Welcome to the NEWcomer
Project Community Map!



The data used to create this map was gathered from January 2026-April 2026. This map shows the organizations and services around the North East Wisconsin Region which support immigrants and refugees as they resettle in the area.

Each sector shows what is available and reflects the perspectives of Newcomers as well as organizations.

A "Newcomer" is a person or family who has moved to the region or the United States in the past 5-10 years and is learning and adjusting to the main languages and cultures of our region.

To learn more about this project, please visit Hope & Help Together's project webpage .

Sectors

Basic_Needs Basic Needs Education Education Employment Employment Finance Finance Healthcare Healthcare Housing Housing Language_and_Literacy Language and Literacy Legal Legal Recreation Recreation Religion_and_Faith Religion and Faith Transportation Transportation

On this Page

Download Language and Literacy PDF

Newcomer Perspective
of the Language and Literacy Sector

English proficiency is necessary, and we are learning it, but we need more flexible classes and support to improve our language skills at a faster rate.

Map of Organizations
in the Language and Literacy Sector

Map of organizations

Language and Literacy Sector Analysis

45% of organizations that responded provide language and literacy services.

Please note: Not all respondents answered every question. As a result, the number of responses varies by question.


Newcomer Language and Literacy Background

Newcomers' Primary and Other Languages Spoken at Home

Primary language
Other language
Afar
1
0
Arabic
1
0
Azerbaijani
3
0
Bambara
0
1
Dari
3
1
English
28
30
Ewe
0
1
Farsi
1
1
French
7
3
Guere
0
1
Haitian Creole
3
0
Hebrew
4
0
Hmong
6
0
Kinyarwanda
14
1
Lao
0
1
Luganda
0
2
Mandarin Chinese
2
0
Mandinka
2
2
Navajo
1
0
Nepali
1
0
Nyanja
1
0
Pashto
1
1
Russian
0
1
Shona
1
0
Spanish
60
0
Swahili
19
6
Tamil
1
0
Thai
1
0
Turkish
1
0
Turkmen
1
0
Vietnamese
1
0
Wolof
1
1

Newcomers’ Comfort Levels: Primary Languages vs. English

Comfort levels in native language
Comfort levels in English

Reading

Comfortable
83
35
Somewhat Comfortable
29
43
Somewhat Uncomfortable
11
35
Uncomfortable
5
15

Writing

Comfortable
78
35
Somewhat Comfortable
34
42
Somewhat Uncomfortable
10
35
Uncomfortable
6
16

Speaking

Comfortable
88
37
Somewhat Comfortable
31
37
Somewhat Uncomfortable
7
39
Uncomfortable
2
15

Listening

Comfortable
95
46
Somewhat Comfortable
27
39
Somewhat Uncomfortable
5
35
Uncomfortable
1
8

Are you currently taking classes to learn English?

Yes
105
No
23

Do you know where adults can learn English?

Yes
15
No
8

Language Learning Strengths

Language and literacy were described as both a strength and an ongoing area of need within the community.

About 57% (16 of 28 responses) reported that learning English is going well, and 11% (3 of 28) shared that they already know some English.

A smaller portion noted access to support, with 7% (2 of 28) stating that services are helpful.


Language Learning Needs

On the improvement side, the most common need was increased English proficiency, representing 61% (17 of 28 responses).

Another 21% (6 of 28) requested more English classes.

Smaller shares highlighted reducing the cost of education (4%, 1 of 28), providing more support for children who struggle with language learning (4%, 1 of 28), and increasing the number of Spanish-speaking service providers (4%, 1 of 28).


Access to Language Supports

7% (2 of 28) expressed a desire for more ways to learn languages, and 4% (1 of 28) indicated interest in learning additional languages.

One respondent (4%) noted that English classes are already widely available.

Overall, responses indicate strong engagement in language learning alongside a continued need for expanded, more accessible, and more affordable language supports.


Language and Literacy Services requested, offered, or planned

0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
In-Person Interpreting
23%
6%
7%
Phone-Based Interpreting
35%
3%
6%
Language Learning
19%
19%
24%
Internal Document Translation
16%
3%
6%
Percent of organizations offering the service
Percent of organizations planning to offer the service
Percent of Newcomer respondents who requested the service

Newcomer Journey
for the Language and Literacy Sector

Newcomers are all at different stages in this timeline depending on when they arrived in the US.

The organizations included in survey data may focus on one, more or all areas of the acculturation curve in the effort to help Newcomers thrive. Below the chart you will see the acculturation curve focus point(s) of the organizations included.

The Acculturation Curve adjusting to a new life

Euphoria - first couple weeks or month after resettlement

Culture shock - begins about 6 weeks after resettlement

Acculturation - usually takes 2-10 years depending on the age and life events of an individual

Stable stage - state of arrival

Newcomer Journey Curve

Euphoria

  • Appleton Area School District
  • Appleton Public Library
  • Bethel Lutheran Church
  • Forward Service Corporation
  • Fox Valley Literacy
  • Hope & Help Together
  • Valley Transit
  • Winnebago Area Literacy Council

Culture Shock

  • Appleton Area School District
  • Appleton Public Library
  • Bethel Lutheran Church
  • Casa Esther
  • Forward Service Corporation
  • Fox Valley Literacy
  • Harbor House Domestic & Sexual Violence Programs
  • Hope & Help Together
  • Valley Transit
  • VPI, Inc.
  • Winnebago Area Literacy Council

Acculturation

  • Appleton Area School District
  • Appleton Public Library
  • Bethel Lutheran Church
  • Casa Esther
  • Forward Service Corporation
  • Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
  • Fox Valley Literacy
  • Harbor House Domestic & Sexual Violence Programs
  • Hope & Help Together
  • Valley Transit
  • VPI, Inc.
  • Winnebago Area Literacy Council

Stable State

  • Appleton Area School District
  • Appleton Public Library
  • Bethel Lutheran Church
  • Forward Service Corporation
  • Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
  • Fox Valley Literacy
  • Harbor House Domestic & Sexual Violence Programs
  • VPI, Inc.
  • Winnebago Area Literacy Council