[NLA] California Literacy: MEDAL

[LitNetJose@aol.com]

MEDAL (Managers, Executives, and Directors for Adult Literacy) is a program 
of California Literacy, Inc, a  statewide nonprofit literacy organization 
which is recognized as a statewide literacy coalition by the National 
Alliance of Urban Literacy Coalitions and ProLiteracy America.

MEDAL represents our vision for creating a genuine statewide literacy network 
of adult and family literacy professionals and other partners who support 
community-based and library-based adult literacy in California.  We are proud 
to count among our partners the California State Library--California Library 
Literacy Services, who make up the bulk of traditional adult literacy 
services in California, the California Department of Education, the 
California Department of Corrections, and others.   We need and 
wholeheartedly value all of these partners.  So, our work is not about Cal 
Lit.  It is about being a partner to the fullest extent possible so WE can 
achieve in the goal we all share...which is to serve adults who need literacy 
services and to assist communities that suffer as a result of too many 
residents who struggle because they lack basic literacy skills.

Inclusion in the MEDAL network is quite flexible.  And, in a sense, it has 
always existed...but has needed the structure and attention we are giving it 
today.  While we have been verbally announcing MEDAL to the California field 
for the past six-months, we are formally launching MEDAL in the next ten days 
via literature and emails being sent out to the field.  We are asking folks 
to sign on...and if they don't, we will contact them.

Shortly we will be identifying MEDAL "Fellows" in our state to whom we will 
invest resources.  The Fellows will be asked to act as students and to 
participate in trainings in various U.S. locations, study best practices, 
look at outstanding models, and come back to California to present on these 
topics in strategic locations in our state...for the betterment of the field. 
 Some of the MEDAL Fellows will be selected based on their being recognized 
as expert trainers and as trainers on certain priority topics.  

WE all have to be raised up to a higher level of service quality together.  
And, quite frankly, what I have seen of the field, virtually everyone needs 
some form of help...whether it is in the areas that relate directly to 
service delivery or in functioning as a nonprofit organization.  My 
observation is that the transition of personnel in many service sites, 
especially in leadership positions, did not take place the way it was 
supposed to.  This naturally leads to poor service delivery, poor use of 
personnel time, organizations fighting for their survival, and complete 
absence in the execution of external activities, including networking, 
promotions, resource development, advocacy, and partnerships.  

The roles of coalitions include the sharing of work and coordinating 
activities that cannot be the sole responsibility of individual literacy 
programs.  And, by their nature, coalitions simply attract more attention and 
are attractive handles to literacy efforts in the eyes of foundations, 
corporations, and others who want to help, want to have an impact on a wide 
scale, and want to become a partner in a coordinated, organized effort.  We 
have to respond to this.
   
To answer your question, there is only one MEDAL network in California...and 
that is the point.  We want to be able to unify the field for all 
purposes...including advocacy, heightened literacy awareness, etc...but 
mostly for training purposes.

California is a big state and Cal Lit has a tremendous service 
challenge...just in the area of communications. You try living here!  So, 
while the intent of MEDAL is to serve the field with the best in training and 
other technical assistance, we are hampered by the size of the state and its 
fragmentation.  This is not a criticism of the literacy service organizations 
in California.  I think we all have to deal with this challenge...some of 
which is based on the differences between service cultures...and some based 
on communities that, for some reason have never developed the leadership that 
would lead to coordinated literacy efforts in communities.

So...the other part of Cal Lit's agenda for MEDAL is to create literacy 
coalitions throughout the state for other purposes:  1) So communities can be 
supportive of each other and generate more resources as a result of the 
heightened visibility that comes from organized communities for literacy, 
and, 2) To create service hubs and contacts that will make our job easier as 
a statewide organization.  

So...MEDAL is NOT just a training network!

Last year we were successful in supporting the development of two new 
literacy coalitions in our state: the Redwood Literacy Coalition and the 
Kings County Literacy Coalition.  Both are already benefitting from their new 
presence in their own communities...and both have made it easier me to do my 
job!  We have more work to do and have communities that are asking for 
support in this area, as well as those that we are approaching on our own 
because of the glaring need.  Given the status of state funding in most of 
our nations' states, and just because collaboration makes sense, it is far 
past time for us to stop working in a vacuum, walk out the front door, go 
through the neighbor's gate, knock on the door there, and make a long overdue 
introduction.  

MEDAL, as a network of literacy professionals on a statewide basis, and as a 
first step towards coalition development in California communities, is 
already serving its function.  We are presenting a series of workplace 
literacy workshops throughout the state by focusing trainings in locations 
where literacy programs are clustered and working together.  I confess, some 
coalitions in our state our functioning better than others...so...it is our 
job to help them do a better job of coordinating local efforts and taking 
advantage of the many opportunities for growth and survival that all of us 
are squandering regularly.  I provide training on initiating and coordinating 
coalition efforts.

Because of coalition development, we are currently working on a project that 
will result in the distribution of 200,000+ books to our partners in 
California.  I will not yet reveal the name of the donor, reserving that for 
the official launching.  The point is, we could not pull off this project 
without the hubs.  Whether we are distributing books, going on tour with 
training modules, or mobilzing for advocacy purposes, we must be succesful in 
our attempt to bring the field together...through the statewide network of 
professionals or through the coalitions.  We cannot expect the nation to 
rally around our cause unless we have united with each other.

However, I do confess that the slant on MEDAL is very much towards the "adult 
literacy effort"...an effort for the adult literacy culture and 
community-based services.  We want the ABE folks on board, too.  But let's be 
honest with each other.  As much as we hear concerns for funding from the ABE 
folks in NLA forum, the need for support to the community-based organizations 
continues to be off-the-scale.  We are a priceless aspect of the field, 
representing some of our nation's most effective adult learning centers.  Our 
value is enhanced by our presence in communities where there is great need, 
isolation, alientation, and high percentages of depression among the 
residents, specifically women, most who are parents.  We are there, quite 
often, side-by-side with our ABE brothers and sisters, down the street from 
our nation's most disenfranchised.  And, yes...WE need to work together...but 
if we (the small "we") don't fend for ourselves....who will fend for us?

This is already another "too long" email..so...I will spare you too much 
information on Cities That Read for now.  This is another one of our efforts 
to create visibility, generate resources, unite California mayors and county 
supervisors for the cause, have an impact in our state capitol, create and 
support coalitions, and generate resources from the midst of local 
governments.  It is the brainchild of my boss, Lisa Bennett-Garrison.  I am 
in vast appreciation to her for allowing me to work on these efforts...and 
also hold the greatest admiration to all of you who are working in the field 
with great dedication and who are my inspiration.

Thanks for reading all of this!

Jose L. Cruz
Statewide Director of
Coalition and Member Development
California Literacy, Inc.
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