Minnesota Literacy Council 2002 – 2003 Annual Report

Share the power of learning

Our Mission:Sharing the power of learning through education,

Thanks To Our SupportersIs our glass half empty or half full? Looking back on this year of increasing unemployment, record governmentdeficits, and instability throughout the world, it would be easy to think of it as half empty.

But at MLC, we believe our glass is half full. Despite a challenging environment, MLC accomplished muchduring our 2002-2003 program year. We:

• provided direct literacy services to more than 29,000 Minnesotans – 25% more than last year;• strengthened our children’s programming, launching Teacher Corps for Twin Cities teaching assistants

and K-3, at-risk kids;• expanded our Adult Literacy Hotline referral services, fielding more than 4,200 learner calls and

12,600 Web hits;• created a volunteer recruitment campaign that contributed to twice the previous year’s number of

new tutor inquiries;• trained 76% more tutors through in-service workshops; and• launched our new Web site, offering more online resources for literacy volunteers and teachers.We’re certainly pleased with our successes. But we’re most proud of the achievements of our learners

and the commitment of our new and ongoing volunteers and supporters. We and our literacy partners couldnot accomplish what we do without the courage and determination of our learners, and the generosity ofvolunteers and donors. You are the ones who recognize that – in good times and bad – basic literacy andEnglish services are fundamental to the success of our neighbors and the well-being of our communities.

Thanks to you, we will continue to share the power of learning during 2003-2004. Together, we will helpadults and children acquire literacy skills so that someday we won’t have to choose between half empty andhalf full. The glass will be filled with knowledge, understanding and educational opportunity for everyone.

Eric Nesheim Terri KrugerExecutive Director Board President

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Contents

Adult Direct Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

• Meeting the literacy needs of adult learners at Learning Centers across the Twin Cities

• Serving the Somali and Oromo communities with English as a Second Language and

Functional Work English classes

• Helping guide New Americans through citizenship classes

Associate Program Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

• Providing management resources for community literacy programs

• Supporting more extensive use of technology

• Referring learners and volunteers to literacy programs statewide

Volunteer Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8• Preparing volunteers to tutor in adult literacy and ESL

• Training volunteers in children’s tutoring programs

AmeriCorps* Teacher Corps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9• Helping K-3 children improve their literacy skills

• Promoting professional development of educational assistants

AmeriCorps*VISTA Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

• Increasing reading skills of at-risk, K-3 children during “summer slide” months

• Supporting community organizations that improve literacy statewide

Words Work! Early Literacy Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

• Fostering parent involvement in the development of young children’s emerging literacy skills

• Preparing at-risk children for success in school

Statement of Financial Position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Associate Literacy Programs, Staff and Board Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2002 – 2003 Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15

community building, and advocacy.

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Adult Direct ServicesTo fulfill its Adult Basic Education (ABE) mission, the Minnesota LiteracyCouncil operates adult literacy sites in St. Paul and Minneapolis. ABEand English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction helps adults becomeself-sufficient, productive citizens who have the literacy skills they needto succeed on the job and in their daily lives.

Learning CentersDuring the 2002-2003 program year, most MLC adult learners camefrom low-income, ethnically-diverse households. The majority of thestudents were Hispanic or African-American and ranged in age from 25to 44. An increased demand for ESL services reflected Minnesota’s ever-growing population of immigrants and refugees.

MLC’s longest-running direct service program, the North SideLearning Center, found a new home in April 2003. Previously located inthe Sumner Library in North Minneapolis, the learning center wasrelocated to serve the increasingly diverse neighborhoods of SouthCentral Minneapolis. The renamed Minneapolis Learning Center beganoffering one-to-one tutoring and classroom instruction at the WilderCommunity Education Center and Pillsbury United Communities. Thisyear, 47 trained volunteers delivered ESL, GED preparation, basicreading, math, and computer instruction to nearly 300 adult learners.

Following start-up in South Central, literacy support continued inNorth Minneapolis, where MLC coordinated one-to-one ESL tutoring atthe Cecil Newman Resource Center and the Phyllis WheatleyCommunity Center.

MLC operates two adult literacy sites in East St. Paul. With morethan 2,300 hours of volunteer support last year, the East Metro LearningCenter served nearly 400 learners, offering them one-to-one tutoring inESL, GED preparation, basic reading, math, and computer instruction. East

It’s Never Too LateAs a child in Texas in the 1940s, Patriciaattended school for less than three years.After moving to Minneapolis in 1959, sheworked many jobs, from house cleaning tolaundry. She browsed books to try toeducate herself in English and asked friendsfor help in keeping good employmentrecords to find better-paying jobs.

Over the years, Patricia never seemedto connect with a tutoring program orclass that could meet her literacy needs.Then she saw a flier about the newMinneapolis Learning Center. She said, “It’sthe best thing that could have happenedto me. I feel very lucky that I got that flier.”

Patricia now attends BasicReading/Phonics and Writing/Grammarclasses and receives the individual attentionshe needs to succeed. Her teachers andclassmates feel lucky, too, to share timewith a woman who has persevered over theyears, is accomplishing new goals andbelieves in giving back by helping othersaccomplish their goals, too.

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Metro welcomed life-long English speakers and a diverse mix of NewAmerican learners who represented more than 20 different nations. MLC’ssite at Sacred Heart Church drew its 45 ESL learners largely from thesurrounding neighborhood in the heart of East St. Paul’s Latino community.

MLC also partners with other organizations to offer ESL programs atsatellite sites in Twin Cities communities with growing ethnic populations.In Northeast Minneapolis, MLC operated an ESL program at Trinity UnitedMethodist Church. In South Minneapolis, MLC partnered with Holy RosaryChurch in a volunteer-led ESL program. During the 2002-2003 programyear, these programs served more than 1,000 learners.

East African Services Near downtown Minneapolis, MLC manages Ubah Educational Services,one of the largest adult literacy sites serving the Somali and Oromocommunities in Minnesota. Ubah continued to flourish this year, servingmore than 250 learners. Somali teachers, with help from volunteers,taught six English language learning levels, GED preparation, math, andcomputer classes four evenings per week.

