Gear Up for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010

Date: August 9, 2010

By Jackie Taylor

In the July 2010 Public Policy and Advocacy Update, Marsha Tait and I shared with you information about the field’s recent success in working with Congress to dedicate National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week for September 13-19, 2010. That information is also below for easy reference.

As we gear up for celebration activities, we’d like to hear from you.

What are your plans for raising awareness during National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week?

What activities will you host? What different media venues will you use? (TV, radio, online via Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc.)

Please share your ideas, comments, suggestions in the Comment box below.

Also, keep your eye on the NCL Advocacy Clearinghouse and Toolkit, where we are linking resources and ideas for activities to raise awareness during the week.

We look forward to hearing from you!

For the second consecutive year, Congressman Jared Polis has led the U.S. House of Representatives in passing bipartisan legislation (H Res. 1472) supporting the designation of the week of September 13, 2010 as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. The resolution, authored by Congressman Jared Polis, recognizes the importance of adult education and family literacy programs to the success and well-being of those who strive to improve their and their children’s education. This National celebration coincides with the NCL Literacy Leadership Award event in Washington DC. Congressman Polis has also requested a Presidential Proclamation that week.

Thank you to Congressman Polis for leading the effort, and to the twenty co-sponsors of this legislation:

.

Rep. Gary Ackerman [D-NY] Rep. Dan Maffei [D-NY] Rep. John Sarbanes [D-MD];

Rep. Judy Chu [D-CA] Rep. Mike McIntyre [D-NC] Rep. Bobby Scott [D-VA]

Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ] Rep. Michael H. Michaud [D-ME] Rep. Joe Sestak [D-PA]

Rep. Ruben Hinojosa [D-TX] Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton [D-DC] Rep. Vic Snyder [D-AR]

Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA] Rep. Collin C. Peterson [D-MN] Rep. Zach Wamp [R-TN]

Rep. Dale Kildee [D–MI] Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME] Rep. John Yarmuth [D-KY]

Rep. John Lewis [D - GA] Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [D-CNMI]

Thank you also to the 369 House Members who voted 369-0 to pass the resolution.

See the House floor debate on designating National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. (Advance the view screen to 7:40 on the clock. Congressman Loebsack [D-IA] speaks at 8:30 and Congressman Guthrie [R-KY] speaks at 11:34.)

» Building Momentum and Raising Awareness: What You Can Do

» A Huge Success! Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010

» Celebrating National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week

» Act Now to Dedicate Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010!

Tags: AEFL Week, National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week

Comments RSS TrackBack 25 comments

Raychel George

in August 10th, 2010 @ 11:29

In Florida, the Florida Literacy Coalition, Florida Parks Service and the Florida Dept. of Education are partnering to coordinate (5) regional events throughout the state in recognition of Literacy Month (Sept.) & Family Literacy week.

Each event will be held at a state park, is open to the public and will involve local adult education entities, nonprofit organizations, adult & family literacy programs, libraries and the like.

More information is available at http://www.FloridaLiteracy.org or by calling 1-800-237-5113.

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Raychel,

Thanks for sharing. What a great example of collaboration across entities! Please keep us posted and let us know how the events go, share your photos and/or any videos with us, etc.

Looking forward,

Jackie
Jayme Adelson-Goldstein

in August 12th, 2010 @ 10:16

Just FYI, at the 2010 Adult Ed Symposium in Florida, one of the panelists, Michael Tucker, showed the group the Facebook page for Adult Ed in Arizona.
The videos and posts on the page were very effective tools for galvanizing adult ed supporters and publicizing adult ed’s successes as you can see by the posts on the page.
The link is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=312248374195

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor Reply:
August 18th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Hi Jayme,
Thanks for sharing this link about how AZ used social media in advocating to preserve adult education funding. NCL hopes to learn from our colleagues in AZ, OH, and elsewhere about effective strategies for using social media to engage a broad base of support for adult education and family literacy. We are conducting social media research this summer and fall on this very topic. I’ll report the results as I learn them.

In the meantime, please check out our new social media campaign pages:

http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_campaign.html

We are using these activities — and encouraging broad participation — to elevate adult education and family literacy during National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.

Blogging: If you have a blog, then we encourage those who do to blog about adult education and family literacy Sept. 13-19. Tell us about it and we’ll feature your blog article here: http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_featuredblog.html

Twitter: Participate in an #AEFLWeek Twitter Fact Fest. We’ve offered some cut and paste tweets others can use to elevate adult education and family literacy by tweeting the facts.

