This Fall semester, MPTC Student Community Impact Team partnered with Fond du Lac, Dodge, and Washington County United Ways on an amazing literacy project.

In celebration of Every Child a Reader – Children’s Book Week, 40+ student and staff volunteers at each MPTC campus sorted, stickered, bookmarked, packed and delivered 1,700+ books for rural elementary and middle school children in our district; including Campbellsport, Oakfield, Dodgeland, Hustisford, Jackson, Kewaskum, West Bend and Hartford. Each child received their very own new book focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

FDL Area United Way Director Amber Kilawee said, “The Fond du Lac Area United Way is honored to have the opportunity to work with Moraine Park Technical College students and staff on this wonderful service learning project! Culturally relevant books help to engage all of our readers because they build on the lived experiences of students. We also know that it’s critical for students to have the opportunity to read books focused on DEI because they provide an advantage in terms of academic performance outcomes. According to a 2020 Oakland University study, when students read books with more culturally relevant experiences, they are 16% more likely to make personal connections between the book and their own lives. This is especially important for our outreach into the rural school districts. Thank you MPTC for partnering with United Way!”

“Moraine Park students and employees are committed to helping fulfill community needs, sharing their time and talent, connecting and volunteering to help and improve the communities where we live, work and go to school,” MPTC Communications Manager Kristina Haensgen said. “This United we Read with MPTC project is the perfect way for our community engagement sponsorship dollars to have a great impact for over 1,700 kids across our district!”

“When I contacted my friends at our United Ways this summer to talk about possibilities for a fall community volunteer project, I never imagined what a wonderful idea they would have; and how wide our impact could be!” Student Community Impact Coordinator Anne Lemke said. “Thank you so much for all the collaboration and teamwork to make this great project successful! Also an extra shoutout to 4imprint for their generous donation of bright green MPTC logo gift bags for each book to be delivered in!”

For more information on community engagement at MPTC.