Those who have been around the field a while might remember that
"workplace (or workforce) basic skills" was the focus of many local and
state-level events (forums, breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, conferences)
in the period of roughly 1986 through the early 1990s. Many of these
events grew out of national level adult literacy public awareness
activities generated by the PLUS campaign (an approximately four-year
effort of ABC and PBS to raise awareness about adult literacy).  One
focus of that effort (in about the third year) was "workplace literacy."
PLUS organizers promoted the concept of local-level PLUS task forces
which would organize public awareness events around the adult literacy
issue. 
 
PLUS was supported by trade (especially in the publishing industry) and
professional associations and much of the adult education community.
These efforts prompted many governors and mayors to jump on the
bandwagon and create adult education task forces, councils, and other
kinds of planning groups which, in some cases, led to new adult literacy
initiatives, with new funding, state adult literacy plans, etc. 
 
Woven into those activities were the kinds of "forums" -- public events
in which adult literacy issues were discussed -- referred to above.
These were sponsored by newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, business and
labor groups, and other organizations.  While some of these events were
heavy on the fluff, some of them were very substantive, promoted
well-informed discussions, and resulted in real improvements in local or
state adult education systems.   (These events were documented in the
national newsletters of the Business Council for Effective from 1984 to
1994.)
 
It seems that adult literacy -- and workplace basic skills -- has, for a
number of years, fallen off the map in the U.S.  Given the difficult
times and declining budgets the nation and many states are now facing,
we are facing a climate in which people are reluctant to look at what
some see as the very difficult task of educating the millions of U.S.
adults who lack literacy skills, English language fluency, and high
school credentials.  However, the need for this kind of education is
more and more important.  We need national, state, and local leaders --
from both the public and private sector -- who are willing to take this
issue on.  Well-organized public forums might be one way to put adult
basic skills back on the nation's agenda.  These events would allow
stakeholders to present and discuss the skills that adults need for
work, family, and civic roles and what is now needed to build more
effective adult learning systems.  A lot of good work and new ideas have
been generated in our field in the past 15 years.  We might learn from
the best of the efforts of the late 1980s and early '90s and create new
awareness and planning efforts that reflect what we've learned in the
past 15 years. 
 
Paul Jurmo 

________________________________

From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of Barbara Tondre
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 6:21 PM
To: 'The Workplace Literacy Discussion List'
Cc: rene.coronado at esc20.net; 'Olga Escamilla'
Subject: [Workplace 590] Re: Workplace Community Forum or Summit



Mary, San Antonio adult education programs, the Alamo Work Source
Workforce Development Board, and San Antonio employers put on one of the
best one day summits I've been to in a long while.  This initiative is
only two years old.  They started small and really focused on buy-in.
They did a terrific job.  For a two-page summary, see SHOP TALK # 8 at
the website hosted by Texas A&M's Texas Center for the Advancement of
Adult Literacy and Learning (TCALL):
www-tcall.tamu.edu/litresources/workers.htm.  The SHOP TALK series is an
ongoing service we provide to our adult ed practitioners; all entries
are work-related.  The contact in San Antonio is Olga Escamilla at ESC
Region XX, olga.escamilla at esc20.net.  

 

________________________________

From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of Mary Henderson
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 11:34 AM
To: The Workplace Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [Workplace 587] Workplace Community Forum or Summit

 


I would be interested in knowing if anyone has organized or participated
in a Workplace Community Forum or Summit? I would appreciate any
information or ideas  that anyone would be willing to share.

Thanks, Mary 

Mary Henderson 
Program Officer 
Adult Literacy Initiative 
J. Marion Sims Foundation 
(803) 286-8772 
mhenderson at jmsims.org 
  

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