History
1980 – 1989
Tutor Training
1980: The first tutor training workshop is conducted to train tutors to teach English as a Second Language in response to the newly-arriving Southeast Asian refugees.
Each One, Teach One
1981: A small group of people forms the Literacy Council of Brown County, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, and affiliates with the national literacy organization Laubach Literacy Action (LLA).
A New Home
1983: The first workshop to train tutors to teach Basic Literacy is held.
1984: A Tutoring Center located in the lower level of the Madison Monroe building is opened.
Library for Literacy
1986: Our tutor lending library, which now hosts thousands of books.
New Leadership
1988: The organization was volunteer-led until the spring of 1988 when the first two staff members are hired: Evie Jensen, as Office Manager and Tori Rader, as the Executive Director.
1988: The Literacy Council of Brown County receives funding from the United Way of Brown County.
The Work Continues
A picture of an early tutoring pair.
Building a Legacy
1989: The organization establishes an endowment fund after the passing of long-time supporter Thomas P. Brogan.
1990 – 1999
Programs Expand
1991: The first Program Coordinator is hired to oversee the growing tutoring program.
Spelling Bee
1993: The first Spelling Bee fundraiser is held.
Room to Grow
1994: Main office is relocated to 1st floor of the Madison-Monroe Building.
Better Together
1995: The Literacy Council expands its programming, with funding from the Cornerstone Foundation, to offer its first ESL large group class.
Class Program Grows
1995: The first ESL Class Coordinator is hired.
A Class Act
1997: ESL programming expands to 3 levels of classes with corporate support.
Family Focus
1998: Childcare is made available to students attending classes.
Futures for Families
1999: A coordinator is hired with federal dollars to begin the Greater Green Bay EvenStart Family Literacy Program.
2000 – 2010
New Programs
2000: Two new programs are created, Child Tutoring and Workforce Development, with funding from the Cornerstone Foundation.
Best in Show
2002: The Literacy Council of Brown County is recognized with the LLA Award of Excellence for Outstanding Literacy Programs at a national convention is San Diego. The organization also received the Mayor’s Civic Award for Outstanding Community Organization.
2002: The Literacy Council of Brown County attains national accreditation.
A Year of Firsts
2003: The first Scrabble Bee fundraiser is held.
2003: Our first computer lab opens.
Happy Anniversary!
2006: Literacy Green Bay celebrates its 25th anniversary! Our EvenStart Family Literacy Program is recognized with the First Lady Jessica Doyle Award for Family Literacy.
By Any Other Name
2008: Our name is changed from Literacy Council of Brown County to Literacy Green Bay.
Stellar Sisters
2009: Two volunteer tutors, Sr. Jeanne Jarvis and Sr. Carlotta Ullmer, are recognized as the Tutors of the Year by Wisconsin Literacy, for a combined 10,000 hours of community service.
New Direction
2009: First Executive Director Tori Rader retires. Jennifer Nelson is hired as the next Executive Director.
2010 – 2020
Heart of Gold
2012: Tutor Frank Czarnecki receives Merrill Lynch Heart of Gold at WPS Volunteer Award breakfast.
New Direction
2012: Jennifer Nelson resigns as Executive Director. Kathy Cornell named new Executive Director.
Ethics in Action
2014: Literacy Green Bay receives the nonprofit Ethics in Business Award from AFCS.
Walk for Literacy
2015: First Walk for Literacy held at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
Built to Last
2016-2017: Equipped for the Future Renovation project kicks off with a Wall Breaking Ceremony. Renovation is completed in 2017.
Music for a Cause
2017: Literacy Green Bay is the Non-Profit partner for the 2017 Doctors in Recital show.
Soaring Higher
2017: Literacy Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College forge a formal collaboration to ensure learners’ college and career readiness.
New Direction
2018: Robyn Hallet replaces Kathy Cornell as Executive Director after Kathy’s retirement.
Overcoming Obstacles
2019: Literacy Green Bay is awarded the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Special Accomplishments award in recognition of obstacles overcome to make the 2017 classroom renovation possible.
2020 – Present
Safer at Home
2020: Literacy Green Bay moves all programs online to keep students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
40 Years of Literacy
2021: Literacy Green Bay celebrates its 40th anniversary while adhering to pandemic guidelines
A Digital Workforce
2022: Literacy Green Bay establishes its digital literacy program to serve the changing needs of students.
New Direction
2023: Eric Sponholtz becomes Literacy Green Bay’s new executive director, replacing Robyn Hallet.
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Office Hours
Monday – Thursday:
8:30 am – 8:00 pm
Friday:
8:30 am – noon