Lead like Willie
One of the best parts of my day is the cheering I hear from the new computer lab at Literacy Minnesota’s Raymond office. The lab is around the corner from my office, and the cheering means someone has passed a Northstar Digital Literacy assessment.
Greetings! My name is Wendy Berry. I’m Literacy Minnesota’s Director of Human Resources and Interim Co-President. The latter is a role I share with Operations Director António Raquel.
I continue to be blown away by the amazing people who find their way to us. People like Willie Jones, pictured above. Willie is a single father of three daughters, and a regular participant in our Open Door Midway computer skills lab. Willie’s early adulthood was the opposite of his world now; he had run-ins with the law and struggled with addiction and the aftermath of a motorcycle accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. Willie shared that a DUI years after the accident was the wake up call that changed everything. He was determined to make space for new opportunities, like improving his skills in our computer lab.
“If there’s anything that can help me better myself and perhaps someone else, then I’m all for it.”
Prior to spending time in the skills lab, Willie had very limited experience with updated technology. He worried about clicking the wrong links or opening an email that invited scammers to claim his personal information. “There are a lot of different roads in the internet world where people like me are very afraid to explore.”
Did you know? Across industries, 92% of jobs require digital skills; yet one-third of workers haven’t had sufficient opportunity to build such skills.
Whether you grew up with technology or picked up those skills later in life, you can probably relate to Willie. Leaving your comfort zone to learn any new skill can be daunting.
What makes transformative learning possible?
For Willie, it was a welcoming computer lab environment, tools like Northstar Digital Literacy and trained volunteers and staff like Julie, Manee and Paj. They met Willie where he was, let him identify the skills that would make his life easier and had him set his own pace.
Despite his adversity, Willie is a constant source of positivity. When others in the computer lab encounter problems, he’s there to build his peers up. Outside of the computer lab, Willie generously volunteers his time in a variety of ways–from visiting local nursing home residents to helping people navigate sobriety.
When you donate to Literacy Minnesota, this is the culture of learning and community you sustain.
Willie now manages technology with growing confidence. He recently installed his own home security system and no longer needs to call someone for extra tech support. He even set up a computer at the nursing home where he volunteers so that the residents have extra activities available to them.
Will you invest in adult education today, knowing your gift sparks waves of change that transform families, communities and generations?
Last year, Literacy Minnesota:
- Reached nearly 2,000 adults with free digital skills, English, career readiness, Pre-GED® and citizenship classes.
- Offered Northstar Digital Literacy learning through 3,260 partner organizations and free online resources, giving hundreds of thousands of participants the chance to build digital skills.
- Provided free and low-cost educator resources, training workshops and other field-building supports to strengthen literacy organizations in Minnesota and across the country.
A wave of change begins, student by student.
.jpeg)
“And then I think I’ll be comfortable enough to begin taking courses online. That’s where I’m headed.” Willie hopes to one day pursue more training to become a counselor or peer support specialist for people navigating
sobriety.
“I want to be great. I don’t have much time,” Willie tells his high school-aged daughter, reflecting on the time he missed investing in himself. He hopes to set an example for the bright future she can have for herself.
At Literacy Minnesota, we know that literacy is more than a skill–it’s a pathway to justice, belonging and opportunity. This year has brought change, both within our organization and in the broader landscape around us. As federal priorities and funding shift, our mission remains clear: to connect people to transformative learning, spark innovation in literacy and mobilize change.
Willie Jones embodies Literacy Minnesota’s mission–connecting those around him to transformative opportunities and innovating his life with new tools. Individual giving is a critical part of our funding base. Will you join Willie’s leadership and mobilize for change with a gift by December 31?
With gratitude,
Wendy Berry
Interim Co-President and Director of Human Resources
P.S. A gift of any size brings us closer to reaching our year-end goal. Please give generously.