The following is posted on behalf of Mev Miller



> Reply-To: Mev Miller <mev at litwomen.org>

>

>

> Hello Colleagues

>

> I have recently found an interesting grant RFP that I'd like to  

> apply for. The timeline is short for this (proposal is due Feb. 15)  

> but I'm hoping to gain some insight from many of you "in the field."

>

> The grant specifically addresses lesbian (and to some extended  

> sense, lgbti) social change projects. [lgbti = lesbian, gay,  

> bisexual, transgender, intersexed] The proposed project must  

> directly address the depth and complexity of critical issues in  

> lesbian (lgbti) communities, and especially those coming from  

> progressive women's organizations and projects led by lesbians  

> (lgbti people). So, WE LEARN -- with me as principle investigator  

> -- seems like a perfect fit for this opportunity.

>

> FYI: the grant is being offered by an primarily lesbian focused  

> organization. Due to my own interests, experience, and desire to  

> keep the project manageable, I'd prefer to focus the project on  

> lesbians, but also understand that general lgbti issues will  

> necessarily intersect with this project.

>

> Here's what I'd like from you:

> I'm looking for key research questions and ways to frame them in a  

> social change project that could happen either within a one year or  

> 1-3 year time frame of the grant. Your input on key questions from  

> your experience/perspective would help my development of this  

> project. I have listed some of my ideas below. What of these seem  

> most urgent to you? What different ideas or questions do you have?

>

> Some of my initial thoughts include:

> • How are lesbian (lgbti) issues addressed, ignored, silenced in  

> ABE/ESOL?

> • How do we support lesbians (lgbti people) in ABE/ESOL -- across  

> the spectrum of participants -- students, teachers, tutors,  

> volunteers, administrators.

> • We are beginning to understand the effects of violence and trauma  

> on learning. How many of our students/teachers experience violence  

> and trauma as a result of their sexuality? How are these issues/ 

> concerns recognized and addressed?

> • What are the effects of identity discovery on learning / adult  

> learning (this may connect to the violence issue, or it may not)?

> • What can we learn from growing body of research on lesbian  

> (lgbti) youth, especially the policy report available from the  

> National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, GLSEN, and other education  

> communities? Does the growth of Youth in ABE correspond at all to  

> the experiences of lesbian (lgbti) youth? How many students in ABE/ 

> GED come to our programs because of sexuality-related hate crime  

> experienced in high school? How do ABE programs serve these youth?

> • We know that some young lesbians have babies to prove they're  

> "straight." Do these students get served by family literacy  

> programs or programs serving single moms? How does the implied  

> heterosexuality of such programs affect the lesbians who may be  

> attending them? How do their identities, issues, concerns get  

> supported, ignored, silenced?

> • How do we address, ignore, silence cultural issues in ESOL  

> contexts as they intersect with sexuality issues?

> • Ditto: workplace literacy & workforce development

> • How does the K-12 teaching environment for lesbian ((lgbti))  

> teachers crossover into ABE/ESOL context?

> • Do ABE/ESOL programs located in community colleges have a  

> different set of attitudes or experiences related to lesbians  

> (lgbti people) because they are located on a college campus?

> • How are the realities, needs, and experiences of lesbians (lgbti  

> people) in ABE/ESOL invisible to the larger gay/equal rights  

> movement? How could these issues inform the larger context of  

> lesbian/gay legal rights?

>

> It seems that much of ABE/ESOL experiences and writings on these  

> issues are anecdotal. I know of no serious research project  

> addressing lesbian (lgbti) issues in ABE. As far as I know, this is  

> a gap in our research, something I'm willing to address head-on.  

> Does anyone know of anyone who is doing direct research or  

> participatory projects addressing these issues?

>

> Though I'm asking these as research questions, I'd like the  

> proposal to be a participatory inquiry-based social change project.  

> Your suggestions or experiences for framing this would also be  

> useful. If anyone has interest in collaborating on this project,  

> please let me know.

>

> I have collected resources (what few there are) over the years:

> ERIC Trends & Issues alert #21

> Bright Ideas, 2000

> Taking Risks, ALRI, 1999

> The Change Agent #19, 2004

> Addressing diversity - LACNYC 2002

> a tape recording of the panel presentation at TESOL in 2003

> novel-Working Parts

> novel-Crybaby Butch

> miscellaneous conversation threads on various NIFl lists, esp.  

> womenlit in 2002

> and some others...

> Do you know of other research or writings that are available --  

> specifically addressing lesbian (lgbti) issues in ABE/ESOL?

>

> Thanks for all your reflections. Please respond to me privately and  

> I'll compile the comments for a future post.

>

> Mev Miller

> WE LEARN

> Women Expanding: Literacy Education Action Resource Network

> www.litwomen.org/welearn.html

>

> Mev Miller, Ed.D., Director

> 182 Riverside Ave.

> Cranston, RI 02910

> 401-383-4374

> welearn at litwomen.org

>

>

>

> From: familyliteracy-request at nifl.gov

> Subject: confirm d7fbc28236ceb2b581e8533d6334c74d53bbba77

>

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Gail J. Price
Multimedia Specialist
National Center for Family Literacy
325 West Main Street, Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40205

Phone: 502 584-1133, ext. 112
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