Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j2J3j2C26713; Fri, 18 Mar 2005 22:45:03 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 22:45:03 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <d8.22617abd.2f6cfa14@aol.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: MWPotts2001@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2931] VALUE's Civic Education X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Mailer: 9.0 Security Edition for Windows sub 1200 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Status: O Content-Length: 3982 Lines: 82 Please share with your colleagues. News Release March 16, 2005 Media Contact: Chip Ridgewood, (610) 876-7625 or office@valueusa.org Adult Learners School Legislators on Adult Education On March 9 and 10, adult learners from 25 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam met with Senators and Congresspersons to educate them about the life-changing importance of adult education. These meetings were part of the civics education portion of VALUE's Fourth Biannual National Adult Learner Leadership Institute, held March 8-10 in Washington, DC. In total, adult learners personally talked with 5 Senators and 6 Representatives. Adult learners talked with staff of of an additional 15 Senators and 21 Congresspersons. During one meeting, Rep. George Miller (D-CA-07), ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce told his constituent and VALUE board member Faye Combs that he would sponsor a Dear Colleague letter to the House Appropriations Committee opposing a 66% cut in adult education fund-ing included in the Administration's 2006 budget request. Marty Finsterbusch, VALUE's Executive Director said "This is what we did in just 48 hours. Imagine what adult learners from all 50 states can accomplish in a sustained effort to personally validate the impact of adult basic education on their lives and their families." Finsterbusch added, "This Leadership Institute makes it possible for adult learner leaders and their legislators to learn from each other in the very place were literacy policy is made. It's an unparalleled civics education experience." More than one hundred adult learner leaders from twenty-five states and two dozen literacy program staff attended this Institute. Events included receptions on Capitol Hill for House and Senate members and a banquet at the Library of Congress, which was hosted by the Library's Center for the Book. Adult learner leaders also took part in civics education and leadership skill-building workshops. During this Institute, VALUE presented two awards. Verizon was recognized for its long-standing corporate commitment to the field of adult basic education and literacy. Laura Calderon, an adult learner leader from the Glades Tri-City Family Education Program and the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition in Delray Beach, Florida received the Susan Green Award. This award is given biannually to an adult learner leader who exemplifies Susan Green's qualities of seeing the best in other people and reaching out to help them pursue their own literacy leader objectives. VALUE expressed its appreciation to the organizations that partnered with VALUE for this Leadership Institute. They include: D.C. LEARNs, Inc, Washington's city-wide literacy coalition; the D.C. Public Library's Adult Literacy Resource Center; the Southeast Professional Development Center in Lancaster-Lebanon, Pennsylvania; the National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium; and the American Library Association's Office of Outreach and Literacy Services. VALUE, Inc. is a national nonprofit organization governed and operated by the alumni of adult basic education programs in the United States. Its mission is to strengthen adult education programs in the U.S. through learner involvement and leadership. VALUE is founded on the belief that input from current and former adult learners can help the literacy field improve recruitment, retention, curriculum reform, research, and resource development. For more information on the organization, visit www.valueusa.org. It is a small world … During her senior year of high-school and freshman year of college, Amy Hille, a legislative assistant for Kentucky Congressperson Ben Chandler worked for Leadership Institute participant Phyllis Long in the Parks Department, unbeknownst to either of them until the House reception. # # #
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