Brian Leone Tracy

​​he/him/his

(920) 991-9840

brian@foxvalleylit.org

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Since 2019, Brian has served as the Executive Director of Fox Valley Literacy. He also served on the Fox Valley Literacy Board of Directors andgrasps a thorough understanding of the organization, its mission and the challenges of providing quality educational services without government funding. Brian brings that operations and communications perspective to his work while seeking new ways to authentically serve our students' needs and make literacy support accessible throughout the Fox Valley.
Prior to moving to the Fox Cities, Brian worked at international and national nonprofits in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. He has a Master's in Communication Management from University of Southern California and a Bachelor's in Media Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.​​​​​​​​​

Heather Chantelois-Kashal

​​she/her/hers

(920) 234-8041

Heather@foxvalleylit.org

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With a Master's in Conflict Resolution, Heather came to Fox Valley Literacy eight years ago after working as a public health researcher and advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed articles about violence prevention and maternal health and taught at K-12 and university levels. Living overseas and being part of a mixed-origin family has given Heather a passion for creating communities that are accessible and empowering for people with diverse backgrounds and skills, and this passion led her to Fox Valley Literacy.

As Program and Operations Director, Heather builds programs that meet the multifaceted needs and strengths of our students and creates an organizational culture of trust, growth, and belonging. She finds joy in teaching and in helping to expand safety, connectedness, and possibility horizons for our community members. 

Verónica Zamudio

​she/her/hers

(920) 234-8041

veronica@foxvalleylit.org

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Verónica’s own experiences as an immigrant and as an English Language Learner inspired her to get involved with Fox Valley Literacy. She has always wanted to help people, and due to her firsthand experience, she understands the struggles and needs of the Fox Valley Literacy students. She offers them support and an open ear. During her free time, Verónica loves to read thriller novels and spend time with her two adult children. She hopes to eventually go back to school and continue to advance her education. Verónica speaks Spanish and helps with student and tutor support.​​​​​​

Rita Moua

she/her/hers

(920) 234-8041

rita@foxvalleylit.org

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Rita Moua has a Bachelor of Science degree in Retailing and Consumer Behavior from the University of Wisconsin Madison. With several years of experience in sales, customer service, training, and management, Rita has worked in different industry sectors such as retail, manufacturing, and non-profit. As the Family Program Manager, Rita manages the Family Literacy program, the HMong Family Literacy program, where Hmong families learn how to read, write, and speak basic HMong language and learn about the history and culture of the HMong people, and assists with other programs. The HMong Family Literacy program incorporates themes of positive family wellbeing, mental health practices and building a strong sense of HMong identity. Rita speaks HMong and helps with student and tutor support.

Vered Meltzer

he/him/his

(920) 991-9840

vered@foxvalleylit.org

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Vered Meltzer grew up in China and has first-hand insight into the challenges that accompany learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, and building community connections. His lifelong love of linguistics, and experience tutoring English learners since an early age, inspired him to get involved with Fox Valley Literacy as a tutor and as the office manager. Vered has a B.A. in Philosophy from Lawrence University, class of 2004. He speaks Mandarin Chinese, as well as basic Spanish.​​​​​​​​​​​

Liliana Portillo

she/her/hers

(920) 234-8041

​liliana@foxvalleylit.org

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Liliana Portillo is originally from Mexico, married, and a mother of two children. As a psychologist with a strong commitment to adult education, she believes it is a key tool to have access to personal growth and community empowerment.

Liliana enjoys outdoor walks, spending time in nature and with animals, as well as reading—activities that reflect her interest in overall well-being and lifelong learning. She is very proud to be part of Fox Valley Literacy and to contribute to the educational and personal development of the adults we serve.

Samantha Packard

she/her/hers

(920) 991-9840
sam@foxvalleylit.org​

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Sam graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Rasmussen College and a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Nonprofit Organization Development from Lakeland University. She brings 10 years of volunteer management experience having worked in various settings including with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, children’s afterschool programs and with programs that offer basic needs to the community. 

Sam is passionate about writing, reading and creating. She's looking forward to utilizing her passions, skills and experience to help match volunteers with students so they can find both joy and hope in their learning journeys. 

Aqleema Bawar

she/her/hers

(920) 234-8041​

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Aqleema brings a diverse academic background and a deep commitment to service to the Fox Valley Literacy team. She holds a business degree and leadership certifications; she is currently pursuing a science degree as well. Her work is consistently motivated by a desire to help others improve their quality of life through understanding and education.

For two years, Aqleema served as an interpreter at Fox Valley Literacy, utilizing her multilingual skills to bridge communication gaps for the community. Her dedication to the organization continues in her current role as a VISTA member at Fox Valley Literacy. In this position, she focuses on building organizational capacity, leveraging her professional experience in data analysis and education to create sustainable growth and support for the learners served by the program.