During 2002-2003, Ubah also built a strong relationship with NorthCentral University, recruiting many volunteer tutors from theUniversity’s TEFL and elementary school teaching programs.

MLC’s Functional Work English program, located in St. Paul’sSkyline Tower, teaches English for work and daily life to Somali refugeesreceiving public assistance. Last year, two bilingual teachers preparedtheir students for the American workplace by helping them improvetheir English literacy and employment skills – such as filling out anapplication, interviewing, communicating with supervisors, andunderstanding expectations. The class, held 20 hours per week, served60 learners during the 2002-2003 program year.

Citizenship With support from the St. Paul Community Literacy Consortium, MLCcontinued to provide citizenship services in the Twin Cities. MLC staffconducted citizenship classes at six locations for more than 100students, nearly all of whom passed their U.S. citizenship exam thisyear. Staff members also distributed thousands of voter registrationcards at swearing-in ceremonies, guided students toward sources forlegal assistance and helped them complete forms and navigatesometimes-challenging procedures and systems.

MLC citizenship staff also presented at statewide ABE conferencesand conducted in-service workshops to train teachers and volunteers to tutor people seeking citizenship. The trainers provided specificteaching tools to help learners understand the forms, timelines,knowledge and process involved in becoming a U.S. citizen. MLC alsoprovided information about changes in the citizenship process and acomprehensive list of resources on the agency Web site.

A Better Person?by Suzanne McCurdy,

East Metro Learning Center Coordinator

Does MLC make people better? One ofour Latino students, Ines, studies Englishevery chance he gets – at the LearningCenter, at home, and during his lunchbreak. He’s very thoughtful and activeduring class, learning continually but alsoteaching. We’ve learned about Ines’ cultureand life, and about his character. His jobisn’t guaranteed, yet Ines is loyal to hisboss. Ines lives on a limited income, yethe’s grateful. He rides a bike to class in allweather, yet he never complains.

Ines and students like him broaden ourminds and our hearts. We learn about othercultures, and about achievement and thehuman spirit. Is Ines a better person becauseof MLC? In my eyes, no. You won’t find abetter person. Who does MLC make better?Me. The tutors. The staff. The community.Not a bad trade-off for a free class.

2,500

2000-2001 2001-2002

Program Year

2002-2003

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

MLC Direct Service Site Learners

Num

ber

of L

earn

ers

1,161

1,584

1,999

In 2002-2003, nearly 2,000 adult learners studiedat Minnesota Literacy Council Learning Centersand satellite sites.

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Associate Program ServicesIn 2002-2003, MLC continued to support the valuable work of localliteracy programs throughout Minnesota. More than 100 AssociatePrograms benefited from MLC services. In turn, these local programsreported that approximately 3,500 volunteers tutored more than 31,000adult learners, a dramatic 14,000 increase in learners over the prior year.

MLC helps volunteer coordinators, teachers and other Adult BasicEducation (ABE) staff to enhance the quality of their literacy programsthrough such services as:

• Technical assistance in volunteer management, curriculumdevelopment, and technology planning;

• Pre-service and in-service training of volunteer tutors;• Referrals of volunteers and learners through the Adult Literacy

Hotline (1-800-222-1990, www.theMLC.org/hotline);• Resources for program improvement, such as the Literacy

Landscape newsletter, e-mail tutor tips, the MLC lending library,networking opportunities, and To Open Your Mind, a journal of adultstudent writings; and

• Volunteer and learner recognition programs.

In 2002-2003, MLC also hosted two statewide conferences thatsupported learners, volunteers, and ABE professionals:

• Nearly 300 people participated in the 8th annual Partners inLiteracy Conference, a one-of-a-kind workshop that brings togetheradult learners with their tutors, teachers, and volunteer

Recruiting TutorsMLC introduced a new Volunteer TutorRecruitment Kit during a workshop at the2002 Coordinators Conference. Volunteercoordinators learned about research thatled to the development of creative,compelling messages that motivatepotential volunteers and debunk mythsabout tutoring. (No, you don’t need tospeak another language or have a teachinglicense to tutor!) They brainstormed waysto use the bookmarks, postcards, radiomessages and other materials in their localvolunteer recruiting efforts.

Conference attendee Peggy Stokmansaid, “We were encouraged and stimulatedby the sessions at the Coordinator’sConference. When our Sauk Centre/MelroseLiteracy Project decided to host a booth atthe Melrose Expo, we remembered themarvelous materials presented at avolunteer recruitment session.”

Peggy requested a quantity ofbookmarks to distribute and laterremarked, “I appreciated the gracious,helpful personnel at the MinnesotaLiteracy Council office who so generouslyserve outlying programs such as ours.”

“Thanks for all the practical ideas! I think you’ve madeAssociate Program Volunteer Coordinator

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coordinators. Break-out sessions covered ESL and ABE teachingstrategies, learner leadership, program management, citizenship andother topics.

• Seventy-one people attended the annual MLC Coordinators Conference, a one-day event that offered program and management topics for adult literacy volunteer coordinators.

Technology ServicesMLC Technology Services conducted trainings, provided online resources,developed new curricula, supported student data management andprovided a variety of other services for the ABE community. Highlightsfrom the past year include:

• MLC staff conducted 26 technology trainings at several locationsthroughout the state, including in-service workshops in the TwinCities and Mankato. MLC collaborated with the state LiteracyTraining Network (LTN) by offering trainings at LTN-sponsoredsessions in Detroit Lakes, Alexandria and St. Cloud.

• MLC hosted the Technology in Adult Literacy Conference in June2003. Nearly 50 ABE professionals attended this conference andparticipated in eight hands-on technology sessions.

• Staff members provided technical support to five mini-grantrecipients, who created technology-related curriculum for low-leveladult learners.

