NLA Discussion: Grassroots Advocacy

[Nancy Hansen]

Bob,

Thank you!  THANK you very much for the vote of confidence as far as my stating
an opinion about the rights of adult learners here.

As far as responses are concerned, you and Catherine King are the only two so
far besides David Rosen, but I am ALSO hoping there are others who will come
back to share ideas of policies and actions they have taken when their programs
are smaller rather than larger.

I *was* discouraged to read that YOU haven't seen much has changed over 10
years.  I have been around for 11 years, but haven't been politically involved
until more recently.  Also, I was smiling as I read your paragraph about that
speech and your Opening Remarks as you wore your advocate's hat!  I'll bet you
heard the whispers flow across that ROOM as they buzzed with their opinions!
And they are Professional Educators, Bob!

I work with just volunteers in Sioux Falls!  There are SOME volunteers and their
learners who might make great advocates and are board, tutor and learners here.
However, there are way more than some who likely feel more like the audience to
whom you spoke.  I have a goodly number of learners with DD, those who are
"still hiding", as the learners call it, who have really limited social skills
etc etc.  Bob, they are not going to be willing (or maybe even ABLE) to be
spokesmen addressing authority figures like we are talking about here!  They
leave that up to me they'll tell me.  "I am here to volunteer to teach and
that's all," has actually crossed the lips of tutors I thought would be GREAT
advocates for funding change.  Maybe approaching it from the angle of talking
about their learners' lives and everything they encounter in them might work.
These tutors get a weekly mouthful of how tentative their learners'
disadvantaged lives ARE, I'm sure! Thanks for the idea!

I DO have a great bunch of learner leaders who each year come before our United
Way funders to state the importance to them of their literacy education.  It has
been a tremendous thrill for me to see this develop over the years.  I started
with one woman - I now have 6 learners I call on. Of those 6, only half of them
have tutors who would sit alongside of them at this table and speak to the issue
of funding, though.  And 6 isn't even *shouting* distance to **20** volunteers!

That specific United Way meeting is *tomorrow* at 4:15, in fact!  So, in a small
way -- where travel/motel expenses and time-off from jobs without vacation leave
aren't involved -- we ARE advocating for our program's financial security.  It's
when those OTHER factors slap our learners across the face that we can't expect
participation from them.  It's a hard-cold reality that our people need that
PAYcheck rather than to take time-out to drive to our state capitol to talk to
legislators. Even *I* have limited finances and available time to get to Pierre.

Our council hasn't "gone political" until our Literacy Breakfast last year and
the presence of Senator Tom Daschle as our guest speaker.  I suppose I could
organize these 6 learners and their tutors to go from this Senator to their
House of Representatives members etc. to do local Sioux Falls office
appointments.  Maybe our three nat'l elected officials will come to THEM instead
of expecting trips to Washington DC as a part of this whole advocacy thing.  I
know at least ONE of those tutors isn't going to be comfortable with this,
though.  She is great with her learner, but loudly proclaims she isn't a public
speaker nor knowledgeable about our Council's funding.  (Even having interest in
gaining more knowledge is questionable.)

 The new United Way focus this year is determining the Community Impact with
Outcome Reporting.  Interesting, eh?  I am hoping that my learners can not only
show how individualized our program materials are, but dispell the assumption
that we know how many other non-readers we aren't serving -- or that we are
serving as many as exist.  I need some big bucks to get out the research company
to study that issue!  Ha!  LOL

Gotta run for this time.  Thanks for letting me know SOMEone out there read my
comments!  8-)   I really didn't think David should put this on the NLA because
I represent such a small finger-print of an organization in the big literacy
picture/overview.  Not a lot of fist here.

I *will* take on your challenge!  I will take your ideas to my BOD and ask them
to take an active part alongside me as a starting point.  That could be a
problem. They will likely say they don't have time to "do politics."  (I
question whether they think that should even be a priority for MY job.  We'll
see what their reaction is.)  I fear they aren't going to back me in the
effort.  Most are busy business people.  I have just the guy I spoke of and then
there's this Fund Development chairman who used to work in the Daschle's SF
office.

Man!  Am I making excuses or does it sound like I have a bunch of WOOZES for
volunteers!  The learners are worth it -- Honest!  But the struggle is
frustrating!!  Til later - have a great week,

Nancy Hansen
Ex. Director
Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council
sfliteracy at mcleodusa.net



"Bickerton, Robert P" wrote:

