Audrey or anyone else!
Any ideas on how we can mobilize people to think of adult literacy as a civil rights issue? What do we need to do? Assuming, of course that we in the field, think that it is a civil rights issue!
Daphne


>>> "Audrey Riffenburgh" <ar at plainlanguageworks.com> 06/13/07 3:21 PM >>>

Hello, everyone, 

I am a health literacy specialist now but earlier in my life I worked in adult literacy and ESL. I worked at the local and state level as well as for Laubach Literacy International. And I consulted and trained with Literacy Volunteers of America. These are the two organizations which now comprise ProLiteracy Worldwide. ProLiteracy does have a lobbyist in Washington and they send out regular e-mails to their members notifying them of progress in various bills, who they should contact, and what they should ask for. 

I've also worked with an organization of adult literacy learners called VALUE (Voices of Adult Learners United for Education). In years past, they've done leadership training, held conferences in DC, and visited their legislators on Capitol Hill. Their members also often speak about their lives and experiences in their local communities. 

In my association with these organizations I have always been aware of their efforts to influence legislation. But I'd really like to see more lobbying and more individuals talking to our legislators framing adult literacy as a civil rights issue! 

Audrey Riffenburgh, M.A., President
Riffenburgh & Associates
Specialists in Health Literacy & Plain Language since 1994
P.O. Box 6670, Albuquerque, New Mexico  87197  USA 
Phone: (505) 345-1107   E-mail: ar at plainlanguageworks.com
Founding Member, The Clear Language Group, www.clearlanguagegroup.com
Ph.D. Student in Health Communication, Univ. of New Mexico


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Katherine G 
  To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 10:38 AM
  Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 789] Re: Is Literacy a Social Justice Issue?


  My perception is that literacy is housed within the right to a public
  education via laws that require education.  Specifically, protected classes
  such as those with disabilities are entitled to education that would make
  them, hopefully, literate.

  Except through groups such as Literacy Volunteers, I have never seen
  literacy "lobbied" the way other educational issues are, but perhaps I
  missed something.  But if there are no specific literacy lobbyists, we
  certainly need them!

  Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt





  -----Original Message-----
  From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov
  [mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Daphne Greenberg
  Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 12:11 PM
  To: RaceWomen and Literacy Discussion List The Poverty
  Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 788] Re: Is Literacy a Social Justice Issue?


  If it is a social justice issue, is it ever framed in this way? For example,
  is the right to good adult literacy instruction ever part of civil rights
  rallies?

  >>> Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net> 6/11/2007 8:54 PM >>>
  Of course literacy is a social justice issue--we live in a literate
  culture our Constitution is a text, so are laws.  If you can't read you
  can't  participate fully.  I, too, would be interested in hearing other
  views.

  Andrea

  On Jun 11, 2007, at 7:54 PM, Isserlis, Janet wrote:

  > and, if I may further complicate the issue - how do practitioners view
  > the issue?  How do we talk about social justice among one another?  Is
  > there a difference in our discussions with each other and with
  > learners?  Who decides what's "just"?
  > This isn't just a rhetorical question - I'm wondering about how we
  > share views respectfully where other colleagues and/or learners might
  > not share our own opinions about what social justice is or isn't.  IF
  > we see literacy as a critcal piece of access (to information,
  > opportunity, avenues of power) then social justice seems to be a very
  > strong element, in ensuring that adults have the requisite skills ,
  > information and knowledge to access opportunities.
  > But, are there other factors that might make this proposition less
  > evident ?
  > Janet Isserlis
  >
  >
  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Daphne Greenberg
  > Sent: Mon 6/11/2007 7:31 PM
  > To: povertyracewomen at nifl.gov
  > Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 785]  Is Literacy a Social Justice Issue?
  >
  > Recently, 2 list members brought up literacy as a social justice
  > issue. Lilian shared excerpts of her article called "Health Literacy
  > is a Social Justice Issue that Affects Us All." and Sarah shared
  > information about an informal gathering at the U.S. Social Forum in
  > Atlanta to discuss  how to teach/facilitate adult literacy in a way
  > that is consistent with and contributes to a vision of social justice.
  >
  > I am wondering what is the definition of social justice? Any thoughts?
  > I am also wondering if other people think that literacy is a social
  > justice issue? If yes, why? And if yes, do you feel that what you do
  > contributes to social justice? If yes, how? Do you ever feel that you
  > hit obstacles when trying to connect literacy to social justice? If
  > yes, how and when? Any suggestions on how to get around the obstacles?
  >
  > Daphne
  > ----------------------------------------------------
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