• MLC launched its new easy-to-use Web site with more onlineresources for the literacy community. MLC also improved Websupport for other state literacy service providers such as LiteracyMinnesota, LTN, and the ABE department at the MinnesotaDepartment of Education.

Adult Literacy HotlineDuring 2002-2003, the Adult Literacy Hotline continued to be a popularand useful phone and Web-based referral service for ABE learners,volunteers and literacy programs throughout the state

Year after year, Hotline calls and Web hits have increased. TheHotline took 4,232 calls in this program year, versus 3,614 calls during theprevious year. Nearly 15 percent of calls were handled in Spanish. Thanksto more outreach during the year, volunteer calls more than doubled.

Learners, volunteers and social service providers actively used theMLC Web site to access the Hotline database and retrieve informationabout ABE programs. In 2002-2003, Web hits totaled 13,302, comparedwith 8,068 hits during the prior year.

To Open Your MindHaving an essay or poem published is trulyempowering and affirming for adultlearners. To Open Your Mind, an annualjournal of writings by Minnesota adultsfrom all ESL and ABE learning levels,contained a record number of submissionsthis year (323). Learners, tutors andteachers use To Open Your Mind as alearning, teaching and recognition tool.

During National Poetry Month last April, several To Open Your Mindcontributing writers read their work at aBarnes & Noble bookstore. Theirparticipation in this MLC event “was a verypowerful way for learners to sharepersonal stories, build confidence, andembrace their achievements in learningEnglish,” says MLC ESL Specialist NimaSalehi.

“Contributing essays to To Open

Your Mind has been a wonderful

opportunity for my English language

learners to gain valuable writing

practice, to learn from the experiences of

other students, and to participate more

actively in their new communities by

sharing their own life histories, personal

goals, and opinions with other readers.”

—Minnesota ABE teachermy job easier.”

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Volunteer TrainingAdult LiteracyDuring the 2002-2003 program year, the MLC professional training staffprepared nearly 600 new volunteers to be confident, effective adultliteracy tutors. ESL pre-service tutor trainings drew the greatestnumbers as volunteers sought opportunities to help recent immigrantsand increase cross-cultural knowledge. Active tutors gave MLC trainershigh praise in a follow-up survey, with 86 percent of respondentsdescribing the 12-hour pre-service sessions as “valuable” or “veryvaluable” in preparing them for their volunteer literacy experience.

Current tutors continued to build their teaching skills by attendingin-service workshops throughout the year. Attendance figures at in-service sessions rose by more than 50 percent, as tutors learned aboutpronunciation and writing, use of technology, cultural differences,learning disabilities and many other topics.

As always, trained volunteers are a valuable asset in successfulliteracy programs in Minnesota. Volunteer tutors provide extra one-to-one literacy and English support that adult learners need to thrive.Classroom volunteers multiply scarce teaching resources and bring aunique perspective to the learning environment.

Children’s LiteracyMLC trainers conducted 30 workshops to prepare volunteers to helpchildren build their literacy skills. Workshops focused on training adultsto teach reading to K-3 students and to serve as homework helpers forolder children. Workshop participants included: students from collegesand high schools, members of AmeriCorps, Teacher Corps, RSVP andother federal volunteer programs, and others from the Twin Citiescommunity. Volunteers were placed in area schools and in libraries,community centers and other after-school programs.

MLC Receives “A” from A.C.E.S.MLC Training Manager Rob Podlasekcreates enthusiastic literacy tutorswherever he trains in the Twin Cities.According to Chad Holthaus, A.C.E.S.(Athletes Committed to EducatingStudents) Volunteer Coordinator, Rob getshigh marks for teaching new tutors how tomake reading fun for inner-city students ingrades 4 through 6.

According to Chad, A.C.E.S. volunteerscome to the program because they love towork with kids, but they have nobackground in teaching reading or writing.“Rob demonstrates what works with kidsand lets volunteers see from the kids’ pointof view,” says Chad. “He shows them thewindow into the child’s mind.” He addsthat Rob receives “nothing but goodcomments” in post-training evaluation.

The new tutors appreciate Rob’senergy and enthusiasm, and they comeaway with practical skills to help themcreate interesting, educational after-school activities for at-risk kids.

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Teacher CorpsIn the fall of 2002, MLC launched the AmeriCorps* Teacher Corpsprogram in Minnesota. A collaboration between MLC, ServeMinnesota!and the Corporation for National and Community Service, Teacher Corpsfocused on: a) helping K-3 children improve their reading skills; b)assisting educational and teaching assistants in pursuing teachinglicensure; and c) improving members’ and students’ understanding ofand ability to do community service.

MLC enrolled 89 educational and teaching assistants from theMinneapolis and St. Paul public schools as Teacher Corps members.Many Teacher Corps members were in their mid- to late-30s and hadworked about five years in the schools. Thirteen members spoke Englishas a second language, and 18 spoke a language other than English (e.g.Somali, Spanish, Hmong or Arabic). All shared a passion for teachingchildren and were eager to become licensed teachers.

Members served nearly 135,000 hours in the classroom and tutoredat 53 after-school program sites, working with more than 600 K-3children. Members also engaged over 700 students in service-learningprojects to help the children experience a shift from service recipient tocommunity contributor.

Many children tutored through Teacher Corps were from immigrantand refugee families and most were from low-income homes. TeacherCorps members – 70 percent of whom were people of color – closelyrepresented the cultural backgrounds and experiences of their students.In contrast, 84 percent of Minneapolis teachers and 87 percent of St.Paul teachers are Caucasian. By mirroring the ethnic mix of urbanstudents and families, the Teacher Corps program aimed to increase thenumber of teachers of color and better represent the diversity ofMinnesota’s schools and communities.

One-on-One Makes a DifferenceTeacher Corps members made a significantimpact with their K-3 students. Literacytutoring contributed to reading gains andimprovements in attendance, behavior andparticipation during the year.

