NLA Discussion: News From the States and Communities

[SPBender at aol.com]

Hi all,

I'm writing from Hartford, Connecticut where I am a staff member for Literacy
Volunteers of Greater Hartford.  I'm writing to this list, though, in
response to David's note asking for us to share info about local organizing
efforts.

We're in the beginning stages of putting together the Greater Hartford Adult
Literacy Coalition.  About 10-15 of us have been meeting monthly since this
January and have gotten to know each other much better, shared some ideas
with each other, started creating a comprehensive directory of adult ed.
services in the area, and decided that formalizing our group into a coalition
was worthwhile.  We know that there are many issues to deal with as we get
organized and move into the future together and look forward to doing so.  

Clearly, a concern is getting ourselves organized to deal with the state
legislature.  Some of our programs have dealt individually with legislative
issues in the past, but we haven't done so collectively.  We tentatively have
a most of the day retreat scheduled for early October at which we hope to
attract more folks and to really get down to business and develop some action
plans. David Rosen has graciously agreed to come to this retreat and share
his experiences and knowledge with us and we look forward to that, to
developing some good action plans on a number of issues, and then moving into
the future...

I'm very interested in hearing about other efforts, both statewide and local.
 I know that we all have a lot to learn from each other.  As we develop our
efforts further here, I'll post more.


Steve  Bender
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford
spbender at aol.com