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Welcome to the Grassroots Literacy Coalition (GLC) discussion list.
*This listserv is for communication and information-sharing within the coalition. There will are 5-10 e-mails weekly.*
The Grassroots Literacy Coalition (GLC) was formed on March 26, 2003 when about 50 people attended a meeting at the Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) in New York to develop a campaign and organization for literacy and adult education in New York City. Those present represented students, educators and administrators in adult education.
We came together to start developing a strategy to meet the tremendous need for literacy and adult education programs. Many participants described how students were being turned away from programs that could have provided them with the education they need. Students spoke of the vital role of education for jobs and their futures, and how adults without education, jobs and economic security could be forced into crime, and into all the newly built prisons.
Many people stressed that in the GLC it is important that adult students need to take part in and helped to lead the coalition. Their words, experiences and leadership are a critical part of a strong coalition and of a campaign for literacy. We are committed to building a broad coalition that connects adult education to other issues, such as welfare rights, immigration rights, the public schools, budget cuts and expenditures, housing, and health care. The more we are connected with parents, children and our neighborhoods and can connect adult education to the concerns of our city's communities, the stronger the fight will be for literacy. At the same time, we need to keep track of what is going on at city, state and federal levels of government, and to address our organizing at all levels.
To succeed as advocates, we must develop practical, effective advocacy strategies to ensure that programs and learners get the resources they need to succeed. This includes building a diverse constituency for adult education composed of multiple stakeholder groups and united around common interests in having a well-educated population. We need to acknowledge that to get and sustain the resources we need, we will need to be united, creative, and well-organized, with a clear message, and willing to persevere for the long haul.
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The Grassroots Literacy Coalition Mission Statement:
adopted November 17, 2003
The Grassroots Literacy Coalition believes that a high-quality education is a basic human right and vital for the well-being of our society. Many adults have not had adequate educational opportunities and are therefore blocked from participating fully as community members, family members, and workers.
To build the support needed for a system of high-quality adult literacy education (which includes basic literacy, ESOL, GED and computer literacy programs) we hope to build a coalition with other organizations and individuals who share our belief in social justice and equal opportunity and access. We will do this through:
*Leadership Development (helping adult educators and adult learners to assume leadership roles.)
*Organizing (collaborating with others in adult education at program, community, and citywide levels; and making connections with those working on other social justice issues.)
*Advocacy (educating policy makers, funders, and the general public about (a) the link between adult education and other community/cultural issues (including civic participation, strong families, employment, public health) and (b) the supports that are needed to provide high-quality adult education services.
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We will be using this discussion list:
*for discussion about how literacy intersects with other issues, such as welfare and welfare rights, and how we can connect with the appropriate coalitions to find strength in numbers
* for alerts of policy updates and discussion of government decision-making
*for discussion about strategy in organizing and mounting a campaign for adult literacy
Anyone involved with literacy and adult education in New York City is welcome: learners and family, educators, program administrators, community organizers, etc.
To see the collection of prior postings to the list,
visit the GLC
Archives.
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