Wisconsin Literacy

Approximately one million Wisconsin adults qualify for adult literacy and English language services (U. S. Census 2000). Less than 10% of these adults in need of services are currently receiving them.

Thirty-seven literacy programs throughout the state set out to increase the number of volunteers by recruiting and training 960 tutors during Wisconsin Literacy’s “Twelve Hundred Tutors in Twelve Weeks” campaign that ran from September 8, International Literacy Day, through December 1. Wisconsin Literacy is a statewide coalition of adult literacy providers that offer free instruction to adults who wish to improve their reading, writing or speaking skills in English.

Through grants from Verizon, Wisconsin Literacy has held an annual statewide tutor training campaign for the last several years in order to try to meet the rising demand for services among adult literacy programs in Wisconsin. Each participating literacy program receives a reimbursement through the Verizon grant based on the amount of tutors it recruits and trains in a specific amount of time. This year, literacy programs in Wisconsin trained 960 tutors in 12 weeks. Last year, they trained 923.

“The campaign meets an immediate need for those learners who have been on waiting lists to receive literacy services, thereby improving their involvement as active community members, skilled workers and more engaged parents,” said Georgia Weier, member services manager for Wisconsin Literacy. “It also highlights the impact a corporate leader can have in addressing this literacy issue. Verizon has invested in many communities throughout Wisconsin and the country through innovative, technology-based approaches to literacy. The company has offered a great incentive for our member programs to publicize their tutor trainings and recruit more volunteers.”

More help is still needed. If you would like to volunteer your time to help an adult learner, please contact a literacy program in your area. To find a program near you or to learn about literacy facts for our state, visit www.wisconsinliteracy.org/find_us.php.