Photosharing: Hosting an event during AEFL Week? Share your photos with us on Flickr and geotag them. We’ll keep an updated slideshow of activities here: http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_photos.html

Campaign Map: Since the photos will be geotagged, we can keep an automated map of campaign activities here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1476528@N20/pool/map?&fLat=38.5997&fLon=-93.955&zl=14&min_upload_date=1280696713

I’d like to know what you think. And, please help spread the word.

Jackie

Jackie Taylor Reply:
August 18th, 2010 at 9:31 am
PS — Here’s the link to the #AEFLWeek Twitter Fact Fest: http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_tweet.html

Jackie
Rebecca Lucas

in August 17th, 2010 @ 13:41

During National Literacy week we will be participating in the Monmouth County Call to Service Day to highlight the need for adult literacy within our county.
In conjunction with this, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday many of tutor/student pairs will be at the Borders Bookstore in Freehold, NJ to recruit volunteer tutors and let the community at large know about our free literacy services to students. Miss New Jersey may even make a stop to visit us as literacy is her platform for 2010! We sure hope so.

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor Reply:
August 18th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for sharing, sounds great! I hope you’ll share photos with us from your events. To find out how, please see: http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_photos.html

We’d like to include your photos in our slideshow and pin your activities on the Campaign Map.

If you’d like to participate, please join our Flickr group now:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1476528@N20/

I’m glad to assist if or as you have questions,

Jackie
Regina Suitt

in August 17th, 2010 @ 19:24

http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/International-Literacy-Day.pdf

The Literacy for Life Coalition in Tucson is sponsoring a family friendly event on International Literacy Day to showcase literacy activities, services for children, families, and adults, literacy providers, and student alumni stories.

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor Reply:
August 18th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Hi Regina,
Thanks for sharing the press release on the good things the Literacy for Life Coalition has planned for International Literacy Day. This is also a great example of how we can leverage the attention of International Literacy Day to build momentum for Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.

I’m interested in hearing others’ ideas; but one way is to share fact sheets at International Literacy Day events. Here are some samples free for the taking:

http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_directors.html

Keep the ideas coming!

Thanks,

Jackie Taylor
Julie McKinney

in August 23rd, 2010 @ 15:19

I moderate the Health Literacy Discussion List from LINCS, and I am celebrating National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week by having a guest discussion on the list about the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy.

This plan includes strategies for addressing health literacy in adult education settings, AND using the expertise of adult literacy teachers and students to help people from the health side to communicate better with all patients.

Go to this link for more information, including how to join the list:

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/healthliteracy/10action

Although it says the date will “be announced”, the discussion will be held during National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week: Sept. 13th!

Please join us!

All the best,
Julie

[Reply]
Darlene Kostrub

in August 26th, 2010 @ 18:11

On September 15, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is coordinating a Mayors’ Literacy Luncheon in partnership with the Palm Beach County League of Cities. The event will be at The Ritz-Carlton and is hosted by Comcast, our local cable company. We will have most of the mayors in our 38 municipalities attend along with two commissioners from their cities. A regional vice-president from Starbucks who is involved in their educational activities will speak. We will also have a Literacy AmeriCorps Power Point demonstrate how literacy is impacting our local cities. The HR director from The Ritz-Carlton will give a word about how our Workforce Literacy Program is changing the lives of their employees. The purpose of the event is to encourage our mayors and cities to raise literacy to a higher priority on their community’s agenda.

[Reply]
Philip Less

in August 27th, 2010 @ 15:51

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe will sign a proclamation declaring the week of September 13th Adult Education Week in Arkansas and September 15th as GED Pride Day. We will send you a photo and news release later. Actually, Arkansas’s Governors have been declaring a week in the fall as Adult Education Week for many years.

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor

in August 30th, 2010 @ 07:55

Thanks again, everyone for sharing your plans. This is very helpful to see the types of activities that are happening locally, statewide, and nationally. Keep the ideas coming!

Here is an event I came across from the Children’s Consortium in Syracuse, NY:

Flossie Turner Lewis to Speak at Consortium
http://www.childrensconsortium.org/Home.tab.aspx

“Meet the woman who overcame lifelong obstacles to learn to read and receive a high school diploma at the age of 72.

FLOSSIE TURNER LEWIS began delighting audiences with songs and dances when she was just two years old in 1935. Known by her stage name “Little Hot Mama,” she was the child of black show business stars Hot Papa and Dolly Turner. Flossie, along with her sister LuLu B. and brother Junior, traveled with their parents and performed as the Turner Family Revue. Her own show business career lasted for more than 40 years.

