Hi,
I'm Barbara Garner. I've been editing NCSALL's "Focus on Basics" for the past 9 years (I'm proofing the last issue next week). I've also been subscribed, off and on, to both the Women and Literacy and Poverty lists since they started.

I've always been interested in the connection between literacy and poverty (and come to believe literacy is a necessary but not sufficient route out of poverty), and worked on women's education issues in West Africa quite a bit.

 Right now I'm not attached to a literacy program in any way, so I tend to be more of a lurker than an active participant. I always learn from the experience of others on the list and appreciate the resources that are shared. 

I suppose what I can offer is an encyclopedic knowledge of the resources on the NCSALL web site, should any be applicable to our discussions.
I look forward to Daphne's always thoughtful facilitating.
Barb

=====================
From: Daphne Greenberg <ALCDGG at langate.gsu.edu>
Date: 2006/11/10 Fri PM 12:30:11 CST
To: 
	RaceWomen and Literacy Discussion List The Poverty <povertyracewomen at nifl.gov>
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 10]  Welcome

Since 11/6 when I sent my welcome message, we have more than doubled the
subscription membership list! In the spirit of welcoming the more than
50% who joined after I sent my welcome message, I have decided to send
it out again, along with the postings of the people who introduced
themselves to the listserv. This way, we can be all caught up (no need
to worry-I won't repeat this again for a long time-I just figure that
50% is a significant number of people who did not have a chance to
receive the welcome message.)

We now have over 200 people  on this listserv. If you have not
introduced yourself to the rest of us, it would be great if you can tell
us who you are, your interest in this listserv, expectations, etc. The
more we know about each other and who we are, the easier it will be to
have discussions in this cyberspace medium!

For those of you who joined after I sent my welcome message, here it
is, along with a copy of all the other introductionary messages:

Welcome message from Daphne:

In this first posting, I would like to tell you a bit about myself and
to invite you to do the same. I will also tell you a bit about my
philosophy about facilitating. A lot of us know each other, but a lot
of
us don't. Sending posts to cyberspace can be a bit scary, and it helps
a
bit to know about the community to make it a little less scary. If you
don't feel like reading my somewhat long post, please scroll down to
the
2 questions that I am asking people to consider and respond to.

First, my philosophy about facilitating:

If you are nervous about posting something, I encourage you to email
it
to me personally, and I will be willing to post it on your behalf, or
help you edit it so that you feel comfortable sending it yourself.
I encourage people to participate in ways that are most comfortable to
them. Actively participating in discussions is fine,   posting a
question is fine, posting an announcement is fine, and lurking is fine
too!
I encourage controversy on the listserv, and will occasionally post
things to get a discussion going. I have no problem being critical of
any governmental policy related to literacy and encourage you to do so
as well!
As a facilitator, I believe in posting all posts with a few
exceptions.
I will not post anything that includes lobbying information (NIFL does
not allow lobbying information on this federally funded listserv), any
personal attacks against a listserv member, and posts that seem that
they are being sent to the listserv by accident (such as inviting
someone out to dinner). I will ALWAYS send you an email telling you
why
I didn't post your email. As a facilitator on the women and literacy
listserv, I can tell you that I only had to do this a few times. 
I will from time to time remind people of making connections to
literacy. Sometimes we can get distracted by some very critical issue
and forget that we need to make connections to literacy when we post
something to this listserv.
There will be times of silence on this listserv, times when there are
only announcements posted, and times when I post questions to
facilitate
discussion. I will also host "guest" facilitators on topics of
interest
to the group. 

And now a bit about myself:

I was the facilitator of the women and literacy listserv since its
beginning, and have been a member of the Poverty Race 
List. I am currently the associate director in the Center for the
Study
of Adult Literacy at Georgia State University. I am also an assistant
professor in the Educational Psychology and Special Education
Department. Since this listserv will be focusing on issues related to
literacy, women, poverty, and race, I will focus on my interests
related
to that topic. I am very interested in issues related to the "other",
issues related to domestic violence, issues related to health
literacy,
issues around family literacy, and issues related to SES and race. I
have conducted research on mammography knowledge in African American
elderly women who had low reading skills, and another study comparing
the reading attitudes of middle school kids based on their location
(urban versus inner city) and gender. I was one of the authors of a
lgbt
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) climate study at my university
and
racial issues were included in the analyses. In my adult learning
graduate class, I spend a good part of the time talking about
diversity
issues in the adult classroom. I am also on the diversity committee in
my department.

I would love it, if people can introduce themselves. Some examples:
1. What are your interests in women, poverty, race and literacy?
2. What are your hopes for this listserv?

Introduction from Holly, a listserv subscriber:

Hello Daphne, all,
 Daphne, thank you for your introductory post and encouragement to
 generate meaningful dialogue here on this listserv.  Your name is
 familiar to me from 'lurking' awhile now.
 
