[NLA] literacy and homeland security?

[Maria Elena Gonzalez]

Thank you Art for vocalizing my own dismay.  My disbelief at the lack of criticism of this policy actually made me wonder if some of the messages were "tongue in cheek".  I guess not.

Maria Elena Gonzalez
Adult Literacy Resource Institute, Boston, MA
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ellison, Art 
  To: 'nla at lists.literacytent.org' 
  Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 2:40 PM
  Subject: RE: [NLA] literacy and homeland security?


  To the list,



    I am stunned by the immediate responses on the list to the news that VISTA has become another link in the battle for homeland security. So far we have suggestions that range from using literacy VISTA's to teach the dangers of biological attacks to a refocusing of  WIA to a workforce development program that emphasizes "the teaching of knowledge useful in homeland security job training". 

    These seem like very tentative and incremental steps which only prolong the inevitable. Fortunately, we are in the enviable position of being able to rewrite the current WIA legislation within the next year. In order to consolidate all of these many efforts perhaps the field could recommend that the new WIA be changed to something like Defending the Homeland Through Literacy Act with accompany changes to the NRS system that would show measurable gains in such things as skill in designing bomb shelters, air filtering systems and the best firearms to use in protecting your property from other citizens who did not plan ahead.  Art Ellison



  -----Original Message-----
  From: LVAILL at aol.com [mailto:LVAILL at aol.com] 
  Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 12:20 PM
  To: nla at lists.literacytent.org
  Subject: Re: [NLA] literacy and homeland security?



  In a message dated 10/5/2002 9:55:50 AM Central Standard Time, alcdgg at langate.gsu.edu writes:





  received a letter from the Vista office stating that if they cannot draw a link between the work being done in the literacy program and homeland security, the Vista workers would need to be pulled from the 



  We have not seen that in Illinois, but every state is different.  Illinois' Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) office has always had a focus on education in VISTA and that continues.  However, the Illinois CNCS office is also requiring a cost match of $10,000, the cost of the living allowance.  CNCS estimates their contribution of an educational award, health insurance and initial and in-service training for members to be $10,000 as well.  That is limiting the number of agencies that want (or can afford) VISTA members. 

  The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has become a favorite agency to run administration initiatiatives through, especially when they don't get congressional approval for something, i.e., America Reads.  After that as program operators we dealt with Colin Powell's Promise and had to incorporate one of his first four promises into our annual objectives and were all required to do the fifth which is to provide opportunities for youth "to give something back."

  The RFP's for AmeriCorps grants (not VISTA that is a different system) are due out this week .  Those go to states and "national direct" progams.  States have some latitude in writing their own calls for proposals and setting their own priorities, but we are told there will be a focus on homeland security and a preference given to those applicants.  How much of a focus and how much preference we're not sure. 

  There's been talk about all AmeriCorps grantees and sub-grantees doing at least one homeland security objective.   Our state commission  (Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service) had a planning retreat two weeks ago, and we recommended that rather than having all programs involved with homeland security that CNCS set a target for the number of members they want involved in such an effort say 10%, 25%, 50% and let states implement it.  I also liked the idea of giving non-homeland security type programs extra points in review if they were able to effectively incorporate homeland security or those such issues in their programs.  Our Commission also asked CNCS to more clearly articulate what they consider homeland security issues.  At this point it is broad and includes civil defense, law enforcement including community policing, and a range of public health topics and issues.  

  In addition to a focus on homeland security, it appears that CNCS will also be seeking to advance the Leave No Child Behind programming.  There will be specific training requirements for members who are tutoring children and at this point they are saying that they want those members to have an Associate's Degree as well.  There are also a variety of changes being made on "allowable activities" for members, and in the future members can be involved with fundraising and capacity-building activities.  

  Now that states will have the federal guidelines, they will be developing their own RFPs.   Though each state sets their own guidelines and processes for funding, most will be announcing three-year funding opportunities this fall with a submission date most likely in the spring.  Anyone interested in sponsoring AmeriCorps programs should follow that process with their State Commission on Community Service.  It varies as to where the Commission is "housed" in each state, but it can be accessed through the national membership organization for state commissions - America's Service Commission at <asc-online.org>.  

  Dorothy Miaso
  Executive Director

  LVA-Illinois
  30 East Adams Street, Suite 1130
  Chicago, IL  60603
  312/857-1582
  312/857-1586 (fax)
  literacyvolunteersillinois.org (web site)

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