One Teacher Corps member reflected,“When kids are in a big class, they can’tconcentrate. If the kid is very low (level),the teacher doesn’t have time for one-on-one, but (the child) does get one-on-one(time) with me. Translation makes a bigdifference for ESL kids.”

Another member talked about howliteracy tutoring helps students becomemore engaged in their education: “The…kidI tutored made a complete turnaround. Heeven apologized for his behavior and saidthat he was going to cooperate more. Theteacher said he never raised his handbefore and now he does.”

Teacher Corps members not onlyhelped students make significant gains intheir reading skills – they helped connectstudents with education and contributedto their overall academic success.

Teacher Corps Diversity

Teacher Corps members reflect the diversity of urban neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In comparison, over 84% of Minneapolis and St. Paul school teachers are Caucasian.

African Americanor Black, 50%

American Indian orAlaska Native, 1%

Asian, 7%

Caucasian, 28%

Hispanic, 14%

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AmeriCorps*VISTA ProgramsSummer ReadsLow-income, K-3 children in the Twin Cities received extra reading helpthanks to the MLC Summer Reads program. Forty Summer Reads VISTAs(Volunteers in Service to America) served more than 6,000 at-riskchildren in group literacy activities and one-to-one tutoring sessions.These children are especially vulnerable to “summer slide,” whenchildren’s literacy skills stagnate or decline over the summer months.

Students tutored by Summer Reads VISTAs gained an average of 7.5words per minute (wpm) over five weeks. During the school year,elementary students typically gain 2 to 3 wpm per month.

The MLC Summer Reads program placed AmeriCorps*VISTAs inMinneapolis and Saint Paul summer schools and community sites wherethey creatively blended reading and writing with play. Their presence inclassrooms was very positive for students and significantly reduced workstress for teachers.

One librarian exclaimed, “The difference between last summer[without Summer Reads VISTAs] and this year was like night and day.Last summer we had many children visiting the library, bored, causingtrouble and damaging property. This summer we again had lots ofchildren, but they had something meaningful to do…and the library wasa good, safe place.”

Yearlong VISTADuring 2002-2003, MLC supported 35 yearlong AmeriCorps*VISTAs whoserved in community organizations such as libraries, schools andcolleges across the state. The VISTAs recruited more than 4,000volunteers who, in turn, tutored over 17,000 youth in Minnesota.

In addition to helping create the infrastructure to improve literacy andfight poverty in their communities, the VISTAs met throughout the year forongoing training on literacy, cultural competency, and public policy.

Life-long LearningJohn Shirk retired from library service in1998, but his commitment to literacy stillcontinues. At age 70, after volunteering forthe Peace Corps in Morocco, John becamean MLC yearlong AmeriCorps*VISTA at theHosmer Community Library in Minneapolis.

John assists the library by organizingspecial programs for adults and kids andadministering a life-long learningassessment tool to discover more about themembers of the community. A strongbeliever in life-long learning, Johnremarked, “I like what I am doing,particularly regarding interviews with adultlearners and working with the public,serving people.” John’s dedication comesthrough his desire to make an impact on thelives of his South Minneapolis neighbors.

Whether arranging a jazz ensembleconcert to bring people to Hosmer ordelivering books to various neighborhoodsites, John has found a calling withAmeriCorps*VISTA. “Life-long learningchallenges us to ask ourselves, ‘How can wecreate meaning in our lives?’ I asked myselfthis question when I retired from libraryservice. The answer was volunteering.”

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From Words Work! FamiliesIn a random sample phone survey, WordsWork! families shared why they value MLCLiteracy Home Visitors:• “She gives me good suggestions on what

I can do to help my children read andwrite even though I don’t know English.”

• “I am starting to get used to checking onthe progress of my child with theteachers. The home visitor helped me toestablish this new habit.”

• “She leaves many good materials –books, flash cards, worksheets withnumbers on them. This lets us keep doingthe same activities after she is gone.”

• “She tells us things that we can doaround the house to help with his lettersand reading.”

• “ . . . she lets me know that I am doing agood job and this encourages me to keepworking with my daughter. Now we readtogether every day.”

Words Work! CollaborationDuring 2002-2003, Words Work! continued to receive praisefrom participating families and collaborating partners,including the St. Paul Foundation and RAP Head Start. Aspart of Words Work!, MLC Literacy Home Visitors served 192low-income families with Head Start, kindergarten and 1stgrade children. Nearly two-thirds of the families were non-

native English speakers, so the multi-lingual MLC staff was able to bridgelanguage barriers with Hmong, Latino and Somali clients.

During the home visits, parents and children engaged in activitiesthat support emergent literacy goals (increasing vocabulary, attemptingto print, learning the alphabet, etc.). These activities were reinforcedwith experiences and ideas from everyday life that parents can continueto use with their children – such as counting the floors in theirapartment building, identifying letters on a calendar or sorting groceries.

During the year, MLC Literacy Home Visitors solidified connectionsbetween the families, their children’s schools, and the community. Theyencouraged parents to share school questions and helped problem-solveby attending parent/school conferences, answering questions aboutreport cards, and offering suggestions of how to best help their childsucceed in the school system. The MLC staff members also helpedfamilies learn to use the public library, sign up for English andcitizenship classes, and use other early childhood and family services.

This year MLC added cross-cultural, parent-child group activitynights as a Words Work! program component. Families reported on thevalue and fun of the activities, and asked for more of these opportunities.

The annual pre-post family inventory, focus groups and statisticalevaluation have all documented the success of Words Work!. For example,since families began literacy home visits, the number of books in thehome and amount of reading to the child have increased significantly.

Q. During the past week, how many children’s books did your child have at home?

Words Work! Family Inventory, May, 2003

200311 to 25 books

20023 to 10 books

20011 or 2 books

The average number of children’s books available athome has increased significantly since families beganparticipating in Words Work!.

