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LR/RI produces a bulletin roughly every two weeks in order to inform area practitioners of news, events, and calls for participation and also as a forum for posing questions, issues and discussion topics. The current bulletin is posted below. To read previous bulletins, go to Bulletin Archives.

September 21, 1999

Bulletin #79

Dear Colleagues,

Notice of upcoming professional development events, meetings, program starting and registration dates and employment opportunities. To post information, please contact me at LR/RI or leave a message (863-2839). A practitioner survey also being distributed with this bulletin. To complete the survey, please click here

Thanks.

Janet Isserlis

____________________________________________________________

NOTICES

fall programs:

Starting September 1, the RI Family Literacy Initiative, Newport, begins its sessions at the Newport Public Library, King Room from 6:30 to 8:00, offering classes in beginner to intermediate English reading, writing, and computer skills. This is a family program; parents are encouraged to bring their children ages 3-12. Age appropriate classes are provided for children while parents work in groups.Volunteers are always welcome as are students; we offer training.September classes are held every Mon. and Wed. evening. Information: Robert Emerson or Collette Bernard at 849-7845. 

The Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative ,East Providence begins its ESL Family Reading Program on October 5. The class is for adults and children. Adults work in level-appropriate groups with a volunteer tutor on reading, conversation, writing and computer skills. At the same time, children work with a tutor to improve their reading skills and enrich their language arts experience. The program requires the invaluable assistance of volunteer tutors working closely with a group of students to facilitate the learning process. Classes meet twice weekly at the Weaver Library 41 Grove Ave., East Providence, (Tuesdays/Thursdays from 6-8pm) for 10 weeks. Volunteers do not need any experience, just a willingness to commit to 4 hrs per week for 10 wks (we are flexible); some training is provided. Interested volunteers can contact Kristen McKenna at 434-2719 for more information.

RI Family Literacy Initiative - programs at Providence and Statewide Public Library sites will begin the week of October 4th. For more information about branches/program, please contact (Statewide): Debbie Peterson, 455-8016; (Providence): Denise DiMarzio, 455-8041.

Job Training Opportunities

The Providence Place Training Initiative is offering free job training for all qualified applicants in the following areas: Building Maintenance, Retail Sales/Customer Service and Food Service. For more information, call (401) 274-4598

Education Opportunity: Federal Hill House Association has three to four openings in its C.O.O.K.S. (Collaboration, Outreach, Occupational Kitchen Skills) Training Program. Classes are scheduled to begin on Sept. 27 and will run fourteen weeks, Mon-Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The training format will include classroom instruction, hands-on kitchen production, cooking demonstrations, and volunteer/internships. Other features and training topics will encompass safety/ sanitation, knife skills, equipment operation, cooking methods, food production (public consumption) and RI Sanitation Certification Exam preparation. Support materials (text books, chef's coat, and job placement assistance) will be provided. There is NO FEE for this course, and is an excellent opportunity for those who can make a (14) week commitment. Interested persons should contact Edward Hill at FHHA at 421-4722 for information on the application process.

The Workforce Literacy Collaborative Workforce Education Conference - October 7 and 8, Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings, Warwick. RI. For information/brochure, please contact RI Workforce Collaborative, c/o LVA-RI, Inc., 260 West Exchange St. Suite 201/2, Providence, RI 02903; telephone (401) 861-0815.

Nursing Assistant Training Program - American Red Cross Certified, at Travelers Aid of RI. The program is open to participants who: are FIP cash recipients at least 18 years of age, immune to measles, mumps and rubella, test negative for TB, have at a minimum 8th grade education performance, and have no previous arrest / criminal record. 8 weeks (5 days/week) of training are offered with books, uniform and state exam fees paid by the program, which also provides case management, DHS paid transportation and child care if eligible, academic tutoring and job placement. For more information, contact Monica Spicer, Case Manager at 521-2255, extension 37. Travelers Aid also provides education, job readiness, health care, life skill and case management services. To learn more and/or to schedule a presentation, please contact Sandra Robinson, ext. 56.

