RCL Turns 60

From the passion of one, grew a mission:
Racine Literacy Council celebrates 60 years

In 1965, a faithful Racine churchgoer met a teacher who ignited a fiery passion within her. The late Margaret McIntosh dreamed of helping people who lacked opportunity because they could not read, speak, or write English. Her passion became the Racine Literacy Council. 
It is amazing what one person’s vision can accomplish. At the time, Margaret was a member of First Baptist Church in Racine and of an ecumenical group, Church Women United. It was at a Church Women United conference that Margaret met missionary and literacy expert Frank Laubach. 
Laubach published a literacy program in 1964 and was traveling the country, advocating that people teach their neighbors. “Each one, teach one,” was his motto.  Motivated by the idea, Margaret talked with her friends. They put an ad in the newspaper seeking volunteers. A dozen or so people responded. They took the Laubach training and began teaching people in their homes.  Along the way, Margaret’s dream gathered the support of Racine area businesses, organizations and thousands of neighbors who taught or learned together. 
Margaret passed away in 2010 at the age of 99. But her dream lives on today.  As we enter our birthday year, Racine Literacy Council continues to live out the “each one, teach one” philosophy by gathering and training volunteer tutors.  Seventy tutors have been engaged in our mission during 2024, and those volunteers helped us to teach more than 230 people. 

Laura Sumner-Coon, Executive Director