[NLA] discussion: Special media events for Adult Literacy

[David Rosen]

NLA Colleagues,

On the VALUE Learner e-list  Paul Jurmo has written about adult learner
leader, Toni Cordell. I cross-post his message here, with Paul's
permission, to remind us that individuals' creative efforts are
important in bringing attention to the need for adult literacy, and over

the years many individuals -- learners and practitioners --have made
some extraordinary contributions.

Paul wrote:

"....You might not know it, but Toni once did something absolutely
incredible for the literacy field.  In 1990 (when she was in her 40s,
if I may reveal it) Toni ROLLER SKATED across the ENTIRE United States
(from California to the East Coast) on a campaign to raise awareness
of the adult literacy issue.  She (with her daughter driving along in a
van for support) stopped in towns along the way and met with local
literacy leaders, public officials, and the news media.

At each stop, she helped raise awareness of the need for adult literacy
services. Toni mentioned below that I first met her in person in 1990.
I happened to be at a conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was
walking across the campus at Louisiana State University.  I looked up
and saw this really cool looking woman in black Spandex coming at me
on roller skates.  (She looked like Wonder Woman.)  It turned out that
that was Toni arriving in town as part of her cross-country trip.

I was pretty impressed then by someone who could perform such an
incredible feat.  This was a real challenge, athletically.  Plus it was
a very creative way to help a cause that was important to her.

Toni went on and, over the past dozen years has done a lot of other
things for literacy.  She served as a paid staff person at Laubach
Literacy Action's headquarters, was a founding member of VALUE, and
has been a conference presenter and speaker all over the country,
among other things.

So next time you're finding it hard to get up off the couch and look
for the remote control for the TV, think about Toni tooling across the
country on her roller skates for literacy."


David J. Rosen
<DJRosen at theworld.com>