Another round of federal funding cuts has impacted the Literacy Network again, but it remains hopeful that Madison residents will step up.
Cuts to funds have impacted Literacy Network’s Refugee English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses. The most recent cut is the second that Literacy Network has faced in the last year and a half. The previous cut ended a grant that cut its multi-year federal contract that helped Lawful Permanent Residents prepare for the naturalization process. That funding was never restored, but Literacy Network received a new grant from the Madison Community Foundation to fill the hole in its funding.
Literacy Network expected some level of funding cuts to its refugee program, but did not think it would go down to $0.
“We were not naive. We suspected that funding would certainly go down dramatically this year,” said Robin Ryan, executive director of Literacy Network. “It is a significant loss, but we’re committed to serving students, and we are committed to keeping the infrastructure and expertise here at Literacy Network, so when winds shift in the future and the country is again welcoming refugees, we still have a place… to support and welcome them.”
The amount of funding varies based on the number of refugees served. Over the past couple years, Literacy Network has received a bit of $200,000 in federal funding for the program.
The total number of students served largely depends on multiple factors. The current stance of the presidential administration, policy and current events — like wars in other nations — affects how Literacy Network serves.
For example, in 2021, Literacy Network served 34 students and received $41,500 in funding. That year’s total was largely dependent on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where travel bans limited movement across the world.
In 2022, as some travel restrictions started to ease up, the number of students increased to 105; in 2023, it was 170, and in 2024 it was 216.
“I think it speaks to the importance of being ready to welcome people when they come, because history tells us there will be another wave of refugees,” Ryan said. “We don’t know where from, but they will come with need and perseverance and are ready to restart their lives, and we want to be ready to help them and support them. And history tells us it will come back.”
The program spans five years and is strongly tailored to a student’s individual needs. Some taking classes may have a strong educational background and some level of English proficiency, while others may come from countries with heavily restricted access to education for specific groups, like women.
Most recently, Literacy Network has seen an influx of students from Afghanistan, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, Syria and Haiti.
“You see a lot of people in Madison coming from those countries, and I think it’s been that way for much of the last 50 years,” Ryan said. You hear about it in the national news, and then you see people in Madison.”
The funding cut is a worry, but it’s not the end for Literacy Network’s push. The fact that they are refugees is important on paper for funding, but at the end of the day, these are people trying to better their lives, Ryan said.
“It really doesn’t matter to us. They’re here. They’re part of the community. They are trying very, very hard to improve their prospects and improve prospects for their family,” Ryan said. “It doesn’t matter how they got here. Our plan is to be here and welcome them.”
Ryan hopes that the community will come together to help support areas where funding has been lost.
“There’s a lot of stability and reputation in the community. People know what we do. They value our services,” Ryan said. “Madison is a growing and thriving region, and there are people who value immigrants, refugees, people having a chance, people enriching the community. They’ll hear our request for aid and will support us through this difficult, hopefully brief, time.”
Literacy Network does have an upcoming fundraiser to help raise funds for the refugee program. Reading Between the Lines will invite the community out to hear from its students later this month on April 28.
