The award is given to an outstanding administrator, donor or business partner who has done the most to raise awareness and funding for literacy.

The award will be presented at Wisconsin Literacy’s 8th Annual Celebration of Literacy at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison on Tuesday, April 27, 2010. This year’s keynote speaker for the luncheon will be award-winning Wisconsin author Jane Hamilton.

Milwaukee Achiever’s Bilingual Medical Interpreter training program also won honorable mention in the Health Literacy category. The program is an intensive training process that prepares adults who are fluent in both English and Spanish to both work in a healthcare setting, and ease the process of healthcare delivery to an underserved population. Congratulations to Anne Roets, Milwaukee Achiever Workforce Development Director, and Beatrice Armstrong, Milwaukee Achiever Bilingual Medical Interpreter Instructor, for designing and implementing an award-winning, multi-faceted curriculum.

MMCIC is designed for adults who have earned their GED or high school diploma, and want to expand their skills to work at the college level in a comfortable and supportive environment. It is a true partnership between one of Milwaukee’s largest adult literacy providers and one of the most innovative private colleges in the state. Milwaukee Achiever and Mount Mary both value adult literacy as an institutional mission and social justice issue; a commitment that has been essential to the success of the MMCIC program.

The administrators and teachers of the MMCIC program deserve special recognition: Christyn Willems, SSND; Michelle Simons; Tom Bartylla; Sue Sterling and Amy Muehlbauer (pictured above). The program could not flourish without their enthusiasm and commitment. Special thanks as well to Dr. Kristi Siegel, author of the beginning program curriculum. MMCIC’s unique collaboration between adult literacy teachers and college instructors has been truly remarkable.

——————–
To Read Mount Mary’s Press Release, go to http://www.mtmary.edu/pdfs/news/releases/cic-award.pdf.

Join our staff in helping those who truly need to improve their skills in reading, writing and math. Tutoring is easier than you might think! To be a tutor, you must:

• have a GED or high school diploma.
• be 18 years or older.
• be willing to share what you know with adults who are working to sharpen their academic skills.
• be reliable, and willing to spend two or more hours per week helping someone reach their educational goals.

If you’re looking for a deeply meaningful volunteer experience, call us. We provide free tutor training and orientation. You’ll work with our staff in a guided teaching experience that will allow you to be creative and goal oriented. You’ll be challenged to be your best, so you can motivate others to do their best.

Volunteer. It’s a life-changing experience.

We’re amazed by the success of Ian Webb, who earned his GED in record time through our learning lab partnership with Wisconsin Community Services. Ian studied with Milwaukee Achiever instructor Janice Woodward, and was able to successfully complete GED testing in only two months. Not only did Ian reach his goal with lightning speed, he also managed a perfect score in the reading component of the GED process.

We’re proud of what Ian has accomplished – and very proud that he’s willing to share his life experience with other learners who face obstacles in achieving their educational goals. We hope his ambition and his “never quit” attitude inspire others to reach for their dreams, and create a better future for themselves and their families. Check out Ian’s poem, Look Forward, which will be published in the upcoming edition of Slices of Life.

Look Forward

Have you ever thought about why things happen the way that they do?
Have you ever said, “I should have, would have, or could have done this?”

Don’t spend your time wondering if only you could go back.
Look forward to the future and the things that you will do better.
Negative into positive is a phrase we should hold up high
because the only time we fail is when we fail to try.

Do the best that you can in all that you do.
You never know who is watching and looking up to you.

Silver Spring Center celebrated “Light the Way for Literacy” on the evening of December 1, 2009. The center was beautifully decorated with festive holiday lights, making it easy to get into the spirit of the season.

As guests gathered for the ceremony, they enjoyed a musical prelude of holiday songs. A family trio consisting of Winnie Butler (staff member) on cello, Margaret Butler (Winnie’s sister, a professional musician who plays with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra) on the oboe, and Johnny Padilla (Margaret’ s husband, a professional jazz musician) on flute filled the center with BEAUTIFUL music.

Patricia Piazza, development coordinator, emceed the evening, briefly explaining the importance of the “Light the Way for Literacy” campaign and the significance of the various lights. As the white lights were lit, Barbara Hanson, volunteer tutor, read the names of those individuals in whose memory the lights will burn during the holiday season. Eleanor Guilbert, also a volunteer tutor, then read the names of those individuals to be honored during the 2009 season, and the colored lights were turned on. Staff members assisted in the lighting of corresponding white and red candles as the names were read.

Following the ceremony, guests were treated to refreshments and more holiday music!

To see photos of the Silver Spring Center event, click here.

