About WALC
Mission
Strengthen our diverse community by developing and delivering free learner-centered literacy programs for adults and their families.
Vision
Through our influence, the Winnebago area will be known for valuing, promoting, and supporting literacy so that our residents achieve sustained independence and truly thrive.
Values
Collaboration
Communicate and work together to achieve shared goals and build deeper connections.
Equal Access
Consider all perspectives through opportunities for equitable participation.
Learning
Incorporate new information to grow, adapt, and respond to changing experiences.
Resilience
Overcome barriers and adapt to new situations all while staying true to the mission.
Respect
Recognize the inherent dignity of all and that their abilities, experiences, and backgrounds matter.
Winnebago Area Literacy Council History
Created in 1989, Winnebago Area Literacy Council began as a non-profit organization dedicated to improving literacy among residents of the Winnebago area under the name “Winnebago County Literacy Council.” We have now expanded to assist refugees with learning the English language, providing education and assistance for obtaining employment through vocational literacy training, and conducting one-on-one tutoring sessions to help improve literacy, all free of charge.
Before the Winnebago Area Literacy Council was founded, the Altrusa Club of Oshkosh (created in 1949) and its Labach Literacy Committees were already conducting classes to train tutors and match them with respective students, providing tutoring sessions to help improve literacy in the Winnebago area. Deciding that there needed to be a dedicated organization to the cause, the Altrusa Club of Oshkosh and the Oshkosh Area Public Library conducted a meeting on April 10th, 1989, where the Winnebago County Literacy Council was officially created. In the birth of the non-profit, Advocap and the Fox Valley Technical College graciously assisted with providing a volunteer who helped with the WALC community efforts, and a part-time coordinator assigned to the non-profit organization. A committee board was also created in 1989 to help the organization, with Joe Halter as the first nominated president.
In 2018, the organization renamed itself to the Winnebago Area Literacy Council, to prevent confusion regarding its association with Winnebago County. In 2024 the agency expanded to two locations, opening the WALC Learning Center at 111 N. Main Street, Suite 202, Oshkosh WI to allow more space for classrooms, tutoring, and employees. Winnebago Area Literacy Council takes pride in our ability to transform as necessary to meet the needs of our diverse community.
