"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.
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Monday, March 8, 2010
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
"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.
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
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Connecting Research on Women's Literacy and Social Justice
How does research affect policy? How do we make research applicable to our practice?
How can we all be involved in conducting it? It should not be something just done by researchers and removed from every day life.
People introduced themselves.
Presenter #1: Reading Course for Farmer's Wives
Cornell University Farmer's Wives Reading Course. Introduced home ec into rural communities in upstate New York (e.g, sanitary practices, etc.). In addition to education research, it served to bring women together. In this area people were very isolated. There was limited electricity, technology, and materials of interest (such as magazines) to women. Women were asked to prioritize what they wanted to learn about saving time and doing housework more productively. They got a publication called "Saving Steps." In the process of sharing this information (collected via postcards), women had a chance to connect. Over time, these developed into study clubs that had the bulletins as the central text and larger events.
Key quote: Gathering in community is crucial to one's lives, especially those who are isolated in rural areas.
Presenter #2: Youth Aging out of Foster Care
There is a need for comprehensive services for youth that are aging out. Link between aging out unprepared and negative outcomes. Homelessness, literacy, incarceration, etc. Foster children are less likely to finish high school. Comprehensive services will help with transition. This can be done using existing resources - we have to change the paradigm in how we use it. One program is very successful and they are notable for having 40% of their staff being former foster students. In general, it is more expensive to care for homeless people, due to things like medical care for things that should be routine.
Kids need unconditional commitments from adults that foster parents won't give up on them. They are treated different, but they are just like us. We have to think of them as people.
Key Quote: The new face of homelessness is youth aging out of foster care.
Presenter #3: Literacy Among Ecuadorian Women Weavers
Women's cooperatives in this area of Ecuador has offered transformative potential, in addition to organizing for fair prices. They encourage literacy. This research project focuses on interviewing women in these cooperatives about their understanding of literacy and their work. (Ann Berthof (sp?) - the meaning beyond money).
One cooperative: Sweater weavers. Had workshops for workers, techniques, but self-esteem, domestic violence, etc. were the most noted. Second: Straw weavers.
Third: Embroiderers. All struggling with changes in the world marketplace.
Results of the study: Limited access to materials (book, internet, etc.) but have cell phones. Limited need for reading. But literacy had become important. Needed it for redesign. Surprised or hesitant about using social services.
Key Quote: How might these women connect the strengths they demonstrate daily, and in their cooperatives, with larger social justice issues?
*
Question: How does research or interventions add to the complexity of the problem? Like women's shelters not addressing women's safety. How do we make sure we don't make things worse?
* Who has the whole picture? People might not know to call it patriarchy, or what the issue is.
- Response: Nobody has the whole picture
* Biggest problem (in Canada) is for people to understand that they must be inclusive. Learners must be there, since they have experiences and expertise that professionals don't have. It is a matter of respect. Big problem - non-inclusivity.
* Students feel isolated within own communities and families because they are getting an education. There is a tension between wanting to maintaining a connection to their families and wanting to do something different. Do we pay enough attention to how difficult taking this step is. (Note: Like the movie Educating Rita).
* Discourses about how we talk about groups of people.
* As a learner, waiting for someone to invite me is a lack of power. Instead of waiting for them to change, I want to give other literacy students the skills I have developed.
Advocate for themselves.
* Topic: How do people learn to work with social services, get over the hurdles or their hesitancy, and work with the resources that are already there? Or not - because not all people do get over it (e.g., refugees).
* What are the issues we should be doing research about to change policy?
- Example: Both parties need more awareness. Sometime staff at homeless shelters need more awareness, not just family being more aware of regulations. Staff who have not been in that situation don't understand. Or Foster Parents need training about resources, so it is not just about the kids not doing the right thing.
Question: What does research mean to you?
- It is common sense. This is way we should use to redirect things.
* We'd like to look at creating best practices about agencies informing people about how to utilize the resources. What would be the best practices to makes sure the employees are equally informed? Increase access to funding.
- How to help other countries as well.
- We need to educate the first line responders. And that has to be done via the people who have lived it and it know it.
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW
How can we all be involved in conducting it? It should not be something just done by researchers and removed from every day life.
People introduced themselves.
Presenter #1: Reading Course for Farmer's Wives
Cornell University Farmer's Wives Reading Course. Introduced home ec into rural communities in upstate New York (e.g, sanitary practices, etc.). In addition to education research, it served to bring women together. In this area people were very isolated. There was limited electricity, technology, and materials of interest (such as magazines) to women. Women were asked to prioritize what they wanted to learn about saving time and doing housework more productively. They got a publication called "Saving Steps." In the process of sharing this information (collected via postcards), women had a chance to connect. Over time, these developed into study clubs that had the bulletins as the central text and larger events.
