Hi Amy
Thanks for this reflection.

I only know of a handful of programs that serve primarily (only) women.
Caroline Center - a workplace training program in Baltimore
St. Mary's Women and Infant Center - Dorchester, MA
Julie's Family Learning Program - So. Boston, MA
Project Hope in Roxbury MA ( though I think htey now have men  in  
some of their programs now)
Mercy Center in Bridgeport, CT

These are the ones I recall offhand -- but am always happy to know of  
more. What other programs out there intentionally serve women-only  
programs? Are there programs serving both genders but that might have  
some woman-only spaces? How does that work? Let's build our own list!

I've been wanting to do a directory for WE LEARN for a long time --  
on the "to do" list -- but again time & funding have slowed us down   
this.

Other than the single gender research that's out there for K-12 or  
for college level, I'm unaware of any direct research that outlines  
the positive attributes of single gender education in ABE. Perhaps  
the closest I've seen are some of the articles on family literacy --  
and many article on woman-positive curriculum -- but nothing on  
gender-separate programs. Does anyone else know of anything?

WE LEARN offers Women Leading Through Reading Discussion Circles --  
right now we have Circles running in the Boston area. But the manual  
is available for others to adapt according to their needs [ http:// 
www.litwomen.org/wltr.html ]. This could be an example of an  
additional learning support to women that any program could offer. We  
have articulated the positive benefits of this as women-only space --  
we have "professional wisdom" and experiential learning on this --  
but not anything that passes as direct research.

Mev

On Dec 9, 2008, at 3:58 PM, Amy Amador wrote:


> As a new subscriber listserv, I've enjoyed learning of the other  

> women's

> literacy programs across the country.  Our organization provides  

> educational

> services including women's literacy services through GED  

> preparation.  Our

> funding streams are diverse (donors, govt, grants), but new ones  

> are always

> needed.

>

> Aside from funding, what also would be helpful would be to have a

> collection/bibliography of research that documents why single  

> gender adult

> ed programs are as effective as they are and the need for these  

> programs.

> Our students tell us how important the women-only student  

> environment has

> been to their success.  If a collection of this research already  

> exists, I

> would appreciate being pointed in that direction.

>

> We currently serve 100 women each year through our literacy/ABE/GED

> services.  What would also be helpful is working with someone to  

> help us

> explore how best to expand our program which includes classes,  

> small group

> instruction, and tutoring while retaining the intimacy that our  

> students

> appreciate.

>

>

> Amy Amador, MSW

> Executive Director

> Mercy Education Project

> 1450 Howard St.

> Detroit, MI 48216

> Ph: 313-963-5881; Fax: 313-963-0209

> Email:  aamador at mercyed.net

> Website:  www.mercyed.net

> "A Doorway to a Brighter Future for Girls and Women in Detroit"

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

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>


Mev Miller, Ed.D., Director
welearn at litwomen.org

WE LEARN
Women Expanding: Literacy Education Action Resource Network
www.litwomen.org/welearn.html

182 Riverside Ave.
Cranston, RI 02910
401-383-4374