A woman of strength and determination, Flossie raised five children on her own, despite the fact that she could not read or write for most of her life. With the support of the Fayetteville Urban Ministry, the United Way, and her local community, she was finally able to realize her lifelong dream of literacy and received a high school diploma at the age of 72.

A motivating and inspiring personality, Flossie has lobbied Congress and addressed countless clubs and organizations on behalf of adult literacy programs. She has been featured in print articles, public service announcements, and on television and radio talk shows in her drive to promote the importance of literacy.

A most unlikely partnership was born when Flossie Turner Lewis at the age of 69 accepted the National Award For Excellence as the Outstanding Student of 2002 at the National Literacy Conference and met writer Paula Meseroll. Their journey together to chronicle Flossie’s amazing, inspirational, and truly American life’s story took over eight years to write and reach publication as LITTLE HOT MAMA.”

Jackie Taylor

[Reply]
mltait Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 10:13 am
Several adult education and family literacy programs have gotten together in Syracuse and have requested Proclamations from the County Executive and Mayor. Also, Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse and The Newland Center (both community-based adult literacy organizations) are planning a picnic and book giveaway for Friday afternoon.
Jennifer Merkey

in August 30th, 2010 @ 13:15

Our Literacy Council is doing several promotional activities in our community. We target all age groups even though we only serve adults and aim to promote local businesses at the same time.

Here is what we have planned:

Celebrate Literacy Luncheon – We invite all our tutors, partners, legislators, city officials and guests.
Children’s Breakfast and Story Time at Vintage Books – The owner does story time with the children then we give a sack breakfast of donated donuts, milk and a book.
Youth Poetry Contest and Exhibition – We accept poetry submissions from local schools from grades 5 – 8. Our panel of judges pick the top five from each county. Then we have an Exhibition night, this year we will have it at The Journey Church. The top five entries are invited with family and friends to attend and read their poem for the audience and then we present them with their respective awards.
Poetry Reading at Starbucks – This is new for us this year. We are having an open microphone style poetry reading in the parking lot at our local Starbucks. And we will also have local musicians playing during intermission.

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Hi Jennifer,

Be sure to share any URLs with us about the event so we can link to it on our new Events Nationwide page here:

http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_events.html

Share photos with us and we’ll pin them on the Campaign Map. For more information, see:

http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_campaign.html

Thanks!

Jackie Taylor
Patsy Pearson

in August 31st, 2010 @ 15:32

I have spoken to our county mayor and he agreed to declare a resolution that Sept 13-19 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. in McNairy County. We will photograph him as he signs the proclamation. We plan to have several literacy supporters present at the signing and then we will put the picture and an article about the week in the local newspaper.
Patsy Pearson, McNairy County, TN

[Reply]
Rick Clute

in September 1st, 2010 @ 16:48

At McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL, Adult Education is planning a week-long series of acitivities. The major highlights are as follows:

9/13–Jim May, local storyteller, will share stories with AE students, families, college students and faculty, and community members.
9/15–Bagel Day, a college-wide weekly event, will be hosted by Adult Education to encourage faculty and staff to meet AE students and engage them in conversation to help them improve their English. State Senator Pamela Althoff will be present to meet with students, too

During the week, AE students will be encouraged to read a book, to help with homework, to visit the local library, or to visit a local bookstore with their children. They will be encouraged to photograph the event. The photos will be displayed on a Literacy Photo Board outside the classrooms.

[Reply]
Sherry Spencer

in September 8th, 2010 @ 16:48

Jackie,

I don’t have a question, but I do want to let you know what we are planning to do for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. We have tied that week together with International Literacy Week, Sept. 5 – 11. We have met with our County Commissioners in Bradford Co. , PA , for proclamation signings for both weeks. We took an adult literacy student and her volunteer literacy tutor with us, as well as our ESL instructor, and our library director. We all spoke for a few minutes and after the meeting we had a photo op. with representatives from our local newpapers. We plan to do this again in a couple of weeks with the Wyoming Co., PA, Commissioners with another volunteer tutor and an adult literacy student at the Commissioners’ weekly meeting.

That’s what we are doing here in NE Pennsylvania! Happy Literacy Week to you.

Thanks for your help.

Sherry Spencer
Program Director
Bradford-Wyoming Co. Literacy Program
Bradford Co. Library
RR 3, Box 320
Troy, PA 16947
570-297-3375

[Reply]
Sonia Socha

in September 9th, 2010 @ 10:30

The South Baltimore Learning Center (SBLC) and Maryland Association of Adult, Communicaty and Continuing Education will be hosting a press conference sponsored by Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes, 3rd District, on Firday September 17 at 10 AM at SBLC. The press conference will highlight National Adult and Family Literacy Week. Congressman Sarbanes was one of the signers of the bill establishing this year’s week of awareness. He also sponsored a press conference last year to help build awareness of the importance of and need for adult literacy services.