Key quote: Gathering in community is crucial to one's lives, especially those who are isolated in rural areas.
Presenter #2: Youth Aging out of Foster Care
There is a need for comprehensive services for youth that are aging out. Link between aging out unprepared and negative outcomes. Homelessness, literacy, incarceration, etc. Foster children are less likely to finish high school. Comprehensive services will help with transition. This can be done using existing resources - we have to change the paradigm in how we use it. One program is very successful and they are notable for having 40% of their staff being former foster students. In general, it is more expensive to care for homeless people, due to things like medical care for things that should be routine.
Kids need unconditional commitments from adults that foster parents won't give up on them. They are treated different, but they are just like us. We have to think of them as people.
Key Quote: The new face of homelessness is youth aging out of foster care.
Presenter #3: Literacy Among Ecuadorian Women Weavers
Women's cooperatives in this area of Ecuador has offered transformative potential, in addition to organizing for fair prices. They encourage literacy. This research project focuses on interviewing women in these cooperatives about their understanding of literacy and their work. (Ann Berthof (sp?) - the meaning beyond money).
One cooperative: Sweater weavers. Had workshops for workers, techniques, but self-esteem, domestic violence, etc. were the most noted. Second: Straw weavers.
Third: Embroiderers. All struggling with changes in the world marketplace.
Results of the study: Limited access to materials (book, internet, etc.) but have cell phones. Limited need for reading. But literacy had become important. Needed it for redesign. Surprised or hesitant about using social services.
Key Quote: How might these women connect the strengths they demonstrate daily, and in their cooperatives, with larger social justice issues?
*
Question: How does research or interventions add to the complexity of the problem? Like women's shelters not addressing women's safety. How do we make sure we don't make things worse?
* Who has the whole picture? People might not know to call it patriarchy, or what the issue is.
- Response: Nobody has the whole picture
* Biggest problem (in Canada) is for people to understand that they must be inclusive. Learners must be there, since they have experiences and expertise that professionals don't have. It is a matter of respect. Big problem - non-inclusivity.
* Students feel isolated within own communities and families because they are getting an education. There is a tension between wanting to maintaining a connection to their families and wanting to do something different. Do we pay enough attention to how difficult taking this step is. (Note: Like the movie Educating Rita).
* Discourses about how we talk about groups of people.
* As a learner, waiting for someone to invite me is a lack of power. Instead of waiting for them to change, I want to give other literacy students the skills I have developed.
Advocate for themselves.
* Topic: How do people learn to work with social services, get over the hurdles or their hesitancy, and work with the resources that are already there? Or not - because not all people do get over it (e.g., refugees).
* What are the issues we should be doing research about to change policy?
- Example: Both parties need more awareness. Sometime staff at homeless shelters need more awareness, not just family being more aware of regulations. Staff who have not been in that situation don't understand. Or Foster Parents need training about resources, so it is not just about the kids not doing the right thing.
Question: What does research mean to you?
- It is common sense. This is way we should use to redirect things.
* We'd like to look at creating best practices about agencies informing people about how to utilize the resources. What would be the best practices to makes sure the employees are equally informed? Increase access to funding.
- How to help other countries as well.
- We need to educate the first line responders. And that has to be done via the people who have lived it and it know it.
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Friday, March 5, 2010
Informal Discussion: Restorative Circles
Short lunchtime conversation about Restorative Circles.
Here are some links
- www.thepeacealliance.org/files/events/2009.../restorative_circles.pdf
- http://www.restorativecircles.org/
Here are some links
- www.thepeacealliance.org/files/events/2009.../restorative_circles.pdf
- http://www.restorativecircles.org/
Opening Event - Making Connections
At the start of the conference, after general introductions, participants have gotten up and are moving around the room in an ice-breaking activity. They are finding partners, connecting via their elbows, and introducing themselves by saying their name and a tip to stay healthy. People are now moving about the room, looking for a new partner and saying good morning with their eyes. Now they are sharing tips about finance.
There is lots of friendly noise and smiles all around.
The group has been brought back together. People are going around the room saying their names and the whole group is repeating it in unison. A nice strategy for affirmation and welcoming people.
WE LEARN is off and rolling!
There is lots of friendly noise and smiles all around.
The group has been brought back together. People are going around the room saying their names and the whole group is repeating it in unison. A nice strategy for affirmation and welcoming people.
WE LEARN is off and rolling!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Community
As you can see from above, one of the three main themes of this year's conference is "Community." What are some of the ways that you understand the concept of community? How is related to the topic of women and literacy? For those of you who are at the conference while you are posting, what have you seen or heard in sessions or in informal conversations that speak to the idea of "community"?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
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.
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