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Statement of Financial Position

June 30, 2003 and 20022003 2002

AssetsCash and cash equivalents $ 602,895 $ 511,156Accounts and Grants Receivable 662,623 792,985Prepaid Expenses 8,339 7,537Equipment, Net of Accumulated Depreciation 92,707 134,570

Total Assets $1,366,564 $1,446,248

Liabilities and Net Assets

LiabilitiesAccounts Payable $ 68,082 $ 91,238Capital Lease Payable 5,054 17,918Accrued Expenses 27,361 36,511Deferred Revenue 20,927 12,114

Total Liabilities 121,424 157,781

Net AssetsUnrestricted

Undesignated 247,721 281,088Designated by Board of Directors 475,000 475,000

Temporarily Restricted 522,419 532,379Total Net Assets 1,245,140 1,288,467

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $1,366,564 $1,446,248

Statement of Activities

June 30, 2003 and 2002 2003 2002

Unrestricted Temporarily Total Unrestricted Temporarily TotalRestricted Restricted

Support and RevenuesCorporation/Foundation Grants $ 45,317 $ 500,074 $ 545,391 $ 49,715 $ 99,509 $ 149,224Government Grants — 2,043,028 2,043,028 — 1,913,699 1,913,699Special Events 27,467 — 27,467 26,680 — 26,680Contributions 62,690 5,064 67,754 65,751 2,901 68,652Program Service Fees 26,234 — 26,234 21,248 — 21,248Pass-through Grants 57,787 — 57,787 129,570 — 129,570Interest 5,670 — 5,670 16,384 — 16,384Subtotal Support and Revenues 225,165 2,548,166 2,773,331 309,348 2,016,109 2,325,457

Net Assets Releasedfrom Restriction 2,558,126 (2,558,126) — 2,339,302 (2,339,302) —

Total Support and Revenues 2,783,291 (9,960) 2,773,331 2,648,650 (323,193) 2,325,457

Expenses and LossesProgram Services 2,494,382 — 2,494,382 2,339,313 — 2,339,313Management and General 208,337 — 208,337 197,646 — 197,646Fundraising 113,939 — 113,939 88,075 — 88,075

Total Expenses 2,816,658 — 2,816,658 2,625,034 — 2,625,034

Change in Net Assets (33,367) (9,960) (43,327) 23,616 (323,193) (299,577)

Beginning Net Assets 756,088 532,379 1,288,467 732,472 855,572 1,588,044

Ending Net Assets $ 722,721 $ 522,419 $1,245,140 $ 756,088 $ 532,379 $1,288,467

Complete copies of MLC’s financial statements are available upon request.

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Associate Programs Adult Education in Central MNAdult Options in EducationAitkin County Literacy Project Albert Lea Literacy Project Alexandria Literacy Project, Inc. Area Adult Learning Cooperative Austin ABE Bemidji Adult EducationBlue Earth Literacy Project Brainerd Learning Project Breckenridge ABEBrown County Literacy Project Carver Scott Educational CooperativeCapitol Hill English School Catholic CharitiesCenter for Victims of TortureChicanos Latinos United in Service

(CLUES) – MinneapolisChicanos Latinos United in Service

(CLUES) – St. Paul Chisago Lakes Literacy Project Cloquet Area Literacy Project CommonBond CommunitiesCourage CenterCrookston Literacy Council, Inc.Dakota Prairie ABEDuluth Literacy Project East Central ABE East Central Minnesota Literacy Project English Learning Center Faribault County Library Literacy

Partnership Fergus Falls ABEFirst Baptist Church Franklin Learning CenterFreshwater Adult Education Enhancement

ProjectGrand Rapids Literacy Project Granite Falls ABEGuadalupe Alternative Programs Guatemalan Latinos United EffortHastings ABE Hiawatha Valley ABEHibbing Literacy Action Center Highland Mac-Groveland Family CenterHmong American Partnership Holy Rosary ChurchHope CommunityISD #191 School for AdultsISD #196 ABEISD #465, Community EducationISD #622, North St. Paul, Maplewood,

OakdaleInstitute for New Americans International Falls Literacy Action Jewish Community CenterJewish Family and Children’s ServicesLake County Literacy Project Lakes Area Learning CenterLake of the Woods Literacy ProjectLakes and Prairies ConsortiumLakeville Area Learning Center/Options in

Adult EducationLao Family English SchoolLEAP English AcademyLincoln English Language School

Long Prairie/Grey Eagle Literacy ProjectLuverne ABEMadelia LiteracyMahtomedi ABEMankato Literacy ProjectMarshall Area Adult LearningMartin County Literacy ProjectMesabi Literacy ProjectMetro North ABEMinneapolis Public Schools ABEMinnesota Chinese Service CenterMinnewaska Literacy Project Moorhead ABEMORE Multicultural School for

EmpowermentMorris Literacy Project Mounds View Public Schools ABENeighborhood HouseNorthfield Community EducationNorthwest ECSUOpportunity PartnersOwatonna Adult Learning CenterPathways to Success ABE Program Pelican Rapids Literacy ProjectPerson to PersonPillsbury HousePine City Literacy ProjectPPL IndustriesRed Wing Literacy ProjectRedwood Falls Literacy Project Robbinsdale Adult Academic ProgramRochester Adult Literacy Project Rock County Literacy Project Rockford ABE Roseville Adult Learning CenterSabathani Lifeskills St. Anthony Park Lutheran ChurchSt. Charles Community EducationSt. Croix River Education District ABESt. Paul Public Schools ABESalvation Army English Language

ProgramSauk Centre Melrose Literacy ProjectSomalian Women’s AssociationSouth Suburban ABESouth Washington County ABEStaples Motley Community EducationStillwater Area Schools Community

Education ABEThree Rivers Literacy ProjectTrinity ESL ProgramUnited Cambodian Association of

MinnesotaUrban Communities Association of

MinneapolisVietnamese Social ServicesVolunteer Connection (SHAPE)Waseca ABEWatonwan County Literacy ProjectWEST ABE Consortium Westonka ABEWillmar ABEWinona Adult Literacy World ReliefWorthington Area Learning Center