Strings of white and colored holiday lights that trimmed the trees and decorated our buildings were officially turned on at the Lighting Ceremonies. Lights represented tributes to special individuals made by friends of Milwaukee Achiever

• in memory of departed loved ones (white lights)
• in honor of living family members, friends, and associates (colored lights).

Click here to read the list of individuals remembered/honored during this 2009 holiday season.

The “Light the Way for Literacy” campaign began November 15, 2009, and will run through February 15, 2010. Our goal is $25,000.00.

Donations will assist Milwaukee Achiever in providing one-on-one and small group tutoring sessions for approximately 700 adults, in 2009-2010, who need:

• English Language Learning (ELL) and/or citizenship preparation
• Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED preparation
• Computer and workforce literacy skills.

If you are visiting us on-line and would like to purchase a symbolic light(s) for someone special in your life, please click on one of the links below. The names of those you wish remembered/honored will be added to the on-line list.

• To purchase/donate online
• To purchase by mail

For more information, please call 414-463-8821, or email info@milwaukeeachiever.org.
……………………………………………………………………..

Goal: $25,000.00
Campaign Progress: $25,739.01

Donald Bartels
Margaret Bartels
Patricia Braun
Mickie Stangle Brenton
Donald Delfeld
Estella Flecha
Gerald Hersil
Kurt Huber
Bernard & Anne Ignarski
Florence Jados
Emmanuel Kattner, SSSF
Judy Ladner
Rita McGuire
Leon Parker
Jack Quinlan
Richard A. Rebholz
Richard A. Rebholz, Jr.
Thomas H. Schopf
Ed Stecker, Jr.
Henry J. Walicki, Sr.
Bob Wendorf
Faith Zentgraf

Donations have been made in honor of …

Jon Burkham
Andrie Butler
David Butler
Garold Dalton
Veronica De Cleene, SSND
Marie De Villers
Mary Catherine Dundon, SSND
Jenada Fanetti, SDS
Frances Henkel
Agnes Marie Henkel, SSSF
Marie Hersil
Elizabeth Rebholz
Nancy Spransy
Alima Tour’e
Helen Voith

• Pierce Center – 1512 West Pierce Street (south side)
  (Lighting Ceremony 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. / Open House until 12:00 noon)
• Silver Spring Center – 5566 North 69th Street (northwest side)
  (Lighting Ceremony 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. / Open House until 8:00 p.m.)

Strings of holiday lights that trim the trees and decorate our buildings will officially be turned on at the Lighting Ceremony. You can support Milwaukee Achiever by purchasing a light(s), and at the same time, letting your light(s) be a tribute to special people during this holiday season – -

• White lights will remember departed loved ones
• Colored lights will honor living family members, friends, and associates.

The names of those to be remembered/honored will be read during the evening’s ceremony.

Prior to and following the lighting festivities, guests will be treated to refreshments and tours of our learning centers. Join us and learn how you can become a volunteer tutor and bring light into the lives of others.

“Light the Way for Literacy” will run from November 15, 2009, through February 15, 2010, and our goal is to raise $25,000.00.

This funding will assist Milwaukee Achiever in providing one-on-one and small group tutoring sessions for approximately 700 adults, in 2009-2010, who need:

• English Language Learning (ELL) and/or citizenship preparation
• Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED preparation
• Computer and workforce literacy skills.

If you are visiting us on-line and cannot join us for the Holiday Lighting Ceremony, but would like to purchase a light(s), please click on one of the links below.

• To purchase online
• To purchase by mail

For more information, please call 414-463-8821, or email info@milwaukeeachiever.org.
……………………………………………………………………..

Goal: $25,000.00
Campaign Progress: $5,425.16

Peg Palmer and Tracy Loken Weber have been asked to join the ProLiteracy Accreditation Support Team as site reviewers in the accreditation process. Palmer is the Executive Director of Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services, where Loken Weber serves as Programs Director. ProLiteracy has 12 active site reviewers who work in teams. Each team handles two to five reviews each year for literacy service providers who are seeking ProLiteracy accreditation.

ProLiteracy accreditation support representative Jim Urness said, “Reviewers are volunteers who receive a small stipend … the benefit of this position is knowing you are helping provide quality services for the many people who need literacy services.”

Reviews for agencies looking for reaccreditation are often conducted electronically, while agencies applying for initial accreditation undergo an on-site visit from ProLiteracy accreditation representatives. “It’s a great honor to be invited to join the team,” said Loken Weber.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Claudia Scholl, Communications & Marketing Coordinator
414-463-5108, ext. 106, or cscholl@milwaukeeachiever.org