SBLC will also be providing e-mail comnubication and printed materials to our staff, leaners, funders, government officials, and volunteers making them aware of the week and of the press conference.

[Reply]
Regina Suitt

in September 9th, 2010 @ 11:35

Does anyone have a press release about the National week that could be used quickly?

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Absolutely, Regina. Try this one:

http://www.ncladvocacy.org/PressReleaseTemplate_LOCAL2010.rtf

I hope others will share theirs as well.

Jackie Taylor
mltait

in September 10th, 2010 @ 10:41

In Syracuse, NY, Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney and Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner have jointly issued a Proclamation declaring the week of September 13, 2010 Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.

The Prolcamation reads:

WHEREAS, National Adult Education and Family Literacy Awareness Week is a public awareness campaign that highlights the importance of adult education and family literacy; and

WHEREAS, This campaign calls on Federal, State and local government, schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and businesses, to support increased access to adult education and family literacy programs to help ensure a literate society; and

WHEREAS, Adult education and family literacy programs serve adult students in improving their basic literacy and math skills, their oral and written English, and in preparing them for high school, community college or vocational training; and

WHEREAS, Today, over 93 million American adults have basic or below basic literacy skills that limit their ability to advance at work, assist their children with school work, interact with their health care professionals, and be an active participant in their communities; and

WHEREAS, The education skills of parents and reading to children have a direct impact on the educational success of their children; and

WHEREAS, Parental involvement is a key predictor of a child’s success. The level of parental involvement increases as the education level of the parent increases; and

WHEREAS, National Adult Education and Family Literacy Awareness Week highlights the need to support efforts that will ensure that each and every citizen has the necessary literacy skills to succeed at home, work, and in society.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOANNE M. MAHONEY, County Executive of the County of Onondaga and, I, STEPHANIE A. MINER, Mayor of the City of Syracuse, do hereby proclaim September thirteenth through September seventeenth two thousand ten as

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week
in the City of Syracuse and the County of Onondaga

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and caused the Seals of the County of Onondaga and the City of Syracuse to be imprinted this thirteenth day of September, two thousand ten.

JOANNE M. MAHONEY STEPHANIE A. MINER

[Reply]
Laura Porfirio

in September 10th, 2010 @ 19:21

If you want to see evidence and announcements about what we’re doing in Arizona, specifically in Tucson…. check out this blog: http://www.supportadultedarizona.com/

We’re also doing a big Voter Registration Drive during Nat’l Adult Ed and Family Lit week.

[Reply]
Jackie Taylor

in September 12th, 2010 @ 22:43

Hi Everyone,

This is fantastic – great work! Now that the week is upon us, obviously our comments are more substantive, with documents and links, photos, videos, etc. We’ve created an “Events Nationwide” page where I am transferring all events. Keep commenting here; include direct URLs to an activity or event description. I’ll then list your event on the Events Nationwide page:

http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_events.html

If you have a document that is not online (such as a Proclamation like Marsha Tait shared), email it to me and I will link to it on the Events Nationwide page.

jackie@jataylor.net

Don’t forget to share photos, see here for how:

http://www.ncladvocacy.org/aefl_photos.html

You can always email me if you have questions or need assistance.

Jackie Taylor

[Reply]

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Gear Up for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010

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Comments RSS TrackBack 25 comments

Raychel George

Jayme Adelson-Goldstein

Rebecca Lucas

Regina Suitt

Julie McKinney

Darlene Kostrub

Philip Less

Jackie Taylor

Jennifer Merkey

Patsy Pearson

Rick Clute

Sherry Spencer

Sonia Socha

Regina Suitt

mltait

Laura Porfirio

Jackie Taylor

Rep. Gary Ackerman [D-NY]	Rep. Dan Maffei [D-NY]	Rep. John Sarbanes [D-MD];
Rep. Judy Chu [D-CA]	Rep. Mike McIntyre [D-NC]	Rep. Bobby Scott [D-VA]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]	Rep. Michael H. Michaud [D-ME]	Rep. Joe Sestak [D-PA]
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa [D-TX]	Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton [D-DC]	Rep. Vic Snyder [D-AR]
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]	Rep. Collin C. Peterson [D-MN]	Rep. Zach Wamp [R-TN]
Rep. Dale Kildee [D–MI]	Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]	Rep. John Yarmuth [D-KY]
Rep. John Lewis [D - GA]	Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan [D-CNMI]