Literacy Council of Green Co.
To donate or volunteer:
• Visit www.literacygreencountywi.org or find volunteer opportunities at www.volunteergreencounty.org
• Send check or supplies by mail to Literacy Council of Green County, 925 16th Ave., Monroe, WI 53566
• Drop off supplies at Monroe Public Library
• Email info@literacygreencountywi.org
• Call 608-328-7010 or 608-293-3161
To become a learner:
• Fill out a form at the Monroe library
• Submit request form at
www.literacygreencountywi.org
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A Giving Spirit
Throughout the holiday season, the Monroe Times will feature several nonprofit and charitable organizations in a series called "A Giving Spirit." The stories will highlight the organization's accomplishments from the year, their needs, how to help and goals for 2018.
MONROE - Shalini Arun Kumar has been a "learner" with the Literacy Council of Green County almost since she arrived in the United States more than three years ago, but her current tutor insisted on one condition before agreeing to teach her: Shalini had to drive herself - alone - to the library for each tutoring session.
"I wanted her to have independence," said Ellen Hossman, Shalini's tutor and the executive director of the Green County literacy council. "It's encouragement for Shalini to get out of the house."
When she first arrived in Monroe from her native Sri Lanka, Shalini said she felt depressed because she didn't have friends here and struggled to communicate with her limited knowledge of English and heavy accent. She also used to be afraid of driving alone.
"I can do anything (now)," Shalini said. "Before, I can't. Little scared, nervous, because new place, new friends, new peoples, so very scared, very nervous. But now I'm OK. I can do everything."
The young woman - now the stay-at-home mother of a 1-year-old son - followed her husband, Arun Kumar Manoharan, to the U.S. in February 2014. Also Sri Lankan, he lived in Monroe before they married but returned to Sri Lanka in 2012 to marry Shalini, who then began the process of getting her immigrant visa. They came to the U.S. to better their lives, Shalini said, and to Monroe because Arun's cousin was living here.
That line from cousin to husband to Shalini is also how she heard of the literacy council, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. Hossman said the organization gains learners by word-of-mouth; it's never had to advertise.
Housed at the Monroe Public Library in a nook near the second-floor bathrooms, the council helps teach English as a second language to adults known as English-language learners, as well as adult basic education to native English speakers. It's currently serving about 100 learners, with more on a waitlist, primarily through one-on-one tutoring, Hossman said.
"They (literacy council) help lot ... because when I came United States first time, I know little English. Now I know little," Shalini corrected, laughing, "but before very little."
The literacy council also helps immigrants learn U.S. cultural customs - some as benign as the taboo against asking adults for their ages - and how to become a part of the community, Hossman said.
"Yes, we teach English, but we teach much more than that," she said.
With Green County becoming more diverse over the years, the organization has been able to grow, Hossman said. The council currently has learners from India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Romania, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico and more. But the cultural exchange goes both ways: In one example, Shalini and her husband invited Hossman to their son's naming ceremony, a Hindu custom held after a child is born, at a temple in Madison.
"It's a sharing of cultures," Hossman said, noting she was honored to be included.
All tutoring is required to be in a public place, per the literacy council's rules. Hossman said the Monroe library allows the organization to use its space free of charge. Other places in Green County offer space for tutoring, including the Brodhead library and Chalet Landhaus in New Glarus.
People who want to use the services offered by the council can come to the Monroe library and fill out a form. They're not limited to English-language learners; the council also helps adults who want to work toward earning their GED, among others.
"Our mission ... is to empower learners with the English language, one word at a time," Hossman said.
Aspiring tutors or other volunteers can contact Hossman or visit www.volunteergreencounty.org, a website hosted by United Way of Green County that allows local nonprofits to post volunteer opportunities. Launched about a year ago, the website "has been a godsend" for the literacy council, Hossman said. Tutors have to be trained before they can start teaching.
The Green County literacy council hasn't received any funding from United Way for the last four or five years, a point of pride for Hossman.
"I can't stress how proud we are of that," she said. "I don't know of any other agency in the area that says, 'We can do it on our own.'"
Instead, the nonprofit is funded by donations from private businesses, individuals and organizations throughout the community. It can also apply for grants through the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. Its annual budget is about $14,000.
Hossman, who lives in Monroe, has been with the literacy council for 12 years. Now retired, she puts in 40 hours per month as the council's only employee. The rest of the organization consists of about 60 volunteers, 34 of whom are active tutors.
The council holds an annual fundraiser, which includes a Scrabble tournament and a silent auction, on the fourth Monday of October. One of the auction items this year was an authentic Indian dinner for four people, where a learner and her husband cooked for guests at Hossman's house. Previous years have featured Middle Eastern and Mexican dinners.
Looking ahead, the council will be developing a new strategic plan in 2018 to determine its goals and how to achieve them. The board is also planning to hold a Mexican music fiesta next year, but above all, the council wants to increase awareness of its work and share its success stories, Hossman said.
One Concert on the Square this year exposed the public to the literacy council's work. Hossman said the concerts featured nonprofits, including one where learners mingled with the audience to talk about the council.
The organization also works with local businesses to help employees improve their English skills. A cheese factory, Hossman noted for example, asked for help with its skilled employees.
"People are much more aware of us than they had been in the past. They see the successes," Hossman said. "The employers are experiencing the successes of our learners, so they know that what we're doing is working."
Hossman noted the organization's biggest successes are when it's no longer needed. Its goals are to help learners achieve their own: get a GED, become a citizen, communicate effectively with a doctor and engage in the community.
"When a learner now can fully communicate with their employer on one of the mega farms without an interpreter, that's a huge accomplishment," Hossman said. One learner was "ecstatic" when he was able to order pizza on his own. "Sometimes it's the smallest things."
