This Fall 2015 we will be welcoming our 1,000th student through our doors!  
Help us celebrate this accomplishment by making a donation here: https://www.crowdrise.com/helpusreachthe1000mi/fundraiser/englishlanguagepartn

Dear Friends of English Language Partners of Wisconsin,

At long last, welcome to our website! We have worked hard to create a complete picture of ELPW’s mission,
history, and goals for the future. This project began in December 2011. It had to be shelved in January 2012 when all my time had to be devoted to raising anchor funds to financially stabilize this new nonprofit. Thanks to a major gift from the Siebert Lutheran Foundation in November 2012, it was possible to engage an interim executive director in January. With Eloiza Altoro at the helm, I was finally able to go back to the website project in February 2013.
Throughout this delay, our consultant, Andrea Mendez Barrutia of MiVoz.com, was unwaveringly patient
and understanding. When we started building the pages, Andrea worked tirelessly to organize the information according to the structure I had envisioned, and she gave valuable advice on how to make it better. Because she is so well-connected in and informed about Milwaukee’s and Chicago’s immigrant communities, she brought an invaluable perspective in terms of how ELPW should present itself.
This website would not exist without her expertise, wisdom, and guidance. 
Because ELPW has limited administrative staff, it was clear that maintaining the website would fall on
Lori Stankiewicz, ELPW’s Program Director. Andrea advised that we use Weebly as a platform, which is much easier to learn to edit and revise than other website builders. Therefore, this website is very simply constructed, but packed with information. The process of identity design will include a re-evaluation of the
website, and a different platform may be chosen to better reflect ELPW’s brand. 
In the meantime, ELPW finally has a web presence. Volunteers and students can now apply online. Foundations and prospective donors can easily find our case statement, a list of supporters and documents that demonstrate ELPW’s compliance with IRS regulations.   
As founder, one of my major goals was to provide a history of this initiative. The idea was born through research and implemented as a small outreach program at Gethsemane Lutheran Church.  This slide presentation describes how Pastor Jensen and Gethsemane’s congregation opened its doors to provide English classes for its immigrant neighbors. Since the first class on February 2, 2004, over 1,200
fluent English speakers have tutored over 900 immigrant adults. This feat of uninterrupted programming through these challenging years of transition to 501(c)(3) status is thanks to the generosity and advocacy of
key people and foundations and to Gethsemane’s unceasing commitment to show unconditional Christian love to its community. 
”Idea People/Founders” light matches, but it takes vastly different skill sets to keep the fire going. In
Fall 2009, the soundness of this program model was demonstrated when Lori took over from me as Program Director. Under her leadership, program administration and operations have been greatly improved and fine-tuned, and ELPW’s volunteer corps has expanded through partnerships with service learning programs and
public relations in the community. 
As an organization, ELPW needs new leadership to transform the idea into a solid institution. Eloiza
was engaged to serve as a bridge during this transition and give the Board ample time to conduct a thoughtful search process for a permanent executive director.
In  January 2013, I began my new life in Hong Kong. Eloiza has already accomplished several critical tasks in establishing administrative infrastructure. I am so grateful that she is leading ELPW through this next
stage of growth while it maintains its vision of a cohesive society that cherishes immigrants.
I will contribute to this blog with general information about language teaching. Lori and Eloiza will keep
you informed about events at ELPW. Please check back with us often!

 Beth