StaffHassan Abdillahi, FWE TeacherElmi Adan, Ubah ReceptionistSuleiman Amin, Ubah TeacherIbrahim Ayeh, Ubah TeacherJason Brazier, Technology

Services SpecialistJane Cagle, Communications SpecialistMegan Conley, Summer Reads

CoordinatorKaltun Deriye, FWE Outreach

CoordinatorJanna Dethmers, Accounting

Assistant/Referral SpecialistVirginia Ferlet, Trinity CoordinatorCathy Grady, Program DirectorLucy Grinnell, Hotline CoordinatorGuy Haglund, Office ManagerMohamud Hashi, FWE TeacherMarian Hassan, Literacy Home VisitorPaula Hastings, Literacy Home VisitorVicki Hawley, Home Visitor CoordinatorDeborah Holbrook, ControllerAbdullahi Hussein, Ubah TeacherFarhan Hussein, Ubah TeacherAbshir Isse, Ubah Teacher Adam Johnson, VISTA LeaderApril Johnson, Literacy Home VisitorRyan Johnson, Community Services

ManagerStacy Johnson, Teacher Corps VISTAKate Krueger, Literacy Home VisitorAnne Marie Leland, Adult Direct

Services ManagerGarrett LePage, Minneapolis Learning

Center CoordinatorAstrid Liden, ESL Training CoordinatorRon Mazurowski, Citizenship TeacherSuzanne McCurdy, East Metro

Learning Center CoordinatorLiban Mohamed, Ubah TeacherHalima Mohamud, Ubah TeacherEric Nesheim, Executive DirectorBic Ngo, Teacher Corps CoordinatorFarah Nur, Ubah Intake CoordinatorAliya Omer, Ubah TeacherRob Podlasek, Training ManagerKaari Rodriguez, Literacy Home VisitorNima Salehi, ESL SpecialistIsmail Samatar, Ubah TeacherJenny Schlukebier,

Technology Services ManagerZhoua Vang, Literacy Home VisitorVallay Varro, Literacy Home VisitorAbdirashid Warsame, Ubah DirectorWendy Wehr, Development Director

Board of DirectorsTerri Kruger, President,

Polaris Industries Inc.Joan Berg, Treasurer,

Thermo King CorporationJudy Morgan, Management Chair,

CSD of MinnesotaBilquis Dairkee, Community LiaisonDen Gardner, Gardner & Gardner

CommunicationsAlissa Haller, Ernst & Young, LLPRobert Hanvik, Medtronic Inc.Shagufta Husen, State of MinnesotaGinny Latocki, Western National

Insurance GroupJudy Murakami, Medtronic Inc.Sherry Myers, Thrivent Financial for

LutheransKate Olson, Community Liaison

13

ORGANIZATIONS 3M Foundation ACHE MagazineAmerican Association of University

Women, Minneapolis BranchW. Glen Boyd Charitable FoundationDAR, Monument Chapter Meredyth Anne Dasburg FoundationDeluxe Corporation FoundationH.B. Fuller Company FoundationMary Livingston Griggs/Mary Griggs

Burke FoundationHiway Federal Credit Union Kyle Hunt & Partners, Inc.I.C. System, Inc., E.C.H.O.ImationING FoundationJohn S. and James L. Knight FoundationLocal 7200 Communications Workers of

AmericaMedtronic Foundation Midwest Fiction Writers Minnesota Mutual FoundationMinnesota TwinsNelson, Tietz & HoyeOak Grove Foundation Pentair FoundationPioneer Hi-Bred InternationalREELL Precision Manufacturing Corp.Mendon F. Schutt Family Fund of the

Minneapolis FoundationSit Investment Associates, Inc. Wendy and Colin Smith Family

FoundationSt. Croix Foundation St. Peders Evangelical Lutheran ChurchStar Tribune Foundation Thrivent Financial for LutheransUS Bancorp Foundation Wal-Mart Store #1864 H.E. and Helen R. Warren FoundationWatson Family Fund of the Minneapolis

FoundationWest Group Western National Insurance Group Westwood Lutheran ChurchWhitney Family Fund of the Minneapolis

FoundationWords at Work

INDIVIDUALS$1,000 or more Rogers, John and LoisAnonymous Anonymous

$500 or more Dorn, PaulFranke, Craig and Deborah FiorellaHansen, Amy and Schmidt, WalterKruger, TerriMcGinnis, Jill and RobertOlson, KateSchultz, David and Helene

$250 or moreBunton, Kristie

Chernow, Paige and Konings, MarkDoran, RobertaGriffin, Mary Grace and Dietman,

RaymondHoye, Tina and DennisNesheim, JosephOdegard, LindaPrentiss, Judy and Robert, Jr.Wark, Mary Ann and David

$100 or more Anderson, Linda and Hammett, TimothyBarbis, MargaretBiagini, JoyceBurch, Steve and HeidiBurke, Nancy and JimCajacob, Mary and Eisenberg, PeterConnolly, PhebeCopeland, HarlanCopenhaver, JohnDairkee, BilquisDeCoster, JulieDethmers, Gordon and SusanDueltgen, Ron and LoisDuff-Hruby, Nancy and Hruby, WayneErickson, Marilyn E.Fleig, BarbaraFleming, Ann RukavinaFunk, SusanGavin, JohnGeraty, Pat and DaveHamer, GingerHamre, LoriHarper, DonaldHeymans, Mark and Burleigh, DonnHodges, Barbara WaltersHolland, MarvinHoule, Cheryl M.Johnson, HollyJorgensen, ScottKelen, MiriamKeller, AudraKing, JudyKytonen, EileenLauer, GregLieberman, Jay and SallyLockwood, SharonMcKee, Scott and MarilynMiller, MildredMyers, Peter and KarlaNelson, Jill and NathanNelson, Russ and NancyNesheim, Eric and MirthaNiemiec, Dick and JoanParker, ElizabethPederson, William and EleanorePeterson, DorisPeterson, Kirsten and JimPitner, Kolean and Wilson, RichardPoncin, JohnRanney, SusanReed, Sara EliseRiensche, RachelSchenian, Dale and BettySchneider, ThomasSchreurs, Raymond and Leola

