2724 W. Wells StreetPopulation Served
More than 
300,000 functionally illiterate adults live in Wisconsin, with over 100,000 in Milwaukee alone. More than 27% of Milwaukee adults lack the reading skill necessary to read a newspaper, find an intersection on a map or write a short letter explaining a mistake on a credit card bill (2000 US Census). Approximately 1,000 adult students were served last year at our main teaching site, the Laubach Center near downtown Milwaukee. Our classes are free to students, who pay only a five dollar registration fee and a minimal charge for books. Students work individually with specially-trained volunteer tutors in three main program areas: Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language and General Educational Development (GED) Preparation.
Tutoring is scheduled five days a week:
Mondays - Thursdays from 9am - 7:00pm
Fridays from 9am to noon
Volunteer Efforts
Literacy Services depends on volunteer tutors at the Laubach Center. Last year they contributed over 20,000 volunteer hours. Hundreds more volunteer at our outreach programs. In addition to tutoring, volunteers perform important administrative and fund-raising tasks, freeing staff for direct program services.
Funding
Literacy Services of Wisconsin is an independent, tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 corporation. Our donors give their support with the knowledge that their contributions are managed wisely and leveraged with the extensive use of volunteer time and talents. For gift and donation information, please call India McCanse, Executive Director at (414) 344-5878, or use the form on the Contact Us page.
To donate money, please use our Donor Card.
Programs
Adult Basic Education: Using the Wilson Reading System or the New Readers Press as core curriculum, students work with tutors in a one-to-one situation tailored to the needs of each individual. Every aspect of literacy, including letter recognition, comprehension, spelling, and writing, is taught at LSW. English as a Second Language (ESL): This program focuses on the needs of students who come from other language backgrounds. LSW emphasizes conversation and vocabulary development. High School Equivalency / GED Preparation: Adult learners study writing, mathematics, social studies, science, literature, health and civics in preparation for the exams required to receive a high school equivalency diploma or certificate of general education development. High school graduates also enroll to strengthen their skills.
- President
- John Gaebler - Godfrey & Kahn
- Vice Presidents:
- Finance & Facility
- Robert M. Sproat - Consultant
- Fund Development
- Jason Parry - WUWM-Milwaukee Public Radio
- Governance
- Jerry Burg - Northwestern Mutual
- Marketing
- Clare Reardon - Froedtert Hospital
- Programs
- J. Michael McBride - Community Volunteer
- Treasurer
- Mark Short - Chase Bank
- Secretary
- Joyce Mielke - Briggs & Stratton Corporation
- Immediate Past President
- Leif Nesheim - Berghammer Construction Corporation
- Directors
- Jan Constable
- - Community Volunteer
- Harry Drake
- - Consultant
- Eileen Dubner
- - Community Volunteer
- Dave Entwistle
- - Consultant
- Rexx Igunbor
- - PC LAN Services
- Carol Larson
- - Community Volunteer
- Grace LoCoco
- - Manpower
- Daniel Madigan
- - Northwestern Mutual
- Sandy Wysocki
- - The Business Journal
- Barbara Felix
- - Executive Director
- Robin Brisco
- - Evening Receptionist*
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- Gloria Kendrick
- - Secretary/Receptionist
- Nick Lyons
- - Outreach Coordinator
- Jennifer O'Brien
- - Executive Assistant
- Nicole Sippy
- - Development Coordinator*
- Jill Snider
- - Program Manager - Adult Basic Education
- Shamus Wright
- - Program Manger - General Educational Development
- Cynthia Zarazua
- - Program Manger - English as a Second Language
*Part time staff
Location Bus routes 6, 10, 27 and 30 all have stops near the Center. We are near the 22nd, 26th, and 35th Street exits of the I-94 expressway.
Just call for exact directions.
The center is on Wells Street near 27th Street.
Literacy Services of Wisconsin is a proud member of the following organizations:
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The Greater Milwaukee Literacy Coalition (GMLC) was formed in 1986 to promote adult and family literacy in Southeastern Wisconsin.
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The Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee promotes the interests and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector through strengthening organizational capacity, expanding volunteerism and encouraging collaboration.
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Wisconsin Literacy's vision is to strengthen Wisconsin's workforce, families and communities through literacy.
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ProLiteracy Worldwide is the oldest and largest nongovernmental literacy organization in the world. It achieves its mission, championing the life-changing benefits of literacy for adults and their families, by sponsoring educational programs that help adults and their families acquire the literacy practices and skills they need to function more effectively in their daily lives.
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The Public Policy Forum focuses its policy research on a broad range of issues affecting southeastern Wisconsin, the state and the nation. They include education, tax and economic development policy, transportation, public safety, health, public infrastructure and other quality of life concerns.
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