Student Leadership

"Its the little things you do make the big differences"

What is a Student Leader?

-"Someone who is responsible for everything"
-"Someone who is capable of helping with a variety of things"

Does taking the step to lead make you become a leader?
Everyone can be a leader, they can lead by examples, practising what they say. It is believed that anytime you have someone following behind you can be considered a leader.

Some ways of becoming a leader
-Networking
-Do Homework
-Showing up to School
-Actively participating in groups and projects around the school

Characteristics of becoming a leader
-Courageous
-Speaking up for what is right
-Recognising who you are
-Always willing to learn
-Having the initiative to be m.a.d (making a difference)

Every leader has a leader, every leader looks up to someone.

Interview with Cherly Mc Falden

"We empower ourselves by reading more"
"Education is the passport for the future"

What inspired you to get into adult literacy:
I was a tutor in Philadelphia and there was a high level of illiteracy especially among the black within the community. There was also a lack of volunteers to help others.

What literacy mean to you:
I feel I am doing what God has put me on the earth to do, I feel obligated.

What changes do you want to see in terms of literacy:
I want literacy become more flexible and accessible to adults. Sometimes literacy schedule coincide with their job schedules or house chores. They sometimes have no one to look after their children.

What do you believe reading can do for others:
Reading is power, it helps you find yourself and gives you a voice

Interview with Shelly Walters

Shelly is tutor at a literacy program and she feels inspired to do her work

Why did you join the adult literacy team:
I would admit I came from a home where my parents were not very educated. I did not want that cycle to continue because I believed that everyone should be educated. I wanted to initiate change in other people's life and not allow them to go through the thing I went through with literacy. Also I think there was a need to help others and no one to fill those positions

What do you think is you biggest challenge being part of a literacy team:
To educate others, a lot of people don't have the power to change their life. I want to be that person they can lean on and get the support they need.

Adult Education Women are Super (ROLE) Models & Partners

*we began by discussing the multi-stakeholder visioning process

*a participatory process

*moving forward-enhancing professional skills, supporting community, building pathways to high education and job opportunities

*Assets vs. Needs approach i.e. the glass is half full approach to learning, listening to not just what learners think but what they need

*Student Voices Study in 2008 with 151 learners including current students and alumni across all sectors

*found that students were looking for opportunities to give back to their fellow students in the form of peer mentors, tutors, and counselors

*Strategies were developed and categorized based on need by the alumni

*support and motivation

*community organizing and outreach

*information and communication

*Advocacy

*The instructor then acts us all to define leadership; a long list of attributes was given

*Leadership:The decision to see that everything around you goes well.

*Issues that face women in leadership are

*Oppression;externally and socially

*Internalized oppression;no power, negative self-image,limited capacity to inspire

*passing the hurt vs. creating a culture of healing

*Isolation;cultural/language/economic barriers

*At this time we did a listening exchange exercise where we worked with a partner describing what our programs are doing to engage women in leadership. The listener was required to be silent but encouraging without interruptions or judgements

*upon further discussion of leadership qualities the instructor suggested that the same qualities required to be a leader are required to be an adult learner

*At this time we were introduced to program that began in New York in 2009 called We are New York or WANY an ESOL program

*In 2010 WANY began a leadership internship program

*the Future Now Program based on whole student centered principles

*Head-strong academics

*Heart-emotional support

*Soul-values adult learner bring to the classroom

*Engaging Adult learners as partners increases retention rates, improves program outcomes, decreases drop out rates

*We watched short video, (part of a TV series) specifically for adult learners that deals with obstacles that stand in the way of success. These videos are available with sub titles-used another tool/support system

*Adult Education Alumni Alliance

*objectives are based around improving outcomes for learner and alumni, the structure of a sustainable network in NYC, creation of a student centered adult education system

*We then discussed the the transition from local to systemic Action

Leaders

*Biming Long

*Role model for ESOL students in Chinatown community. She went from student to educator in the English and Grammar dept.

*currently a WANY intern at the Mayor's office

*Pamela Soriano

*serves a student liaison bridging the gap between students and program leaders

*Guadalupe Delgado

*on the student newspaper, works a research assistant

*works as a WANY intern at the Mayor's office using the We are New York TV series to improves the lives of other learners

*Diane Francis

*Works as a mentor and instructor for the Queens library adult literacy program

*works a WANY leadership intern for the Mayor's office. She is also a founding member of the Adult Education Alumni Alliance

*Objectives of leadership internships are; increased student retention and transitions to college level, increased literacy by helping people learn English, developed alumni leadership and advocacy

The lessons learned from these programs are

* learners are assets

*alumni are a "secret weapon"

*communities have to have the goal of empowerment

*the culture of adult learning needs to be shifted on both a local and systemic level towards learner centered and learner led programs

Activism

Another one of the conference themes is "activism." This can be activism for women's literacy and educational needs, and it can also be understood that literacy and education helps with activism around important issues. Perhaps this is activism "for" women's literacy and activism "from" women's literacy? What are your thoughts on the issue of activism?

First Post

Hi. Here is the sample post. If we include labels (below), they should show up on the left. That way since multiple people will be posting, we can read through posts thematically.