Stories that connect: Humans of Oshkosh marks 10th publication with community celebration

Winnebago Area Literacy Council learner Mu Yen, center, shares a moment with UW-Oshkosh student storytellers Jaeley Tisher, left, and Allison Ehrmke during the May 6 celebration of Reading Between the Lines at the Oshkosh Public Library.

When Mu Yen spotted UW-Oshkosh students Allison Ehrmke and Jaeley Tisher across the room, her face lit up. She broke into a wide smile and pulled them into an equally enthusiastic hug.

Just a few months earlier, at the start of the semester, they had been strangers.

Now, they stood side by side at the Oshkosh Public Library on May 6, flipping through pages of Reading Between the Lines, the 10th edition of the Humans of Oshkosh storytelling project, reliving the conversations that had brought them together.See photos here.

Mu, an adult learner at the Winnebago Area Literacy Council, did not attend school as a child in Myanmar. She grew up in a region marked by violence and instability, eventually fleeing with her family to a refugee camp along the Thailand border. Years later, she arrived in the United States as a refugee with her husband and young children, determined to build a better life and continuing her education through the literacy council.

"I thought her story was very eye-opening to what's going on in other parts of the world and how different life is from here in the U.S.," said Ehmke, a nursing major from Hartford. "It was also inspiring how she and her husband came here not knowing what to expect, with only hopes and dreams for a better life for themselves and their children."

Across the room, similar reunions unfolded. Students greeted their WALC partners with smiles, laughter and hugs, a reflection of relationships that had grown far beyond initial introductions. Together, they pored over the 100-page, full-color hardcover books, pointing to photos, sharing memories and seeing their stories come to life in print.

Families, tutors and community members gathered in small clusters, turning pages, pausing at familiar faces and reading passages aloud. The room filled with quiet reflection, conversation and moments of recognition as people saw their neighbors, and in some cases themselves, represented in the stories.

Among those featured in the book is Chu May Paing, executive director of the Winnebago Area Literacy Council, whose own journey brought her from Myanmar to the United States as a teenager with limited English and no support system. Through persistence and education, she built a life centered on community, eventually earning a Ph.D. in anthropology and now leading the organization that supports others navigating similar paths.

A partnership built on stories

Grace Lim, UW-Oshkosh storytelling instructor and founder of Humans of Oshkosh, said the collaboration began after Paing reached out to explore a partnership.

"Her goal was to bring awareness not just to the work of the Winnebago Area Literacy Council, but to the people whose lives are shaped by it," Lim said. "I said 'yes' right away."

Since its founding in 2014, Humans of Oshkosh has centered on one core idea: stories connect us. Each semester, Lim's students step beyond the classroom to listen and to tell stories with care and humanity.

This spring, 22 students partnered with Winnebago Area Literacy Council, meeting individuals who are navigating life in a new language while building new futures.

From hesitation to trust

"At first, my students were unsure," Lim said. "They didn't know what they would say or what they could have in common. So I told them, start with a smile and a hello."

Those initial conversations quickly deepened. "They heard stories of resilience, sacrifice and hope," Lim said. "They began to understand the courage it takes to start over."

The experience also left a lasting impact on students, sometimes in ways that extended beyond the classroom.

Kareem Taha, a sophomore business major, began the project as a storyteller but quickly found himself thinking about how he could contribute more directly.

"The main takeaways for me were being appreciative of what we have," said Taha, who along with fellow student Monse Reyes-Ortis interviewed Paing for the project. "Chu has inspired me to become a volunteer to help people who struggle with basic daily interactions because they lack the proper level of language proficiency."

After completing the project, Taha followed through, beginning the process to serve as a volunteer tutor with the literacy council.

Through experiences like Taha's, students also discovered that storytelling is not simply about gathering information.

"Somewhere along the way, something shifted," Lim said. "They learned that storytelling is not about extracting information. It is about building trust."

For Lim, the work carries personal meaning. She came to the United States from Taiwan at age five without knowing the language, relying on teachers who helped her find her voice.

"That's why literacy matters," she said. "It's about access, independence and dignity. It's about belonging."

Expanding the meaning of literacy

The Winnebago Area Literacy Council helps adults build reading, writing and English language skills needed to navigate daily life, find meaningful work and support their families. Through volunteer tutors, community partnerships and individualized instruction, the organization creates pathways not only to education and employment, but to confidence and connection.

Paing said the project helps bring visibility to stories that might otherwise go untold.

"Storytellers often stay in the shadow to shine the lights on others, but without their efforts, care and dedication, these stories would have remained hidden, unseen, unheard and therefore uncelebrated," she said. "When the visibility of an immigrant community is very much a topic of contention in the current political climate, I am thankful to Grace and her students for daring to help us tell the stories of this diverse community in Oshkosh."

She added that the project expands the meaning of literacy beyond reading and writing.

"As much as literacy is about reading, it is also about the willingness to learn about others and our surroundings," she said. "This book provides a chance for readers to learn more about their very own neighbors, their journeys, what makes them cry, what makes them happy and the shared sensibilities of what makes us all human."

Oshkosh City Manager Rebecca Grill said the project highlights the people behind the stories and strengthens community understanding.

"What stands out to me about this project is that it helps put faces and stories to something people sometimes only talk about in broad terms," Grill said. "This book reminds us that these are neighbors, coworkers, business owners, students, parents, volunteers and friends who are helping shape the future of Oshkosh every single day."

Stories that move us forward

The May 6 event also served as a fundraiser, with proceeds from book sales supporting literacy council programming. Lim said the impact of the project extends far beyond the pages of the book.

"What we've seen through this project is that the impact doesn't stop with the people being served," she said. "It extends outward. It changes the storyteller. It changes the community."

As attendees continued to flip through pages and share stories, Lim encouraged them to carry the experience forward.

"As you explore these stories, I invite you to see the people, hear their voices and recognize their courage," she said. "And if you feel moved, take that next step. Support this work. Get involved. Because literacy opens doors, and together, we can help hold them open."

For more information about the Winnebago Area Literacy Council or to get involved, visit winlit.org.

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