National Coalition for Literacy

Charles Sumner School, Location for Policy Forum

A Public Policy Forum on Women’s Education and Economic Opportunity: The Role of Literacy will be held in Washington, DC, Wednesday, December 1, from 9:00am – 2:00pm jointly sponsored by the National Coalition for Literacy and the Institute on Women’s Policy Research.  There is no cost and lunch is provided. Continental breakfast will be provided starting at 8:30am.  Plan to stay for informal networking till 3:00pm.

This Forum will bring together advocacy organizations, policymakers from Congress and federal agencies, and researchers to share what we know, what we still need to know, and what policy moves are on the near agenda. By combining our advocacy networks, we know that we can mobilize on issues of common concern and share data to inform our future efforts.

Panels will discuss various issues that impact women around postsecondary transition, persistence, and success; economic equity, workforce development, poverty and TANF; and minority women, immigrant integration, and language proficiency. The theme of literacy will cut across all panels. What is the impact of low literacy or limited English proficiency on these larger social issues? There is much research and data mining that we need to do to inform policy, and part of our challenge of the day will be to identify some directions for a research, policy, and advocacy agenda.

Location

The Forum will be held in the beautiful Charles Sumner School, 17^th and M St. NW. This National Historic Site, the first Black school in the District of Columbia, celebrates the power of literacy and provides a meaningful setting in which to explore the implications of literacy for low-income women.

Agenda and Panels

8:30 – 9:00am Continental Breakfast and networking

9:00 – 9:15am Opening Remarks by NCL and IWPR

9:15 – 10:00am Women in Transition to Postsecondary Education: What is the role of literacy in women’s successful transition into, through and to completion of postsecondary education?

Panelists:

• Kevin Miller, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
• Margaret Patterson, Director of Research, GED Testing Service
• Andrea Saenz, Policy Advisor and Fellow, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education
• Deborah Santiago, Vice President of Policy and Research for ¡Excelencia in Education!

10:00 – 11:00 Keynotes:

• Latifa Lyles, Deputy Director, Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor
• Jonathan Gueverra, CEO and President, Community College of DC

11:00 – 12:15pm Immigrant Women and Literacy: What are the barriers for low-income, immigrant women, and what difference would improved literacy mean for them and their communities?

Panelists:

• Jane Henrici, Study Director, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
• Margie McHugh, Co-Director, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, Migration Policy Institute
• Manuela Raposo, M.D.,  Director, Welcome Back Center, Dorcas Place
• Heide Spruck Wrigley, Fellow, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, Migration Policy Institute; Consultant, LiteracyWork, International

12:15 – 12:45pm Lunch and networking

12:45 – 2:00pm The Economics of Literacy: The recession has been devastating to low-skilled women; how can policy help all women job-seekers find family-sustaining employment?

Panelists:

• Gloria Cross-Mwase, Program Director, Jobs for the Future
• Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Senior Policy Analyst, CLASP
• Mev Miller, Founder and Director, WE LEARN
• Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Senior Research Analyst, American Institutes for Research

2:00pm Closing Remarks

2:00 – 3:00pm: Informal networking

About the co-sponsors:

National Coalition for Literacy (NCL; www.national-coalition-literacy.org) is a national adult education leadership organization comprised of member organizations and adult education professionals, committed to promoting adult education and literacy, family literacy, and English language development in the United States.  NCL seeks to advance adult education, language, and literacy by fostering collaboration and advocacy at the national level among public and private organizations.

Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR; www.iwpr.org) conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue, and strengthen families, communities, and societies. IWPR focuses on issues of poverty and welfare, employment and earnings, work and family issues, health and safety, and women’s civic and political participation.