Literacy Services of Wisconsin-About Us

Our Mission
The mission of Literacy Services of Wisconsin is to provide literacy education to motivated adults through the efforts of dedicated volunteers, the gifts of private contributors and the use of specialized curriculum to meet individual and community needs.

Population Served
More than 300,000 functionally illiterate adults live in Wisconsin, with over 157,000 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). More than 1,000 adult students were served last year at our main teaching site, the Laubach Center near downtown Milwaukee, and at several outreach programs within the Greater Milwaukee area. Our services 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 six days a week:

Mondays - Thursdays from 9am - 7:30pm
Fridays & Saturdays from 9am to noon

Volunteer Efforts
Literacy Services depends on volunteer tutors at the Laubach Center. Last year they contributed over 25,000 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
As a privately funded non-profit organization, Literacy Services of Wisconsin does not request government or United Way support. Rather, we rely on the generosity of individuals, service clubs, religious organizations, corporations and foundations. Over 1,000 donations are received at LSW each year. For gift and donation information, please call Barbara Felix, 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.

2007-2008 Board of Directors:

President: John Gaebler - Godfrey & Kahn
Vice Presidents:
Treasurer: Mark Short - Chase Bank
Secretary: Joyce Mielke - Briggs & Stratton Corporation
Immediate Past President: Leif Nesheim - Berghammer Construction Corporation

Directors


Harry Drake: - Consultant
Eileen Dubner: - Community Volunteer

Dave Entwistle: - Consultant
Carol Larson: - Community Volunteer
Grace LoCoco: - Manpower
Daniel Madigan: - Northwestern Mutual

Sandy Wysocki: - The Business Journal

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Literacy Services Staff

Barbara Felix: - Executive Director
Robin Brisco: - Evening Receptionist*


Karen Horst: - Program Manager - Adult Basic Education
Garfield Hopwood: - Security*
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 Manager - General Educational Development
Cynthia Zarazua: - Program Manager - English as a Second Language

*Part time staff

Location
The center is on Wells Street near 27th Street.

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.

Memberships

Literacy Services of Wisconsin is a proud member of the following organizations:

The Greater Milwaukee Literacy Coalition (GMLC) was formed in 1986 to promote adult and family literacy in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Literacy's vision is to strengthen Wisconsin's workforce, families and communities through literacy.
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.

About Literacy Services

Mission

Population Served

Volunteers

Funding

Programs

Board of Directors

Staff

Location

Memberships