Nonprofit Executive of the Year Finalist
Lynda Kohler
President and CEO, SHARP Literacy
Wisconsin faces a significant disparity in educational achievement between Caucasian and African-American students. Lynda Kohler, president and CEO of SHARP Literacy, offers a unique solution to the problem.
Kohler, former president of Ronald McDonald House Charities, takes a fresh approach to improving literacy. SHARP programs, geared to at-risk Milwaukee and Waukesha public school students, combine visual arts with science, social studies, vocabulary and writing.
SHARP students visit local museums, attend Young Authors Workshops, and develop solid public speaking and other communication skills – qualities sought by employers. Each student receives a SHARP book and workbook, tools that aid the student in reaching his or her academic goals.
SHARP programs also fuse art with technology. Kohler has partnered with Milwaukee companies Rockwell Automation Inc. and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. to form “Create Art With Code,” a program in which students develop visual design and computer coding skills.
Each year, more than 8,500 students benefit from SHARP programs.