Organizing for Power in the Workplace: Lessons for Religious and Community-Based Organizing Thursday, Sept. 30 7:00-9:30 PM - How do our values and relationships affect our ability to build power in the workplace? What connections are there between religious organizing and labor organizing? What can labor organizers learn from church and community-based organizing? Be prepared to discuss, think about, and debate new approaches to labor organizing being tried across the country. Facilitators: Rev. Duane Clinker and Rhode Island Organizing Project (RIOP) staff. Free at the Institute for Labor Studies and Research, 99 Bald Hill Rd., Cranston (just north of the Warwick Mall on Route 2). For more information or to register, call (401) 463-9900 

Laubach Literacy's 1999 National Book Scholarship Fund (NBSF) distributes books and educational materials to qualified adult literacy and education programs nationwide. Grants are designed to help local educational groups expand their work or to begin new programs among under-served populations. First priority is given to family literacy programs working to improve literacy skills of parents and their children. For information or to receive an application package in September, contact Mara Roberts, Project Administrator, National Book Scholarship Fund, Laubach Literacy, PO Box 131, 1320 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210. Ms. Roberts can also be reached by telephone at 315-422-9121, x345 and via e-mail at mroberts@laubach.org. Grant applications will be accepted until December 8, 1999. More information -- http://www.laubach.org/NBSF/indexnbs.htm.

Employment opportunity - Teachers Experienced in ABE, ESOL, GED, part-time, afternoons, evenings and early mornings, please send resumes to the Institute for Labor Studies and Research, 99 Baldhill Road, Cranston RI 02920. Classes begin in September nd October. ILSR is still hiring.

- Providence Public Library Family Writing Center Computer Coordinator Part-time: 4 hours maximum per site morning and evening hours available immediate opening QUALIFICATIONS: demonstrated ability in computer knowledge, with advanced knowledge of MS Word and Works. Experienced in working with adults and children in an educational or tutorial setting; a commitment to literacy and an interest in working with adults or children of diverse economic or cultural backgrounds; bilingual candidates preferred. College students and recent college graduates are encouraged to apply. Job Duties: Assisting with Family Reading Program Work with Program Leader to design computer component of individual program, training students in the use of computer, assist students in the writing of 'Our Stories'. Providing Technical Expertise as needed, at each program site. Troubleshoot problems with equipment. Coordinate distribution of software applications at each site. Monitor supplies, reporting needs to Program Leader. Maintain equipment. Additional Hours -- Recruit and train volunteers as assistants, if needed. Meetings Meet with Program Leader initially to coordinate trainings, attend Cycle Evaluation meetings for planning, additional training, and/or evaluation. Reporting Provide Program Leader with monthly report on training activities, contacts made and other duties performed. Provide Program Leader with statistical information: computer sessions, attendance of students, etc. Contact Denise DiMarzio 455-8041 to apply/for information

CALL FOR ARTICLES -- The Change Agent

Theme: Environmental Justice/Environmental Health Educators and Adult Learners: We are looking for lessons, activities, stories, and student projects about an environmental issue. Some questions to think about: What role should corporations play in protecting the environment? Can one person make a difference? What environmental issues exist in your community? What is the most important environmental issue in your mind? In what ways does the environment affect your health and well-being? How are your buying decisions affected by environmental issues? Please send your writings (on PC disk, if possible) and pictures or drawings to: Marie Horchler, NELRC/World Education, 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210 phone: 617-482-9485 fax: 617-482-0617 email: mhorchler@worlded.org All articles must be received by November 1, 1999. All articles will be considered. Final decisions about content are made by The Change Agent Editorial Board. We also welcome referrals to people and programs working on projects related to the theme of this issue.

shop for change - at the mall and on-line -- A number of adult education organizations are participating in a fund raising event through Filene's, in connection with its opening at the Providence Place Mall on October 12. Raffle tickets are available for purchase, including special discounts for FileneÕs opening. While a complete list of participating agencies isnÕt available, chances are good that if you contact a provider near you, you may be able to support that entity by purchasing a ticket. Meanwhile, on line shopping through ShopFor Change. com enables you to have 5% of every on-line purchase you make donated to a number of organizations supporting social change. The consumer pays no additional charges; ShopForChange makes the donations. Mainstream on-line merchants are connected to the site; to learn more, please visit http://www.shopforchange.com.

NEW ON - LINE

Nancy Fritz recently submitted an on-line version of the report from her 1998 miniproject on ESOL assessment. ItÕs on-line at http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/fritzassess.htm. The ESOL page has also been updated, as have several other page on LR/RI's site.

and -> save the date: ESOL share, Tuesday, October 12. more information in the next bulletin.

Learning to be Well conference will be held at the Genesis Center on October 26, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. The conference will focus on action based health/literacy programs as tools for improved health status, and will include workshops and speakers from both community health and literacy programs; continental breakfast and lunch will be served. For more information, please contact Isabel Bueno at 781-6110. Funded by the RI Dept. of Health - Office of Minority Health.

