APPLETON, Wis. — One in seven Wisconsin adults struggle with low literacy, according to Wisconsin Literacy. 

An Appleton organization is looking to change that. Fox Valley Literacy is helping people, like Braulio Moreno, open doors to a successful future.

Braulio Moreno is a native of Mexico. He goes there a few days each week.

“To improve my English, to learn to do the basic things like to go to the bank or go to the hospital by myself,” Braulio Moreno said.

Moreno said he knew he wanted to live in the Fox Valley after visiting his brother. He said at the time did not speak any English. 

He sought tutoring from Fox Valley Literacy, hoping it would help him give him and his family a better life.

Moreno has been working with tutor Ric Meese for nearly 10 years. Morena said getting the life he wants is happening because of the hours he spends in the classroom with Meese.

Moreno works at the Neenah Foundry. He hopes better English will lead to upward mobility at his job.

“I have good communication with my coworkers and my supervisors. It impacts me in every situation, every day, because I understand better. I can speak better,” Morena said.

Ric Meese has helped people like Morena for quite some time. Meese is a retired accountant and has been a Fox Valley tutor for 10 years. He said being an educator is in his blood.

“Both of my parents were teachers and college instructors,” Meese said. “So, I guess I get a gene from them, maybe.”

Meese said Fox Valley tutoring does more than help people to read.

“We teach life lessons, we teach people how to get a library card and how to read the bus schedule, how to fill out the applications for the doctors and dentist appointments and job applications online,” Meese said.

Meese has worked with Morena for 10 years. He even helped Moreno become a U.S. citizen. He said it was quite the effort and that preparing for the test was the most difficult part.

“Learning the 100 answers to the citizenship questions, there’s 100 questions and answers that they have to learn,” Meese said.

Morena is thankful for Meese’s help and that his family now takes tutoring lessons with Meese.

“My sisters and brother, my wife and I encourage them to take classes here for the same goal,” Moreno said. “To improve the life here and to get involved with the people around us.”

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Braulio Moreno’s last name. This error has been corrected. (Oct. 31, 2023)