Fw: [NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board

[Nashansen@aol.com]

To the Moderator:  This is the first message that I've attempted to send from 
my home PC.  Hope this is the correct procedure for us as the Sioux Falls 
Area Literacy Council listserv subscribers.  Thanks!  Nancy Hansen.

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Janet, Archie et all NLA friends:

I would like to make comment about this response to your inquiry.  It was 
written by Archie Willard of the Iowa Coalition and the VALUE Board.  I 
praise his comments!

In a message dated 12/01/2001 10:57:52 AM Central Standard Time, Archie 
Willard responded:

<<  Although I recognize and appreciate the thoughts and concerns about the 
current climate regarding adult literacy, I feel strongly about adult 
learners' being involved. Somehow I would hope we live in an America where 
people who have literacy problems and have worked hard to better themselves 
can represent the very same kind of people with literacy problems on the NIFL 
advisory board.  If Congress, our leaders, and the literacy field view adult 
learners who have gone through the adult literacy system as people who cannot 
speak for themselves, then I think things are wrong.  I hope our country is a 
better place than that and we cannot accept that only highly visible people 
and people with clout can represent others. If an adult learner was appointed 
to this board, I feel a message would be sent to Congress and to society that 
things are working in adult literacy. 
 Archie Willard   >>

I agree ever so strongly with you, Archie!  I feel that you as a learner 
leader have very effectively zero'ed in on the issue of whether or not adult 
learner leadership should be asked to take membership on the NIFL board.  Our 
task in this country's adult education and literacy (AEL) programs ought to 
all along have been to assist learners such as you ,Archie, in developing  
skills.  I have seen how learner leaders *can* accomplish such leadership 
goals!  You have *been* seated on a very strong leadership board.  We need 
learner leaders who can guide *us* to create future visions -- the topic of a 
prior e-mail you wrote regarding the Summit.  The question is:  Have *we* as 
practitioners done the work we needed to do to accomplish that task?

As practitioners do we establish policies and procedures that assist the 
learner with visions beyond learning to read, write and spell in our literacy 
programs called "How to grow long-range goals"?  Those goals could include 
volunteerism, leadership, community involvement -- by whatever name the goals 
are.  If we *don't*, then **we** are the ones who failed.  If we didn't help 
our learners to develop leadership skills, then we are the ones to blame for 
not having people who can speak on their own behalf.

So what is the next step, you asked, Janet?  I feel those in a NIFL 
decision-making role should be asking for referrals of appropropriate learner 
leader board members, review their credentials and then "do the ask".  They 
just won't volunteer for such a responsible job unless they are asked.  I 
believe you will find many within the individually strong adult education 
programs throughout the country (including Archie) who are people you should 
be asking to participate ... **I** advocate that more than just *one* adult 
learner be appointed.  

Orientation in Plain English for these learners is the next step.  What is 
your expectation of not just the learners being appointed, but *all* new NIFL 
board members?

Then!  The next task that is equally important is that the other NIFL board 
members who sit alongside these learners truly use *all* communication skills 
to make this a process where these learners' opinions are truly heard!  Make 
sure the learner is being *asked* for his/hear opinion and then heard.  Good 
communicators listen, clarify and compromise as they place in action members' 
suggestions at all decision-making tables.  THEN there will be a successful 
NIFL organization working together for the same vision.  Aren't we all in the 
trenches together?

Nancy Hansen
sfliteracy at mcleodusa.net
Sioux Falls Area Litearcy Council