Communities in every corner of Wisconsin are facing a huge array of challenges, from the impacts of climate change on infrastructure, to the loss of talented youth who look for better lives elsewhere, to the need to increase cultural literacy as communities grow more diverse.
In Racine, Appleton, Spooner, and the Forest County Potawatomi community, residents are growing greater resilience thanks to the humanities tools of history, culture, and community conversation. Wisconsin Humanities’ Community Powered initiative trained four young workers who spent a year helping residents unearth and build on sometimes hidden strengths within each community.
As the 2022-23 projects come to a close, Rachel Steiner, Community Powered Project Coordinator in Appleton, tells us about teaming up with the public library and Fox Valley Literacy—an adult education program for English learners—to foster an increased sense of belonging among community members.
"The core of our project was the story circle, in which 6-10 people sit facing each other, relating a personal experience based on a theme. The nine students were of immigrant or refugee backgrounds from Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Iran.
The story circle built on Fox Valley Literacy’s existing programming, gave students a chance to practice speaking English in a welcoming environment, and created a shared experience.
At our event, each person told stories and gave examples of traditional foods from their homes.
