Meet Jenny Burwell, Literacy Network's new Donor Relations Manager. Jenny joined our staff this December and will work directly with Literacy Network's donors, family foundations, and supporters to build relationships, share news, and provide support and donor recognition. 

Jenny just relocated to Madison from the Twin Cities, where she spent the last 15 years working in development, communications, marketing, and management for nonprofit organizations and galleries. She served as a Steering Committee Member and brand developer for the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Coalition, which brought together 150 arts and cultural organizations across Minnesota. 

Jenny shares, "I am thrilled to join Literacy Network, and I look forward to connecting with the students, volunteers, and community."

Welcome, Jenny! We're glad to have you as part of the LitNet team.

Many of our students want to improve their English skills so they can return to careers they had in their home countries. Because students are still developing English proficiency and may lack professional networks or the security of citizenship, many initially accept jobs that require limited language skills, even if they come with years of experience and expertise in their field.

Students in one of our level one English classes recently started a unit on work. During the class pictured above, students practiced interviewing each other about both their current jobs, as well as jobs they held before coming to the United States. Examples included an accountant who now scans products at Walmart, a financial advisor at a bank who now works as a busser at a restaurant, a nurse who now works at a warehouse, and an Arabic language teacher who now is a homemaker and looking for a job.

Students found encouragement in hearing about their classmates' employment journeys and in their shared determination to regain work in their fields through stronger language skills.

With 1,500+ students annually and 50+ classes each semester, we have a lot of data to keep track of. How do we do it? Data Entry Volunteers!

Each semester, a team of six to eight volunteers spends two or more hours every week maintaining our data. Volunteers create and track student registration and attendance records. Staff use this data to measure and report program engagement, outcomes, and impact.

Current volunteers include (pictured above, clockwise from upper left) Sophy, Patti, Benjamin, Linda, Ryna, and Thomas (not pictured). To date, these hardworking volunteers have contributed over 400 hours in 2025!

Thank you, Data Entry Volunteers, for your accuracy, care, and commitment that help keep our programs running strong.

Join our team as an LTE ESL Instructor!

This part-time LTE employee teaches group ESL classes to adults at Literacy Network, at a partner site in Dane County, or online via Zoom. Responsibilities include assessing student needs, developing student-centered curricula, and planning communicative-based lessons.

Help adult learners build their skills, create community connections, and find joy in learning! Learn more at www.litnetwork.org/jobs.

Please consider monthly and planned giving. Find out more here.