 My name is Holly (Dilatush) and I've been involved with undoing
racism,
 GLBT, abolishing poverty, affirming women, etc. efforts for several
 years now -- in various venues.
 Presently, I'm working fulltime as an ESL Coordinator and Volunteer
 Coordinator for the Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning
Center.
 Q:  What are your interests in women, poverty, race and literacy?
 A:  (see above) Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Leslea Newman's
poetry,
 Barbara Kingsolver's essays, and so many other readings have been
 POWERFUL influences in my life -- often just a phrase will resonate
for
 years and 'keep me on my toes' -- alert and more intentionally aware.
 So, the power of words, and of dialogue, is highly valued and
 prioritized in my life.
 
 I've participated for years in a "Black Women, White Women, ALL Women
 in Dialogue group that meets once per month -- and I  believe that
this
 intentional awareness and willingness to delve (or attempt to!) into
 difficult issues and to hear the real stories of how different
 populations are impacted, or are perceived to be impacted, is crucial
to
 positive progress.   I believe this listserv falls into this realm.  
I
 believe in encouraging all adult learners to feel the power of
literacy
 -- both in its ability to nudge transformative moments/epiphanies
within
 ourselves, but also that each and every one of us has the potential
to
 use literacy to reach others in positive, transformative ways. 
 
 Q:   What are your hopes for this listserv?
 A:   That many of us will REMEMBER it is here and make the time to
post
 to it when a relevant and useable idea to nurture postive literacy
 growth works for us, when an outrageous situation or puzzling
scenario
 enters our awareness circle and this group might learn from it and/or
 brainstorm/instigate ideas to work with it/through it, when an adult
 learner points out something relevant to their learning experience
that
 might be an eye-opener or "ah-hah" moment for all of us (as teachers
 and/or administrators).   
 
 so, to share an idea/positive story: 
 
 In Charlottesville, VA, the annual Festival of the Book event is held
 each March.   As part of this event, adult learners in a five county
 area (which covers huge rural areas, as well as urban and suburban;
 includes the incarcerated, and all GED and ESL programs known within
the
 counties) are invited to share their stories [see this link for more
 details if interested:  http://avenue.org/adulted/voal.html ]... the
 stories must be true and must fall into one of the themes given. 
 Teachers are strongly encouraged (lots of reminders and
arm-twisting!)
 to use prior years' writings incorporated into curriculum, and to
have
 all learners write toward the contest as part of classroom
assignments.
 
 
 These genuine stories run the gamut from tearjerkers to rib-ticklers,
 and the evening event where readers -- winners as well as ANY writer
who
 wishes to read aloud -- read to a packed audience (usually over 200
 attendees) is one of my favorite evenings of the year.   It is
literacy
 in action -- and the writings are published and books distributed
 year-long -- to physicians offices, libraries, schools,
organizations,
 sponsors, etc. -- spark conversations and gasps and guffaws and
tears,
 and greatly increase awareness.    
 
 Two years ago, several GED students voiced concerns that "ESL winners
 were taking all the glory and attention, and taking all the prize
money"
 from the 'real' Americans... so this wonderful event has brought to
 light a growing problem many of us have noticed -- and more and more
 students (on both sides) are voicing.  
 
 so, a question to this listserv:   Has anyone else observed or heard
of
 discontent between ESL and GED students, between African Americans
and
 dark-skinned refugees ["they're lazy" "Why are they on welfare?"  Why
do
 they resent us receiving social services?"  "Why don't they buy a
house;
 we did.",  Why don't they clean up their yard?  Why does their house
 smell different?"] between Asians (with a perceived or real higher
 socio-economic status) and other international students, between
 genders, between the issues of all 'isms' ["that organization is for
 citizens, not for the ESL community -- they don't understand our
problem
 (spouse/partner/parent physical abuse -- by women and by men --
 including wives physically abusing their husbands)" and between ESL
and
 GED teachers (perceived and/or voiced prejudices and/or approaches
 and/or assumptions) -- within the "communities" that adult education
 classrooms strive to build?    How have (or not) literacy activities
 helped to incite or ease, to increase awareness, to enable
assistance,
 to practice civic participation, etc. within your programs and the
 surrounding greater communities?  
 
 Do you/have you addressed these issues via literacy-related
activities?
  [within classroom, between students, between students and teachers,
 between students and community, between teachers, between teachers
and
 administrators]?   If so, how/where/to whom are these written words
 disseminated?
 
 Thanks (sorry so long) -- responses to any of the above will be read
 with interest,
 Holly

"No matter what our attempts to inform, it is our ability to inspire
that will turn the tides."
Holly Dilatush
ESL distance learning, Dialogue Cafe, Volunteer coordinator
Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning Center
1000 Preston Ave., Suite D
Charlottesville  VA  22903
(434) 245.2815 office
(434) 960.7177 cell/mobile
http://theHsmile.org  ['home' to several Moodle CMS (course management
systems/virtual classrooms)]
http://www.Charlottesville-ESL.org 
"Live with intention. Share inside~out smiles, inspire hope, seek awe
and nurture in nature."