WILSON READING SYSTEM OVERVIEW: On September 25 and October 2 Literacy Volunteers of Northern RI - Project LEARN will be offering the Wilson Overview to allcommunity service organizations interested in learning about the Wilson Reading System. Cheryl Koki from the Wilson Language Training will be the presenter. The overview will be held at Amica Insurance Company in Lincoln from 9 am to 3 pm. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served.

In addition, we invite all those interested in implementing the Wilson System into their program to participate in additional Wilson Training. The focus on this training is to share how we at Literacy Volunteers of Northern RI - Project LEARN have been successfully using the Wilson Language System for the past nine years. To participate in the Overview, please call Susan or Cheryl at 401-769-9046 to register. (Or e-mail us at LVNRILEARN@aol.com) Sponsored by the RI Department of Education, Wilson Language Training and Literacy Volunteers of Northern RI, Project LEARN.

SCALE's 10th Anniversary Literacy Summit October 28-31, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- The Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education (SCALE) works with college students, faculty, administrators, community leaders, literacy practitioners, and New Readers to help create and support campus-based literacy programs. SCALE celebrates its 10th Anniversary and is holding a Literacy Summit to offer a unique learning opportunity to those working in campus-based literacy programs, through two Literacy Institutes: Youth Literacy/Mentoring or Adult Literacy.

Presenters for the 5 Summit Strands include:

Advocacy & Social Justice: David Rosen, Adult Literacy Resource Institute, Leslie Haynes, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Working Films, Charlotte NC Diversity: Andy Pates, Peppercorn Press Jane Hugo, Laubach Literacy, Participatory Education Techniques: Archie Willard, VALUE, Motheread, Joye Norris, Global Learning Partners, Hal Beder, Rutgers University Community and Community Partnerships: Mary Morrison, Volunteer Center of Tuscon Participatory Program Management: Ed Chaney, NC Youth for Tomorrow, Mary Siedow, NC Literacy Resource Center. Whether you're a volunteer, AmeriCorps member or program coordinator, the Summit is designed to provide support to enhance professional development and help you make real program improvement. Registered participants will: develop goals and action plans for program growth and change; receive a toolbox of resources related to literacy and social justice; establish networks with other literacy leaders, and receive proactive SCALE technical assistance for 1 year. The Summit is geared for all who are interested in offering leadership to campus-based literacy programs (committed tutors, community partners or program coordinators). We encourage you to come with colleagues and form working groups to maximize the potential of the visioning and action planning sessions for your program. While working groups are ideal, we welcome individual participants representing their campus- or community-based literacy programs.

For information, please: call (919) 962-1542, e-mail us at scale@email.unc.edu, or at http://www.unc.edu/depts/scale Please note: website lists conference hotel options; you can secure a discounted room rate if you make reservations soon - David Falk Campus Support Coordinator/Regional Mobilizer (SCALE) dfalk@email.unc.edu

VALUE e-list: VALUE has established a valuelearners mailing for email users, hosted by the Western/Pacific Literacy Network, part of the National Institute for Literacy Information and Communication Network System (LINCS). This "e-list" is a way for adult learners who are members of VALUE to communicate with each other. Only adult learners who are members of VALUE can subscribe to this e-list. VALUE is the national organization for adult learners (current or former participants in adult basic skills programs) in the United States. VALUE provides training and other supports to adult learners who want to be more effective leaders in their education programs, communities, and states. This e-list is being managed by members of VALUEÕs Communications Committee. Subscribers are encouraged to communicate about information, ideas, questions, or problems of interest to them. If you are a member of VALUE and need help subscribing, please contact LR/RI. If you're not a member, but would like to become one, contact LR/RI or visit the VALUE website at http://literacynet.org/value.

- LR/RI's list serv does not require membership, and eagerly welcomes additional participants. To join the list, please send your email address to janet_isserlis@brown.edu. Anyone with an interest in adult learning is encouraged to join.

Practitioner Survey: LR/RI's practitioner survey is online.Please complete it and send it back via fax (863-3094), mail or email. Your input is critical to the process of evaluating LR/RI's usefulness and future directions. Program directors and others receiving the survey via fax and hard copy are asked to distribute it to your staff, and/or contact LR/RI if you need more copies. Please respond by October 5. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact LR/RI.

