Individual Projects, Fox Valley Literacy continues to expand its impact.
Each year, the nonprofit organizes its Faces of Literacy project, inviting learners to write stories or essays that demonstrate their growing English skills. These writings are published on the organization’s website and presented at a community event, accompanied by visual art to highlight the themes of each story. For two years, illustrator Jim Weidert contributed to this effort before joining Fox Valley Literacy as a tutor and later as Communications Manager.
With Jim’s leadership, the team began to imagine how the project could reach even more people. Inspired by Appleton’s Mile of Music festival, they partnered each featured learner with a songwriter to create original songs based on the learners’ stories.
“After one of the meetings, an artist sent the song on the same day because he just couldn’t leave it alone,” Jim recalls. Recorded in professional studios, the songs were performed publicly, creating a powerful connection between learners and musicians. “A lot of the artists were really emotionally impacted by the project,” Jim says, reflecting on the harmony that emerged from the collaboration.
Throughout this process, Wisconsin Literacy’s statewide resources proved invaluable. For Jim, the data and tools provided by Wisconsin Literacy supported both his tutoring and his communications work.
The Faces of Literacy – Voices from Our Community project, including its songs and traveling exhibit, stands as a testament to the creativity and resilience of Fox Valley Literacy’s learners—and to the community partners who help share their voices in new ways.