Schumacher, DavidSeroshek, ToniShima, TerrySmith, Susan Oberman and DouglasSwedeen, Brian and Burnor, TerriTaylor, Beth R.Vanden Plas, Larry and SuzanneWallis, LillianWehr, Karl and HerthaWehr, Mark and DeborahWelshons, John and LoisWest, PatWilke, John W.Wirth-Johnson, Margaret and Johnson,

JimWray, BetsyYager, Don and Groger, Richard

Under $100 Abbott-Penny, ArielAddison, Mary JaneAkhtar, Moiz and DurresaminAllen, Barbara and ChipAllen, DavidAltman-Segal, DeviAmundson, WendyAnderson, JaniceAnderson, Kathryn and WilliamAnderson, MaryAustin-Roehler, ChristineBauer, Marvin and HelenBendel, Julie Thalhuber and ChrisBergeson, KelleyBergstrom, JaneBlenkush, MickiBollin, CheriBonne, MarshaBossenmaier, MonicaBratland, Cathy and RogerBridgland, JanetBronson, EdgertonBrooks, BerniceButler, Chuck and LisbethCagle, JaneCarty, SylviaChase, Tracy Schultz and TimothyCheney, MarciaChrist, EricaChurchill, Julie and Henson, MichaelCitron, Ellen and PaulCoffin, LindaConnolly, LouiseCorbey, Kim and JamesCovey, Nancy H.Croes, LynneDalton, JillDavies, KendrickDavis, JuliaDeCosse, PaulaDeGroot, DeanDenman, Paula and DeWitt, LouisDeRosier, GingerDunn, JamesDurkin, Janet and Thurston, JosephEngler Family, Patti and LeeFarley, FrancesFehrenbach, Paul and DonnaFelker, David and LindaFeshbach, AndreaField, Harold Jr. and Joyce

Fiola, Jerry and JudyFisher, Robert D. and LindaFlinner, Jack and MaralynFlorance, M. J. Jr.Freeman, William AmaraFrettem, ElsaFristik, John and Rupp, CynthiaGaines, SuzanneGeorgens, Kay and RodneyGerlach, BarbaraGoldfein, Judith and MelvinGoodwin, SianaGrant, Debra Nelson and Todd FlemingGrass, BerdellaGray, David and CandyGreenbaum, Larry and AliceGustafson, ArleneHageman, Donna and GeneHague, Patti and Merrill, BarbaraHaley, CorneliaHaller, AlissaHamermesh, Morton and MadelineHammes-Betti, StephanieHanson, Jane and LonnHardwick, Zola and EugeneHartshorn, Constance and RobertHaworth, KathrynHays, DarleneHedlund, PaulHeidemann, SandraHeinrich, GladysHill, CathyHill, Roberta L.Hillerman, KarenHokkanen, EileenHolbrook, Heather and ReeceHollingsworth, GordonHusen, ShaguftaIdzorek, WilliamJacobson, EricaJenkins, Marjorie L.Johnson, Butch and Kraut, BilleeJohnson, RuthJorgens, Gayle A.Kennedy, Sue and TimothyKeyes, AnitaKjellberg, SharonKonu, FlorenceKraemer, Francis and MargaretLarson, Carolyn and RichardLarson, Craig and Gerdes, BeverlyLarson, Curtis and MarjorieLatocki, GinnyLearn, CarrieLedyard, EstherLeiste, Sara MarieLelievre, StewartLindgren, Anne WinslowLindquist, Lois SinnLittle, Peggy and LindsayLudvigson, VernaLutz, Charles T.Lynk, Ruby L.Lyons, BillMackie, AndreaMarshall, Judith and ToddMatts, Le HutchinsMazur, CelesteMcFarland, JoyceMcVay, Christine and T. Todd

2002-2003 DonorsJuly 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003

14

Michaelson, MargaretMiley, Tim and MaryMiller, RoyceMohabir, KatyMohseni, Navid and Kousha, MahnazMossberg, DonnaMuchow, WilliamMurakami, JudyMurray, GordonNelson, Marilyn and DouglasNesheim, David and TamiNorling, KeithOlsen, Alis and BarneyOlson, MaryOlson, PollyOrton, Carole and DavidOstrom, Vicki LynnParsons, Harold and VivianPercy, Pamela and Jackson, RogerPeters, MariePike, LorrainePugh, Charles and Donna RoseQuimby, Charlie and Cushman, SusanRausch, DorisRay, Steve and SheilaReader, Mark and DorothyRees, RobertRiesman, SuzanneRobinson, KarenSamuelson, PatriciaSandkamp, JoanSansone, NancyScholer, MarySchott, JackieSeek, ShirleyShelver, ElizabethShepard, JeanneSitze, Amy and Kaari, TimSmith, NancySmukler, Sue and Milavitz, BrianSolseng, Claudine and PhilipStabenow, Grant and MaryleeStanville, RichardStauffer, ConnieSterle, PatStevens, Ruth and JamesStrom, GloriaStrong, PhyllisStuhlman, Sheila and Crippen, JohnStults, KathySuttie, Mrs. JamesSwanberg, ShirleeSwanson, Stephen and MargaretThompson, BarbTitus, Jack and MarciaTrulen, JohnTuchscherer, James and GerdUnowsky, Cynthia and Badow, ThomasVergeront, Jeanne and Dick, AndrewVincent, JoyceVoxland, MarionWallner, Scott and ThereseWang, HeatherWangensteen, Peg and DougWedl, Kathy and RobertWells, Keith and SharonWheaton, John and KellyWhite, ThomasWiggen, GraceWild, Mark and Suzanne

Willis, RaymondWittenberg, JamesWolf, BruceWolf, Norman and JoanneWren, MarthaYarber, Gordon

