History

Timeline

1983

Milwaukee Achiever Program Founded

First learning center opened at 931 West Madison Street

1989

In under ten years, Milwaukee Achiever Program more than tripled the number of learners served

1992

JobLink program introduced. JobLink serves area businesses by providing literacy services at their locations

1997

Milwaukee Achiever's award-winning flagship bridge-to-college program, Mount Mary College in Community, was founded. In 2010, the MMCIC program won ProLiteracy's National Program Innovation Award

1998

Milwaukee Achiever partners with one of the area's leading W2 agencies, MAXIMUS, to provide educational services at Workforce Development Job Centers
First year of publication of the Slices of Life compilation featuring learners' writings and poems

2003

Milwaukee Achiever celebrated twenty years in the community and formally changed its name to Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services

2004

First Annual GED Graduation and Achievement Awards Ceremony held at Mount Mary College

2008

25 year anniversary celebration marked by a Gala Film event

2009

In May, Milwaukee Achiever receives accreditation with ProLiteracy, the nation's only accreditor of adult literacy providers

2010

Milwaukee Achiever's current Executive Director, Peg Palmer, receives Wisconsin Literacy's 2010 Literacy Advocate of the Year Award

History

Written by Administrator

Building on Strong Roots from Yesterday to Become a Regional Leader Today

Milwaukee Achiever was founded in 1983 by the presidents of three of the area's leading Catholic educational institutions, Alverno College, Cardinal Stritch University, and Mount Mary College. The impetus for founding our organization grew out of the startling results of a study entitled "Milwaukee 2000," which found that one in six of the city's adults was functionally illiterate. The call to action was clear.

Proud history, bright future: L-R, Back Row: Emeritus Founder Sr. Ellen Lorenz, SSND, Corporate Board Member and Mount Mary College President, Eileen Schwalbach, 2010 Legacy Awards Keynote Speaker and President of Literacy Powerline, Margaret Doughty, Current Executive Director Peg Palmer, MSW, 2010 Legacy Awards Honoree, YMCA Representative Bob Yamachika, Program Host WISN's Portia Young, 2010 Legacy Awards Honoree and Executive Director of Wisconsin Literacy, Michelle Erikson, Milwaukee Achiever Board of Directors Chair Pamela Schopf. L-R, Front Row: Emeritus Founder, Sr. Joel Read, SSSF, 2010 Legacy Awards Honoree and Former Executive Director Sr. Agnes Marie Henkel, Emeritus Founder Sr. Camille Kleibhan, OSF. Pictured in the Joel Read Rotunda at Alverno College.

The first center opened in February of 1983 at 931 West Madison Street. Many of the first and long-time tutors were loyal sisters from each of the founding orders. Fourteen adult learners and their volunteer tutors attended the first session.

madison-st-first-location

Today, Milwaukee Achiever serves over 1,800 learners annual, with an increasing number of individuals flocking to our centers each year. Two learning centers that comprise our community programming are located at 1215 South 45th Street (on Milwaukee's south side) and 5566 North 69th Street (on the northwest side). To meet an increasing demand for workforce literacy, Milwaukee Achiever has also opened a number of satellite learning labs in the city. At these various locations, Milwaukee Achiever provides adult learners with one-on-one and small group, instruction in Adult Basic Education (ABE), English Language Learning (ELL), General Educational Development (GED), citizenship, computer, and workforce development skills. Our mission is possible because of the dedicated efforts of over 200 highly skilled volunteer tutors who motivate their learners to attain learning and career goals.

From its humble beginnings through the present day, Milwaukee Achiever has helped over 20,000 highly motivated adult learners and is currently serving approximately 1,800 learners per year from nearly 50 countries including the United States.