Kenosha Literacy Council

Annual Report 2013-2014

Friends of Kenosha Literacy Council, THANK YOU! We are grateful for your support in the 2013-14 year. With your help, we continued to expand programming and partnerships throughout the community to help meet the needs of adult learners and their families. We are changing lives everyday. With this annual report, the Kenosha Literacy Council (KLC) is pleased to share our work and the people, programs, and partners that contributed to another year of addressing literacy in Kenosha County. KLC helped nearly 600 adult learners representing 39 different countries learn to read, write and speak in English so that they were better able to achieve financial independence, good health and greater involvement in our community. Over 200 volunteers helped as trained literacy tutors, class instructors and board members. Our major fundraisers, Laps for Literacy and Corporate Spelling Bee, were both a great success. Plus, we added an exciting evening with the Kenosha Kingfish. Collaborations with organizations such as the Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha Public Library, and Miss Kenosha Scholarship Pageant, Inc. allowed us to continue to spread our important message. KLC staff partnered with Gateway Technical College to present at the National Adult Literacy Conference. Also, a new and improved Literacy Council website showcases adult learners, volunteer tutors, and life changing programs. We enthusiastically enter the 2014-15 year with plans to continue to build our capacity to serve adults and families with literacy needs while making an impact in Kenosha. We hope that you will read this report with the same pride that we have in reflecting on the creative and forward thinking ways in which our staff and board of directors approach literacy in Kenosha. We invite you to take a moment to learn more about the Literacy Council’s accomplishments, programs, learners and volunteers by visiting our website and/or joining us at an event! Looking forward,

Cheryl Hernandez Vince Incandela Executive Director Board President

OUR MISSION

Established in 1965, the Kenosha Literacy Council is a

nonprofit agency dedicated to providing and

promoting English literacy education to adults with

the assistance of trained volunteers.

Literacy is a fundamental ingredient in building strong

families, a good economy and a healthy community.

Adults need to know how to read, write, and speak in

English so they can participate in the workforce and

earn wages that support their families and

communities.

“Before in our lives, we were always told ‘You can't do it!’ and ‘You're not good enough!’ When we walked into the Literacy Council it was the opposite. We heard for the first time ‘You can do it!’ When we left our first class, we felt happy! We felt comfortable there. Before we studied at the KLC, we felt scared to talk to people. But now, we feel confident talking at our son's schools and at the stores. Now we stand up for ourselves. It's like we have wings!” ~ KLC Leaners Maria & Susana

FACTS & FIGURES

The Kenosha Literacy Council served 549 adult learners representing 39 different

countries in 2013-2014.

62% of learners who participated in at least 60 hours of instruction advanced one (1) educational functioning level.

37% of learners who

participated at KLC for more than six months, found employment and/or enrolled at Gateway Technical College

97% citizenship students

passed practice test.

ELL CIVICS PROGRAM In KLC’s ELL (English Language Learner) Civics classes experiential leaning methods are used to explore important

topics like public schools, health, finance, safety, housing and government. Students improve their English while

also learning about the community. Hands-on activities, field trips and guest speakers play an important role in the

ELL Civics classes. While learning about health literacy, for example, students do research to create a Medical

Services Guide, learn about blood pressure and cholesterol from a registered nurse, practice exercise led by fitness

experts, learn about healthy eating from a nutritionist and tour a local hospital. They are learning much more than

how to read; they are learning to become leaders in their families and in our community!

48 adult learners participated in 38 weeks of instructions Post test scores for each module saw an increase Based on pre and post test scores, students made the most gains in the Banking and

Government modules

THE LITERACY COUNCIL BY THE NUMBERS

Thanks to successful fundraising efforts and the support of many members of the community, Kenosha Literacy Council continued to establish a more secure financial future in 2013-2014.

Kenosha Literacy Council, Inc. 2419 63rd Street Kenosha, WI 53143 Phone: 262.654.7323 www.kenoshalit.org Find us on Facebook

Staff: Cheryl Hernandez, Executive Director

Cassie Christianson, Program Coordinator Carrie Stills, Instructor

Board of Directors:

Vince Incandela, President Ellen Melyon, Vice President

Adelene Greene, Treasurer Daphne Ursu, Secretary

Terri Chardukian Ashleigh Henrichs

John Hogan Chris Isaacson

Rolly Peckus Tracey Pelischek

Retired June 30, 2014: Kathy Cole, Secretary