Cargill and Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services Receive State Workplace Literacy Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2009
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| (left to right) Secretary Reggie Bicha of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families; Peg Palmer, Executive Director of Milwaukee Achiever; Jerry Karczewski, Plant Manager for Cargill in Milwaukee; and Michele Erikson, Executive Director of Wisconsin Literacy. |
MILWAUKEE . . . Cargill, Inc. and Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services received the Outstanding Achievement in a Workplace Literacy Program Award at Wisconsin Literacy’s 7th Annual Celebration of Literacy, held at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison on Thursday, May 7, 2009. Wisconsin Literacy is a coalition of 58 literacy programs throughout the state. Jerry Karczewski, Plant Manager for Cargill in Milwaukee, and Peg Palmer, Executive Director for Milwaukee Achiever, were on-hand to receive the award.
The award recognizes an employer whose leadership in implementing a workplace literacy program has improved the lives of their employees and the productivity and profit of the business. “Our work with Milwaukee Achiever has improved job skills for many of our employees, which increases our retention and promotion rates,” said Karczewski.
Cargill was founded in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1865. The company is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services with headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Cargill employs 153,000 people in 66 countries.
Unlike many employers, Cargill has recognized the critical need for workforce development and educational services for their employees. Over the past seven years, Cargill and Milwaukee Achiever have worked together to expand and improve a partnership called JobLink Workforce Development, which provides instruction for English language learners, GED/HSED attainment, and computer skills to Cargill employees and supervisors. The success of the program has given Cargill a more productive and efficient workforce; and it has give the Milwaukee community more secure and self-sufficient families, resulting in regional economic stability.
“While literacy statistics in our state illustrate the exceptional challenges faced by our families, workforce and communities, the Celebration of Literacy is an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and determination of our literacy programs, learners, volunteer tutors and advocates who are improving lives through literacy,” said Palmer.
Milwaukee Achiever has been a member of Wisconsin Literacy since 2002, and is a leader in adult literacy and workforce development programs. Milwaukee Achiever offers one-on-one and small group tutoring in Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED/HSED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship and computer skills, and workforce development at two neighborhood learning centers located at 1512 West Pierce Street (414-643-0176, ext. 105) and 5566 North 69th Street (414-463-7389). Volunteer tutors are needed at each center. Interested persons should call for more information.
The annual Celebration of Literacy is open to the public. Award presentations were made this year by Secretary Reggie Bicha of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, and by Michele Erikson, Executive Director of Wisconsin Literacy. This year’s keynote speaker was Michael Feldman, award-winning host of the nationally syndicated radio show, “Whad’Ya Know?” A number of signed books by Wisconsin’s best authors were also featured in a silent auction to raise funds for Wisconsin Literacy.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Piazza
Development/Communications Coordinator
Phone: 414-463-8821
Fax: 414-463-9484
email: ppiazza@milwaukeeachiever.org
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Workplace Literacy -- Cargill
