[NLA] (no subject)

[Ira Yankwitt]

Dear Colleagues,

On September 28, the Literacy Assistance Center in New York City held a
forum for adult literacy practitioners to address the impact of the World
Trade Center attack and its aftermath on students, classrooms and programs.
 Approximately 40 practitioners attended.  Among the issues participants
discussed were:

* the dramatic decrease in student attendance in the wake of Sept. 11,
* an inability to attract and keep volunteers,
* loss of jobs and job prospects for students,
* interpersonal and intergroup conflicts, and
* an increased need for counseling and other support services

In the latter part of the session, participants separated into two working
groups: one which focused on advocacy, and one which focused on curriculum
and instruction.  Among the topics that practitioners wanted to find or
develop curriculum on were:

* coping with grief, agitation, trauma and fear,
* bias and racism,
* Middle East, Central Asian and South Asian culture and history,
* US foreign policy,
* critiquing media, and
* immigrant rights, civil liberties and racial profiling


As a result of the forum, the LAC's program staff embarked on a number of
initiatives designed to support practitioners in addressing the
continually-evolving crisis.  First, we developed an annotated list of over
50 websites that provide resources for teachers and counselors.  Second, we
have created an online discussion board through which practitioners can
discuss issues of curriculum and instruction, advocacy, resource
development, and program management that continue to emerge.  Third, we
have added two new workshops on "lesson planning in the context of current
events" to our already-running GED 2002 series.  And fourth, we've
developed a five-part workshop series for ESOL teachers that will explore
issues of cultural understanding and cultural conflict.

To access our resource list, go to our website at www.lacnyc.org, and click
on "Resources for Adult Educators in Response to the WTC Crisis and Its
Aftermath."

To access the online discussion, go to our website and click on "Discussion
board and notes." This will take you to Blackboard.com, where you can
"enroll" in our "course."  Once enrolled, click on "Communication" and then
on "Discussion Board."  (You can also access the notes from the Sept. 28
forum, by clicking on "Course Notes.")

For those of you interested in learning more about our GED or ESOL series,
go to our website, www.lacnyc.org, scroll down, and click on Events at the LAC.

Finally, for more information on any of the work we are doing around Sept.
11 and its aftermath, please contact any of the following staff members:

Mariann Fedele, Coordinator of Instructional Technology (mariannf at lacnyc.org)
Winston Lawrence, Coordinator of Adult Literacy Services (winstonl at lacnyc.org)
Marguerite Lukes, Director of Instructional Technology (mlukes at lacnyc.org)
Ira Yankwitt, Director of Adult Literacy Services (iray at lacnyc.org)



Ira Yankwitt
Director of Adult Literacy Services
Literacy Assistance Center
(212) 803-3356
iray at lacnyc.org