Claudia Scholl is on a mission.
The 20-year Wauwatosa resident is the communications and marketing coordinator for Milwaukee Achiever, a literacy services and work force development group serving the Milwaukee area, helping adults with basic education, preparation for the GED test and citizenship skills.
"There's something really nice about feeling that you are doing something good," Scholl said. "For me, this was very nice transition into a job that has a mission."
Sisters found service
Milwaukee Achiever was founded in 1983 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the School Sisters of St. Francis and the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.
Volunteers and staff help about 1,600 adults each year get the skills they need to get a job or just to survive. They work out of six locations throughout the area.
Scholl said about 157,000 of the 600,000 people in Milwaukee have low literacy skills. So the 1,600 adults served annually represent only a small portion of the people who need help.
"There's just this huge need in Milwaukee," strategic marketing committee member Kavita Gupta said. "I just really feel badly. … There are so many people without jobs."
It is that joblessness and the current recession that has caused Milwaukee Achiever to see an increase in adult learners and a shift in the kinds of learners, Executive Director Peg Palmer said.
In fact, the roster of 263 volunteers can't keep up with the demand and about 40 adults are on a waitlist.
"One of the things that is tough for us when we have to waitlist those people is we're meeting them at that moment where they have the desire to overcome some barrier to advancing, and we don't want to put that on hold if we can avoid it," Scholl said.
Patrons diverse
Volunteer and Sister Marie Le Clerc Laux of School Sisters of Notre Dame said there is a misconception about the types of people seeking Milwaukee Achiever's services.
"They come from all different areas," she said, adding that they have seen emigrants from 27 countries who need help learning the English language.
Some have had a formal education in their home country while others do not know how to read or write their native language.
In the past year, Palmer said, the organization has seen many adults who were working in a job for more than 20 years and then lost it because of the economy.
"We're seeing more and more people who managed to keep a job and to support themselves and their families with the very low-level skills that they had," Palmer said. "But now … it's so much more competitive."
That's one of the reasons the center also offers computer training in Microsoft Office programs, the Internet and e-mail, because even someone with a high school diploma may have never had computer classes during formal schooling.
They also have partnerships with companies, like Cargill, to help give workers the skills in math or language they need to advance in the company.
Tutors trained well
While the School Sisters have a background in education, volunteers don't have to be teachers to tutor others.
"They were very good about orientation," said West Allis resident Ruth Morrison, who has been a tutor since August after retiring. "They were very good about helping me so I felt comfortable."
Laux added that the training session helps new volunteers understand what is needed and books to use with the learners. Plus the staff members are there to answer any questions.
Gupta said volunteering with Milwaukee Achiever can be a great opportunity for retirees or stay-at-home moms whose children are grown or in school during the day.
"(Our volunteers) understand that this is a relationship between equals," Scholl said. "It's a life-changing experience on both ends."
Mount Mary plays part
Achiever graduates participate in a graduation ceremony, held just for them at Mount Mary College, Alverno College or Cardinal Stritch University, all schools founded by the three religious orders that founded the literacy service.
"We had one graduate who brought 23 family members," Scholl said. "This is the moment where they have done something that they have intended to do. It's such a proud moment to share with their family."
After graduation, they can enroll in Mount Mary College in the Community, a program just for Achiever alums.
The program transitions the adult learners into the college classroom by offering the first class at a Milwaukee Achiever location. Then, students have the opportunity to take more classes at the college - and they can earn up to 10.5 credits for just $30.
"That's a $6,000 value," Scholl said.
The unique partnership garnered the 2010 Program Innovation Award from ProLiteracy, an international nonprofit advocating adult literacy.
"One of the side benefits of the one-on-one tutoring that we really value is that it brings parts of the community together who wouldn't normally meet," Scholl said. "People can see that we're all kind of the same. We're all working toward the same goal. Everyone wants their family taken care of."
At a glance
Milwaukee Achiever offers the following services for adult learners:
• Adult Basic Education: grade levels 1 to 6
• General Educational Development (GED): grade levels 7 to 12
• Assessment: testing to determine competency and evaluation of workplace skills
• Bilingual Medical Interpreter Training: anatomy and medical terminology
• Bilingual Legal Interpreter Training: legal terminology
• Career Exploration: assistance for job seekers
• Citizenship Skills: tutoring to prepare for testing to become a U.S. citizen
• College and Business Preparatory Writing Skills: instruction in business writing standards
• Computer Literacy: basic, intermediate and advanced training in software and the Internet
• English Language Learners: understand, speak, read and write the English language
• Joblink: industry-specific training in partnership with businesses
• Job Readiness Training: workplace expectations
• Pre-Vocational Training: skills to enter apprenticeship or other programs
FYI
Milwaukee Achiever is in need of volunteers to help meet the demand for tutoring services. Previous teaching experience is not necessary and training will be provided. To volunteer or learn more about the program, call (414) 643-5108 or visit milwaukeeachiever.org.
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