[NLA] literacy and homeland security?

Mon Oct 7 22:54:44 EDT 2002

I have to admit that I agree with Art. When I posted my message, I expected people to be horrified that a connection between homeland security and literacy was being made. In fact, I specifically posted it to the NLA list, and not to the NIFL lists because of this.
Daphne

Daphne Greenberg
Associate Director
Center for the Study of Adult Literacy
Georgia State University
University Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
phone: 404-651-0127
fax:404-651-4901
dgreenberg at gsu.edu
>>> AEllison at ed.state.nh.us 10/07/02 15:01 PM >>>
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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