Mayor kicks off Milwaukee’s Year of Adult Literacy

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett kicked off the Milwaukee Literacy Initiative on February 14 by issuing a proclamation making 2006 the Year of Adult Literacy in the City of Milwaukee. Sister Joel Read, former president of Alverno College and head of the education committee of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and City Librarian Kate Huston also spoke in support of the initiative at the event, which was held at Washington Park Library.

“When 27% of Milwaukee residents are functionally illiterate, then we must act to improve the situation if the city is to remain healthy,” Barrett said. He commended those who work in the field of literacy, and told of some of the strategies he uses as a parent to encourage his own children to read.

“It is appropriate for this effort to kick off in a library, because the library is the great leveler in the field of literacy,” Barrett said. “You can have somebody who is working on his Ph.D. sitting next to a person who is just learning to read. And libraries are the place where all citizens can find the resources they need to improve themselves and to be good, active citizens.”

Sister Read, who has spent her life working to improve education, urged those present to think about literacy in the context of lifelong learning.

“If literacy means that people have the skills they need to be thoughtful, effective members of society, then the obverse should also be true,” she said. “Literate people – the people who have the skills – should be thoughtful, effective citizens, and I don’t think that always happens. We need to put the skills to proper use.”

The Greater Milwaukee Literacy Coalition is spearheading the Milwaukee Literacy Initiative, which aims to increase awareness of illiteracy issues, promote literacy programs, and lower the illiteracy rate in the city of Milwaukee from 27%to 20% by the year 2010. GMLC hopes to build a citywide partnership including government, literacy providers, educational institutions, libraries, corporations, social-service providers, media, community groups, religious leaders and adult learners, all working to improve literacy.

Various literacy agencies and individuals staffed tables at the event, highlighting some of the many efforts already underway in Milwaukee. Also present for the kick-off ceremonies were Mary Ann Jackson, State Director of Adult Education; Michele Erickson, Director of Wisconsin Literacy; and, representing Common Council President Willie Hines, Tim McMurty. He presented GMLC with a resolution passed by the Common Council, praising those who work to further literacy and pledging support.

Educator and GMLC member Eileen Marotte brought several of her students to speak to participants about their experiences. Two of 42 recent graduates of the Milwaukee Achiever GED program, LaShawnda Hibbler and Anita Zepeda, wore their caps and gowns to demonstrate their pride in their accomplishments. Both women also have been hired by Milwaukee Achiever. Hibbler is administrative assistant at the Maximus North site, and Zepeda is bilingual receptionist at Milwaukee Achiever’s site at 1512 W. Pierce St.

-- Kathy Mulvey

Grant names GMLC Regional Resource Provider for Southeastern Wisconsin

GMLC has been selected to serve as the Regional Resource Provider in southeastern Wisconsin and has appointed Joanne Lange to be the region’s consultant. Joanne will be coordinating a regional meeting to gather input from members on best practices and to survey members on how to better serve their needs. She will also assist in developing regional training and networking opportunities for the region, and provide consulting service to new and emerging literacy providers in our area.

Wisconsin Literacy will work with the regional literacy consultants from four areas of the state: Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Eau Claire. Funds will be distributed to Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. and the four regional literacy councils through the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

The project goals are:
1. To ensure adults in need of literacy services benefit from the combined expertise of existing literacy providers, as a result of the creation of an Organizational Tool Kit that includes recommended procedures, techniques to manage student assessment, general record-keeping tips, budget management, staff and volunteer management, student and tutor progress reporting, marketing materials, fundraising strategies, grant resources, advocacy efforts, and national resources that provide information on trends and new developments in literacy.

2. To establish a strong network of community-based adult literacy providers in Wisconsin to address adult learners who need literacy services to become more self-sufficient as well as better workers, family and community members. Emphasis will be on strengthening existing programs as well as providing support to new and emerging programs, to increase the percentage of adults accessing literacy services.

Regional Literacy Consultants will also provide professional development training for new and emerging programs, as well as existing councils, and will ultimately help increase the number of adult learners served.

Michele Erikson, Executive Director for Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. stated, “We are very pleased and excited by this funding because it allows us to give the kind of support and training necessary to further develop literacy providers in all areas of Wisconsin. In turn, adults in need of improving their basic skills or learning English will have more and better options.”

-- Dawn Lauber