Shalini has been working toward gaining U.S. citizenship - she said she wants to be able to vote - and passed her citizenship interview earlier this month. Now she's waiting to hear when she can take the Oath of Allegiance, Hossman wrote in an email.
Asked about the independence she gained from having to drive alone to her tutoring sessions, Shalini's tone raised with laughter. "I am very happy. I drove the car lot of time but with my husband and baby, but I didn't alone. Now, very comfortable," Shalini said, then turned to Hossman. "Thank you."
"I wanted her to have independence," said Ellen Hossman, Shalini's tutor and the executive director of the Green County literacy council. "It's encouragement for Shalini to get out of the house."
When she first arrived in Monroe from her native Sri Lanka, Shalini said she felt depressed because she didn't have friends here and struggled to communicate with her limited knowledge of English and heavy accent. She also used to be afraid of driving alone.
"I can do anything (now)," Shalini said. "Before, I can't. Little scared, nervous, because new place, new friends, new peoples, so very scared, very nervous. But now I'm OK. I can do everything."
The young woman - now the stay-at-home mother of a 1-year-old son - followed her husband, Arun Kumar Manoharan, to the U.S. in February 2014. Also Sri Lankan, he lived in Monroe before they married but returned to Sri Lanka in 2012 to marry Shalini, who then began the process of getting her immigrant visa. They came to the U.S. to better their lives, Shalini said, and to Monroe because Arun's cousin was living here.
That line from cousin to husband to Shalini is also how she heard of the literacy council, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. Hossman said the organization gains learners by word-of-mouth; it's never had to advertise.
Housed at the Monroe Public Library in a nook near the second-floor bathrooms, the council helps teach English as a second language to adults known as English-language learners, as well as adult basic education to native English speakers. It's currently serving about 100 learners, with more on a waitlist, primarily through one-on-one tutoring, Hossman said.
"They (literacy council) help lot ... because when I came United States first time, I know little English. Now I know little," Shalini corrected, laughing, "but before very little."
The literacy council also helps immigrants learn U.S. cultural customs - some as benign as the taboo against asking adults for their ages - and how to become a part of the community, Hossman said.
"Yes, we teach English, but we teach much more than that," she said.
With Green County becoming more diverse over the years, the organization has been able to grow, Hossman said. The council currently has learners from India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Romania, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico and more. But the cultural exchange goes both ways: In one example, Shalini and her husband invited Hossman to their son's naming ceremony, a Hindu custom held after a child is born, at a temple in Madison.
"It's a sharing of cultures," Hossman said, noting she was honored to be included.
All tutoring is required to be in a public place, per the literacy council's rules. Hossman said the Monroe library allows the organization to use its space free of charge. Other places in Green County offer space for tutoring, including the Brodhead library and Chalet Landhaus in New Glarus.
People who want to use the services offered by the council can come to the Monroe library and fill out a form. They're not limited to English-language learners; the council also helps adults who want to work toward earning their GED, among others.
"Our mission ... is to empower learners with the English language, one word at a time," Hossman said.
Aspiring tutors or other volunteers can contact Hossman or visit www.volunteergreencounty.org, a website hosted by United Way of Green County that allows local nonprofits to post volunteer opportunities. Launched about a year ago, the website "has been a godsend" for the literacy council, Hossman said. Tutors have to be trained before they can start teaching.
The Green County literacy council hasn't received any funding from United Way for the last four or five years, a point of pride for Hossman.
"I can't stress how proud we are of that," she said. "I don't know of any other agency in the area that says, 'We can do it on our own.'"
Instead, the nonprofit is funded by donations from private businesses, individuals and organizations throughout the community. It can also apply for grants through the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. Its annual budget is about $14,000.
Hossman, who lives in Monroe, has been with the literacy council for 12 years. Now retired, she puts in 40 hours per month as the council's only employee. The rest of the organization consists of about 60 volunteers, 34 of whom are active tutors.
The council holds an annual fundraiser, which includes a Scrabble tournament and a silent auction, on the fourth Monday of October. One of the auction items this year was an authentic Indian dinner for four people, where a learner and her husband cooked for guests at Hossman's house. Previous years have featured Middle Eastern and Mexican dinners.
Looking ahead, the council will be developing a new strategic plan in 2018 to determine its goals and how to achieve them. The board is also planning to hold a Mexican music fiesta next year, but above all, the council wants to increase awareness of its work and share its success stories, Hossman said.
One Concert on the Square this year exposed the public to the literacy council's work. Hossman said the concerts featured nonprofits, including one where learners mingled with the audience to talk about the council.
The organization also works with local businesses to help employees improve their English skills. A cheese factory, Hossman noted for example, asked for help with its skilled employees.
"People are much more aware of us than they had been in the past. They see the successes," Hossman said. "The employers are experiencing the successes of our learners, so they know that what we're doing is working."
Hossman noted the organization's biggest successes are when it's no longer needed. Its goals are to help learners achieve their own: get a GED, become a citizen, communicate effectively with a doctor and engage in the community.
"When a learner now can fully communicate with their employer on one of the mega farms without an interpreter, that's a huge accomplishment," Hossman said. One learner was "ecstatic" when he was able to order pizza on his own. "Sometimes it's the smallest things."
Shalini has been working toward gaining U.S. citizenship - she said she wants to be able to vote - and passed her citizenship interview earlier this month. Now she's waiting to hear when she can take the Oath of Allegiance, Hossman wrote in an email.
Asked about the independence she gained from having to drive alone to her tutoring sessions, Shalini's tone raised with laughter. "I am very happy. I drove the car lot of time but with my husband and baby, but I didn't alone. Now, very comfortable," Shalini said, then turned to Hossman. "Thank you."