DONOR-DESIGNATEDCONTRIBUTIONSDesignated gifts received through

America’s Charities, Greater Twin CitiesUnited Way, and Community SolutionsFund

Anonymous Donors Dethmers, LynneKarlen, KellyKorjenek, ElizabethPodesta, RobinVoith, Rob

EVENT AND IN-KINDCONTRIBUTIONSA.C.E.S. AAEA Professional Improvement AgenziaAlternative Staffing, Inc. Air JamaicaAmazing Beauty Spa and Salon Bachman’s Bensussen Deutch & Associates Berg, Joan KoerberBlack Forest InnBound To Be Read Brave New Workshop Brazier, JasonCafe Latte Carlson Fine JewelryCashman, MarkChanhassen Dinner Theater CHS - Land O’Lakes Cities 97Colle+McVoy, Inc.Community Security Bank Conzemius, BobCoughlin, KevinCSD of Minnesota Dairkee, BilquisDelta Chelsea Hotel Dethmers, JannaDo HairDunifon, KarenFaletti, GeraldFast Horse, Inc. Fennelly, BetsyFlannigan, ToddFleishman-Hillard Inc. Flint Hills Resources, LP Foust, RichFrench, Shari and TimothyGardner, DanielGardner, Sandy and DenGardner & Gardner CommunicationsGeneral Mills Golden Lantern Bed & Breakfast Grand CasinoGraves, McKenna, Lundeen & Almquist,

P.L.L.P.Greene Espel Guthrie Theater Haller, AlissaHanvik, Robert N.

Hawkins, RonHitchcock, FranHunt, Chad The Jewel Johnson Outdoors, Inc. Jostens, Inc. Just OccasionsKarsky, DarylKenneth R. Leland Real Estate Khan’s Mongolian BarbequeKincaid’s Klinkhammer, DaleKocon, Craig and LoisKocon, MarkKruger, TerriKurzman, Grant & Ojala Laird, DavidLamker, JessicaLandmark Theatres LaSalle FarmersLovell Safety Mgmt Co., LLC M&I Bank, MinnesotaMall of America Mann, AnnMarketplace Home Mortgage, LLC Matt Blair’s Celebrity Promotions McDonald’s Corporation McNeilus Steel Medtronic Inc. Meyer, ScottMeyer Bros. DairyMHC CompaniesMiller, Dana Minnesota Newspaper AssociationMinnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota TwinsMinnesota Vikings Mixed Blood Theater Moilanen, MarkMona, DaveMorgan, JudyMurakami, JudyMurphy, JaniceMurphy, RalphNational PremiumNelson, Tietz & HoyeNew Prague Golf Club Odegard, LindaPark Square Theater Peterson, KeithPodlasek, RobertPOHASKAD Polaris Industries Poss, Peter and MaryPrior Lake Heating and Air Conditioning Prochaska & Company, Inc Rasmussen, MorgenRed Balloon Book StoreRetterath, Bonnie Richard Petty Driving Experience Robert Vanasek & Associates, Inc. Rumpza, RobertSC Johnson Schroepfer, SandySchumacher’s New Prague Hotel Science Museum of Minnesota Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & CareySkaja, ThomasSolo VINO St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

Stanton-Group Subway Sandwiches & Salad Shop Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. Theatre de la Jeune Lune Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Thrivent Financial for Lutherans,

Employee GroupThe Toro Company Treasure Island Resort & Casino Trebisovsky, BarbaraTriple Espresso Turf & Ornamental Communicators US Bank Weber Shandwick Worldwide Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, New PragueWillette, BradyWorm, MarkWorm, NickZimmerman Reed/Robert Moilanen

THOMAS M. KRAEMER MEMORIALEDUCATION FUNDCourtney, CatherineCourtney, N. Warn and JeanHoye, Tina and DennisKraemer, Kenneth and KarenKraemer, Mike and LindaKraemer, Phil and Laurie

RECOGNITION DONATIONSIn Honor OfClient Birthdays: Affiance Financial;

Bond and Devick Financial NetworkMark Digre: Mueller, Walter and TerryEric and MLC Staff: Ledyard, EstherNoah Zvi Hamermesh: Hamermesh,

Matthew and HannahAbram Jopp’s Bar Mitzvah: Jopp,

Deborah, Ken and AbramJohn & Joan Neumiller: Hillebrand, MaryRick Olson: Gagner, PatriciaMr. and Mrs.Thomas O’Meara: Daniels,

Treffle and Joanne Rob Onken: Lund, CurtisDave Orurzet: Honl, Joan and Curtis, JackJudith Roggow and John Galic: Schally,

Margaret Diane Sineps: Bensman, Carol and AlanHelen Smith: Grundhauser, TonyPatricia Ward: Ward, James and Joanne

In Memory Of:Andrew Cohen: Steingold, Ellen and

Kenneth; Sadowsky, Ethel and NormanGladys Domann: Ellis, Claire and GeraldGlenn W. Falls: Hoppe, PamelaVirginia Keren Gonyea: Quinn, BarbaraBen Levin: Marshall, Judith and ToddThelma and Charles Myers: Myers, SherrySheldon Reed: Anderson, V. Elving and

Carol; DeBoer, Wendell and Marjorie;Hakomaki, Raymond and Mildred;Kwong, Mary; Laden, Laurel; Leitzke,Julia; MN Association for HumanGenetics; Snustad, D. Peter; Souther, LaVonne; Storts, Earl and Bertha

Sheldon and Elizabeth Reed: Beasley,John; Blair, John and Kim; Goodman,Robert and Kay; Merrell, David andJessie; Miller, Mulford and Gladys;Nicol, Susan

Laurence Stadther: Anderson, JaniceMarianne Baird Wallman: Mann,

Margaret and Austin; Wallman Estate

MLC apologizes for any errors or omissions. Please forward corrections to Jane Cagle at jcagle@theMLC.org or 651-645-2277, Ext. 234.15

756 Transfer RoadSt. Paul, Minnesota 55114-1404651.645.2277800.225.READwww.theMLC.org