>  Nancy,
>
> I hope you get many responses from members of this list.  Sounds like you
> really have got your hands quite full -- a situation that cries out for
> relief in the way of more resources and support -- and a situation my own
> experience tells me there's no one with the power to do so who will without
> lots of tenacious advocacy from the grassroots level.  I'd like to add a
> little something I did at a conference -- that got me in some hot water
> because a very conservative reporter was present who objected to this line
> of thinking.  But what the ...
>
> I was asked to make some opening remarks at a conference of adult educators
> (in this case, primarily teachers of English to speakers of other
> languages).  Those who know me know that I'm always wearing a hat.  So after
> a few typical "opening remarks," I told the group I was taking off my hat
> (literally) as an administrator and putting on my hat as an advocate.  I
> shared my belief that adult educators do NOT have the luxury of only
> becoming the world's best teachers -- that because we were teaching a group
> who almost by definition are disempowered in our society and our economy,
> that they had to be advocates as well.  And that one of our most important
> jobs was to help our students become advocates as well -- not especially on
> behalf of ABE/literacy/ESOL, but on behalf of everything they encounter in
> their lives.  Why, because by and large, our students get the short end of
> the stick in most dimensions of their lives as community members (do they
> have homes and streets as clean, safe, well lit, pleasant as their more well
> to do neighbors?), workers (aren't they most often in the ranks of the
> working poor no matter how hard they work), family members (how does it feel
> when your dreams and aspirations for your family are often frustrated by
> larger forces around you), etc.  I told them that if they weren't prepared
> to be advocates as well as educators, they should probably find more
> appropriate and comfortable jobs educating those who were more well off to
> start with.
>
> You mention a Board member who wants to tackle a part of this agenda --
> sounds promising.  On the "think globally, act locally" line of thinking,
> perhaps you and your Board need to make fostering more such action oriented
> individuals a major part of your work -- starting with every volunteer and
> every student.  Not narrowly on behalf of adult ed, but on behalf of taking
> control of their lives in every dimension of their lives.  I've little doubt
> this will spill over into trying to fix the challenges you summarized in
> your recent posting.  You'd be surprised how much of a response y'all will
> get when 10 or 20 volunteers and students make one or two contacts each with
> your legislators and congressional delegation -- with small numbers and a
> dose of tenacity, they will respond.  And don't let these elected officials
> get away with a "pat on the head" and telling you your all doing "God's
> work" -- that's just not good enough.  If people hang in there and insist on
> concrete results -- a specific position or action you want them to take --
> most of them eventually will.
>
> We didn't see any additional resources for adult ed in Massachusetts after
> almost 10 years of trying.  But as the I Ching says, "perseverance furthers"
> -- just don't take no for an answer.
>
> No one else will do this for you, but others in your same situation will be
> inspired when they see concerted action getting a response.  Why not go for
> it?
>
> good luck and take care,
> bob bickerton, MA director of adult ed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sfliteracy at mcleodusa.net
> To: nla at world.std.com
> Sent: 3/31/01 6:33 PM
> Subject: NLA Discussion: Grassroots Advocacy
>
> David,
>
> You put out several challenges which would be well for *all* of us to
> advocate and take action about.  True.  However, if the grassroots
> literacy
> folks" are *any*thing like ME, the answer is going to be, "I don't have
> a
> good strong network of people who will partner with me to get this done
> in
> *my* state."  At least that's the answers you will find from me below.
>
> In order to advocate-for-change, there has to nation-wide unity, in my
> view.
> Because my "one-small-voice" in the state of S.D. is NOT going to get
> anything accomplished when there isn't even unity in the *state* among
> literacy providers!   So regarding your 5 points individually:
>
> " 1. ...number of full-time jobs which offer  fair salaries and benefits
> in
> our field... personally been involved in helping to increase public
> funding
> in your state ..."
>
> In the state of S.D. there are barely a handful of literacy
> coordinators/directors who are even *salaried* -- much less are they
> being
> offered "fair salaries and benefits".  There are too many literacy
> programs
> operating on shoe string budgets with little financial options for
> making
> change.
>
> As far as increasing public funding is concerned:  I would love to read
> how
> others in smaller states got that message *across* to their state
> hiarachy!  If we don't know the How, are we ever going to be able to do
> anything solid as far as "taking action" is concerned?  I don't believe
> we will.  The local council support for paying adequate salaries also
> has
> to be there and if the other literacy providers don't believe in giving
> a
> salary, no matter how minimal, to their directors, how will the
> gov't. entity view that?  I predict not favorably.  And in the
> *mean*time, I'm sitting here with some 45 volunteer tutors and 20 board
> members with NO other paid staff but me!!  (And, David, you do NOT want
> to know what MY salary is!  It's not adequate compared to what other
> E.D.'s are getting in other Sioux Falls non-profits, let's put it that
> way.)
>
>  "2. ... long waiting lists for students ... what are you doing to
> change
> that?"
>
> I do my utmost to focus on NOT having a "long waiting list" at any given
> time
> of the year.  What do I do when that list starts to develop?  I call
> matched
> tutors who may take a second New Reader and get my behind out the door
> to