Message from Karen, a listserv subscriber:

Hello everyone, 
Here's my quick intro. I teach ABE (and some GED) in Gorham, Maine - a
small college town just west of Portland.  I also work closely with
our
family literacy program, co-facilitating a monthly Moms' Night Out at
a
local mobile home park. I'm on the conference planning committee for
WE
LEARN. I volunteer for the Maine Women's Fund, and I'm involved with
the
Feminist Spiritual Community of Portland, Maine. 

1. What are your interests in women, poverty, race and literacy?

The majority of my students are women, and almost all of them are
living
in or just above poverty. In this particular community, they are living
in
poverty within a very affluent community so there is an added pressure
to
"pass" as middle class. I spend a fair amount of time trying to
demystify
the rules that are at work keeping women in poverty and sharing the
skills
that might help women move out of poverty. 

I'm interested in where and how poverty, race, and sex intersect, and
I'm
interested in identifying practical tools that I as an educator can
supply
my students with. I believe that increasing literacy is of tremendous
benefit to those of us who experience any form of oppression, but
sometimes I find it difficult to convey the reasons for my belief to
students who are skeptical. 

Race is an easy subject to avoid in Maine where there is not a great
deal
of racial diversity. I try not to avoid it, though, and instead deal
with
issues related to race as they come up. I address racist, sexist,
homophobic, (and so on!) comments when they are made regardless of who
is
in the room. I think it can be easy to let something go because there's
no
one there to be directly insulted or offended. Sometimes it is a
struggle
for me to confront racist/sexist or otherwise oppressive attitudes in
a
way that is productive and respectful of the student behind the
comments.
I hope that I will learn from all of you more about how to skillfully
handle these situations. 


2. What are your hopes for this listserv?

I hope for thoughtful, considerate reflection and discussion. I hope
for a
recognition of both where forms of oppression intersect and where they
diverge. I hope this will be a place where we can all practice our
skills.
I hope for a combination of accountability and compassion. I hope this
will be a space conducive to learning and reflection. I also hope that
traffic won't be excessive; it can be so overwhelming to open a
full-to-bursting mailbox! On this last bit, Daphne, is there a digest
option available for this list?

I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you.
Respectfully, 
Karen Wyman


Message from Carolina, a listserv subscriber:

Hi, to all of you, empowering women out there

I do not teach, but looking forward to teach Adult Ed and Spanish GED.
I am from Calexico, California and recently moved to Louisville,
Kentucky to work for the National Center for Family Literacy within
the
Hispanic Family Learning Institute.  My parents are from Mexico
(Dad=Guadalajara,Mom=Baja California), and I am the oldest of four
children.  I hold a BA in Public Administration and I am pursuing a
Masters in Urban Planning.

As you can tell by my cultural background my interest in empowering
women come from the childhood experience I had of living with a Macho
father and a submissive mother in a low socioeconomic environment.
However, my mother had a strong opinion on education and that made it
possible for me and my siblings to obtain a university education.

I am a strong advocate for programs that provide direct service, and
to
programs that educate the general public (both men, and more so women)
about the faulty expectations and assumptions we have on women.  Many
of
these expectations have hundreds of years of tradition behind them,
but
modernization and globalization has set new guidelines and many of the
roles of women have changed.  This is a reality that both men and
women
need to accept and adjust to modern social standards.

Women do not need to feel guilty or are less of a women if they chose
not to have children, get married, or learn how to cook in order to
fulfill a professional career...We have a choice!  We are equal!- Emma
Goldman, Eva Peron, Frida Khalo, Dorothy Day, Sor Juana de la Cruz,
Padre Eusebio Kino, and Octavio Paz...have greatly influenced me in
this
journey for gender and social justice.

At the moment I am working on a Spanish Literacy project called "Plaza
Comunitaria" in conjunction with the Indianapolis Mexican Consulate
and
a Hispanic Women Center called "Casa Latina Woodbine"- a place that
provides food and shelter to poor women and also helps them acquire
skills to reach financial independence.  Many of the women we serve
are
recent immigrants and have little or no literacy skills in their
native
language.  The program enables them to acquire these skills, hence
making the transition into ESL classes a lot easier.  We plan to
incorporate financial literacy, lifelong learning courses, and college
prep courses, as a part of a tentative p-16 program for the women with
children.

I hope that out of this list we can arrange to convene twice a year to
transform words into actions for the welfare of the women and children
in poverty.

Respectfully,

Carolina Palero
Administrative Assistant
Hispanic Family Learning Institute
National Center for Family Literacy
325 W. Main Street, Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40202
Tel. (502) 584-1133 Ext. 136
Fax. (502) 584-0172
e-mail: cpalero at famlit.org 
website: www.famlit.org 
-----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list
PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen