Comments on: NCL Dollar General Advocacy Symposium in NC

By: Betsy Wolff

Betsy Wolff — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:33:28 +0000

Oops — wrong address given in previous e-mail. This message contains my (very new) blog address. Please visit if you would like to read advocacy related blogs. Sorry — still in about third grade in blogging proficiency!! Betsy

By: Betsy Wolff

Betsy Wolff — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:22:08 +0000

Hey Marsha, Excited to learn that our sister state is moving ahead on advocacy for adult literacy. I’m a brand new author and publisher of adult lit books but am a seasoned old advocate for education and related issues. Lots of experience in grassroots work and advocacy training and would love to be included in discussions, will make presentations etc. My experience is Southern and much of it is rural but 90% can be applied anywhere. Betsy (SC)

By: Jackie Taylor

Jackie Taylor — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Hello! I’m blogging from the NCL Quarterly Meeting in Washington, DC, and we are telling them about all of the great work you did in North Carolina. We hope you’ll check back on the blog and continue our advocacy conversations here.

See you online,

Jackie

By: mltait

mltait — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:34:26 +0000

To all of our friends and colleagues — and new literacy advocates! — in North Carolina:
Jackie and I are in Washington DC this week attending meetings of the National Coalition for Literacy. We are putting some of what we shared with you at the symposium into action — visiting this afternoon with Capitol Hill staff responsible for reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act — and meeting with colleagues from our membership during the week. We will share information and hopefully gather some new intelligence about what is happening here at the federal level.
We hope you are using the tools and resources that we shared with you at the symposium. Be sure to post updates on your progress so that we can all learn from what you are doing!
Also, you may not be aware that representatives of the US Department of Education and others (including David Harvey from ProLiteracy) are in Brazil this week attending a UNESCO international literacy conference, CONFINTEA VI. You are not alone in your advocacy efforts! Be sure to check it out if you have a moment. http://www.unesco.org/en/confinteavi/

By: Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Heidi Silver-Pacuilla — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:57:37 +0000

Hi Diane and all of you – What a fabulous event you must have had! Sounds great.

I think we all know and teach that there is strength in numbers, but what we also know and don’t remember to draw on is that partnerships are also important, energizing, and sustaining. Going in on an advocacy campaign with a partnering organization can make the job less daunting – and a lot more fun for you and your students. Going to representatives’ offices with friends and colleagues makes the task less threatening.
Friends are always important, and advocacy is all about working together, so why not from the very start?!

Heidi

By: Sara Lambert

Sara Lambert — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:48:11 +0000

The role playing example this morning triggered many questions and has inspired me to be more vocal in my community.

By: Sue O'Neill

Sue O'Neill — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:11:58 +0000

Thank you all so much for coming to present this process for effective advocacy to us in North Carolina! While we are all aware of the needs of our literacy programs, we often don’t know how best to go about finding concrete solutions in the business or political arenas. Understanding how the process works is key to participation in it!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:13:11 +0000

Today we were presented with a wealth of information. I am particularly excited to explore the NCL website. I can’t wait to get back home and get started practicing “grassroots” advocacy. I have learned in just one afternoon how important it is that our local representatives know our views on adult education and what a big impact can be made just by picking up the phone or writing a letter. Thanks to everyone who presented today, I am truly looking forward to tomorrow!

By: Linda Moyer

Linda Moyer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:55:16 +0000

I have long believed that critical thinking skills and strategies to learn and find information need to be at the center of curricula. After seeing the Did you know? clip at the conference today, I realize that content’s impact is fleeting. Educators’ efforts must focus on learning strategies and critical thinking.

By: Kay

Kay — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:34:45 +0000

After this afternoon’s session I am motivated to encourage the incorporation of “small acts of advocacy” into existing day to day activities. Just one example is the writing of letters or e-mails, as a class activity, or the planning (involving students) of a visit by elected officials. Initially, the thought of launching into a campaign of advocacy seemed overwhelming, but I believe the trick is to make it manageable and realistic.