On Jun 30, 2007, at 12:15 PM, Daphne Greenberg wrote:


> I would like to thank David for organizing this discussion, and to  

> Margaret, Kathy, Darlene, Carl, and Jeff for helping lead the way  

> as we try to organize communities to mobilize and work together  

> towards literacy goals. I do hope that this discussion can continue  

> at some point. As David noted, it was a lively and very informative  

> discussion, and yet, much still needs to be discussed and in  

> greater depth. I think that issues of how to get coalitions  

> started, how to assess progress, how to apply for and share funding  

> sources are all critical topics that need a public forum such as  

> this one.


I agree with you -- we haven't had a lot of time to get into many of  
the subjects introduced. In re-reading the discussion this morning,  
we seemed to have tied a lot of loosely-related issues under the  
umbrella of community literacy.

A couple of final thoughts/responses:

On Jun 28, 2007, at 9:11 AM, Janet Isserlis wrote:


> In other words, does the fact that service providers/community  

> workers might

> proactively utilize plain language (because plain language, like  

> universal

> design, is just good for everyone),  multiple languages (brochures,  

> posters,

> etc) and otherwise might be thinking about literacy and  

> communication issues

> -- does all of this indicate a sense of communities' literacy  

> abilities  AND

> a sense of the critical need to be mindful of literacy/ 

> communication across

> service provision areas?


I think that's a really interesting and potentially more fruitful  
approach, because then you have the potential to engage key community  
partners at the same time.

Daphne also wrote:


> I am pleased that NIFL hosted a community literacy summit, I am  

> pleased that there is a community literacy journal, and I am  

> pleased that there was a special topics discussion devoted to  

> community literacy. What about next steps? I am wondering if an  

> annual community literacy conference hosted by NIFL would help?  

> Perhaps a NIFL discussion list devoted to community literacy? I  

> think that a m

>  omentum is slowly being created, I think that the time is right,  

> and I think that community literacy may be the way to finally get  

> the type of attention so many of us in the field seek from policy  

> makers and funders. I really hope that there is a next step!


There is an organization, Literacy USA, that has provided a network  
for coalition-building nationally for over ten years. Carl Guerierre  
and I both serve on the national board of directors. As the only  
national organization that historically has tied together the  
coalition work going on around the country over the years, I think  
that Literacy USA has the potential to move some of those things you  
mentioned forward, particularly if it works in partnership with NIFL  
and other national organizations. Resources, as always, is the big  
challenge.

I want to close with a word of encouragement to those reading this  
discussion who are new to developing coalitions or community  
partnerships, or perhaps frustrated in their efforts to pull one  
together. It's been mentioned a few times times last week that  
coalition-building is hard work to do and to sustain, but it's worth  
mentioning that again. It really isn't very easy, and if you are  
struggling, don't let the success stories here fool you into thinking  
otherwise. For one thing, in order to sustain such efforts over the  
long haul, I think you have to have the community, the public sector,  
and the business sector all engaged, involved, and on the same page.  
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, it doesn't work, but that  
doesn't mean you are necessarily doing something wrong in your  
approach. When the conditions are right, it will.

Many of the very strong coalitions and partnerships you have read  
about during this discussion have had their share of struggles  
starting out, and many probably still struggle at times. And some of  
the great models I have seen are surprisingly fragile when examined  
closely. I think that if you look at the longest-running  
partnerships, you'll see a lot of ups and downs --- the one constant  
being hard work and patience.

Thanks again for inviting me to participate. A lot of great resources  
and things to think about going forward. If anyone has any additional  
questions about D.C. LEARNs after the discussion is closed, feel free  
to drop me a line.

Jeff

-----------
Jeff Carter
Executive Director

DC LEARNs
1612 K Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006

www.dclearns.org
jcarter at dclearns.org
202-331-0141 ext. 22