> recruit other new tutor volunteers, and train them as immediately as is
> possible.  Additionally, I encourage the learners on the Short List to
> enroll
> in other educational programs in the interium, work on-line with Council
>
> staff until their tutor is trained  -- at least twice in the first month
> --
> and/or develop personal reading/writing projects for them to do
> independently
> while they wait.  Even if it is as simple as rote-learned vocabulary to
> accomplish their goal of reading a book to their pre-school child!  It's
>
> worth that effort.
>
>  "3. ...welfare reform policy in your state (because it has driven
> students
> out of education -- or because it has mandated education) what are you
> doing to change that?"
>
> This is another area I'd like to see others input ideas into discussion
> on
> the NLA.  I have hit a roadblock.  I'd like, as an example, for the TANF
>
> people to give credit to a New Reader who has enrolled in our program
> and is
> being tutored every week.  But I don't know how to approach it.  I know
> that
> mandated education is required of TANF recipients yet their job training
>
> *books* are too high level!  Who WRITES these manuals anyhow??  How can
> a
> non-reader be expected to participate in something such as this which is
>
> doomed to failure??  They do.  If somebody has a boiler-plate contract
> or
> policy they are using with their welfare offices, I would love to see
> it.
>
>  "4. If you think that 'accountability' in adult education (or in K-12)
> has
> become madness, has turned education into mind-numbing bean counting,
> what
> are you doing to change that, to make accountability meaningful?"
>
> Is it even worth the yap to try?  (for adult ed madness)  I view it as
> being
> too doggone late to get the "powers that be", who had control over the
> design
> of the NRS and other recordkeeping systems, to listen to us.  They
> didn't
> listen before.  Why would they listen now?  As they say:  It's a done
> deal!
> I feel it's going to be 3-5 yrs. before they will wake up to the reality
> the
> accountability standards aren't working.
>
> "5. ... state adult education services ... narrowed to only
> employment-related education, ... no support for basic reading and
> writing, family literacy, adult biliteracy,  citizenship and civics
> education and for other education ... (for) adult learner purposes and
> goals as they define them..."
>
> What will I do?  The first point is:  How many literacy organizations
> across
> the NLA have their adult learners' specific "purposes and goals" written
> down on hard copy?  Are there active Adult Learner Advisors in the
> communities to whom we speak?  Have we allowed our learners to envision
> a
> different future for themselves?  When they know everything is "tied to
> the shortage of bucks" how far will they let their dreams/hopes/goals
> flow?  My opinion?  Not very!
>
> I think a concentrated, unified effort at every state governmental level
> is
> the only way the feds will get the message and change the
> trickle-on-down
> level of monies.  So, tell me, where is our Union of sort?  I don't
> think we
> have one.  I think there are too many divisions existing among us ....
> it
> doesn't take much looking on the NLA to find people who can't even agree
> on
> the Margins to Mainstream outcomes feasibility!  Then there's the latest
>
> who-ha about philosophical vs. policy postings.
>
> I really am unsure that advocating can even happen locally because the
> message I'm getting from our state Dept of Labor official is that she
> doesn't
> have control over these criteria.  And our Council is way out in the
> boondocks from the decision-making happening in the U.S. Capitol.  The
> literacy effort is going to need the help of those in Washington, DC,
> area
> because none of us have funds to adequately provide programming, much
> less
> host the travel of local folks to go to the Capitol.  Most are
> volunteers,
> remember!  We could consider the option to organize groups to make
> appts.
> with the local office staff of our Senators and House of
> Representatives.
>
> Just the other night, as we gave New Board Member Orientation, one of
> those
> members asked, "Which state legislator is on the side of literacy?"
> None as
> far as *I* know.  He felt as a local BOD, we should work to change that
> as
> our community literacy BOD -- at least to tell them important
> information
> about the impact tutoring can have on individuals' families and lives.
> So it
> looks to me as though my board is going to grab the attention of local
> district representatives and discuss fair funding.  They also have been
> asked
> to participate by coming to our upcoming Literacy Breakfast PR
> /Fundraising
> event.
>
> Lastly ...
>
> So, David!  You tell ME <how> "the NLA list" truly *can* "help
> subscribers"
> to accomplish your three points?  (Points being  1) Link thought to
> action,
> 2) Act, not alone, but with others: adult learners and practitioners
> together, forging a common agenda, and to  3) Be effective in bringing
> about
> policy changes to improve adult literacy education.)
>
> The available financial resources are too diverse.  I cannot take the
> same
> actions, create a same agenda, express that our learners have the same
> needs
> and thus policies as Massachuetts can, as an example, due to the lack of
>
> money, in <part>.  How many others are there out there on the NLA who
> have
> budgets withOUT money for advocacy, as an example?  Budgets for such
> tasks
> would *not* be funded by our United Way **here** I am certain!   can't
> even
> get funds to send a *group* of learners on a leadership education
> opportunity
> being offered by the VALUE organization in July.  (Send one person and
> they
> get overwhelmed.  Send several and networking occurs.)  You think the
> funders
> are going to say it's Okay to travel and stay over during our state
> legislative session (to say <nothing> of going to D.C.!)?  I don't think
> so.
> That is all a pipe-dream.
>
> Nancy Hansen
> Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council
> sfliteracy at mcleodusa.net
>
>
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