RI Latino-American Artists Exhibit Works To Kick Off Hispanic Heritage Month

The work of Rhode Island based Hispanic artists will be exhibited at the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts from September 15, 1999 through October 15, 1999, to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. The exhibit entitled "Raices Culturales del Arte Latinoamericano" (" Cultural Roots of Latin American Art) will open on September 15, with a reception from 5pm - 7pm. Works exhibited will include oil paintings by Francisco Hernandez, from the Dominican Republic, metal sculptures by Jaime Carrera, from Colombia and abstract paintings by Newport artist Mary Gallegos originally from Mexico. Works will also be exhibited by Rhode Island artists from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba and Puerto Rico. The exhibit is being organized by Raphael Diaz, a Cuban and co-founder of Sol City Group. Contact: Raphael Diaz e-mail:raffa87@hotmail.com other online information: (From: Tomas Alberto Avila)

Latino Happenings During Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations Across Rhode Island http://www.mileniolatino.com/heritageri.htm

WGBH Celebrates Hispanic http://www.mileniolatino.com/heritage.htm

Fiesta de Las Americas http://www.mileniolatino.com/fiesta.htm

Latino Unity Festival @ WaterFire http://www.mileniolatino.com/waterfire.htm

Latinos in the New Millenium Conference http://www.mileniolatino.com/conferences/

RILPAC Fundraiser http://www.mileniolatino.com/conferences/rilpac/

RILPAC Web http://www.mileniolatino.com/RILPAC/

ALSO ON LINE

New discussion groups on Alphaplus: Learning, work and gender equity. Six discussions have been started on these topics: A future for women's literacy? impacts of trauma on learning; Technology and women's learning; Supporting women's learning and Older women learning and changing. To register for the discussions please go to http://alphaplus.ca: Follow the steps to register. After you have registered, choose "AlphaCom discussions". Click on "English Public" for a list of all the English-language, public discussions. Choose the title of the discussion you want to join. (These instructions also appear on LR/RI's women and literacy page).

New report: INTERNET USE BY TEACHERS: Conditions of Professional Use and Teacher-Directed Student Use answers questions such as :How often do teachers and students use the Internet, andhow do they use it? How accessible is the Internet to teachers? The full report is posted at: http://www.crito.uci.edu/TLC/findings/Internet-Use/startpage.htm ["Internet Use by Teachers: Conditions of Professional Use & Teacher-Directed Student Use." By Henry Jay Becker. Teaching, Learning, & Computing: 1998 National Survey, Report #1. Center for Research on Information Technology andOrganizations. The University of California, Irvine, The University of Minnesota February 1999]. Although dealing with K-12 issues, the report could be of interest to adult educators hoping to learn more about intergenerational use of technology and also to gain a sense of how our K - 12 colleagues are working to integrate technology into learning.

conferences

Galaxy II Conference -- Action Strategies for Lifelong Learning October 12-17, San Antonio, TX -- to share opinions/views about lifelong learning and develop action strategies for the future. The first Galaxy Conference was convened in 1969, to determine 6 imperatives for action:

1.prepare each person to understand and cope with the issues of the day; 2.remedy educational deficiencies; 3.provide for equal opportunity; 4. enable learners to function more effectively as workers, parents, neighbors, and citizens; 5. improve the quality of life; and 6.share the meaning, values, purpose, and power for ourselves and others around the world.

Galaxy II would strive to address the following questions: 1.In the past 30 years, has the field achieved these imperatives? 2.How has the field changed? 3.Are there new imperatives to be addressed? 4.What are the implications of lifelong learning on the family, education, the workplace, economic development, and the community? 5.As the new millennium arrives, what issues face adult education? 6.What are the priorities for the country and the field? 7.What role will adult education organizations play? 8.What strategies will require collaborative action by these organizations? 9.How do these compare with a global perspective? 10.What will be the role of adult education leadership and what strategies, skills, and collaborative actions will be essential? Information: http://www.albany.edu/aaace/conferences/annual.html

From October 21 - 23, the Learning Disabilities Association of California will host its annual state conference, in Concord, California at the Concord Hilton. Featured speakers include Glenn Young, Reed Martin, top US special education rights attorney, John Corcoran (author of "The Teacher Who Couldn't Read") and Stanford student Sam Ogami. Full Conference Programs are available by calling (916)486-5580 or at http://www.ldaca.org

- A positive parenting seminar for parents of kids with AD/HD and learning disabilities is among the 20 plus sessions offering information for parents, adults with learning disabilities, educators and other professionals. Adults with learning disabilities and/or ADD can participate in their own Adult Issues Strand facilitated by Jonathan Scott Halverstadt. Special sessions on literacy issues, medical aspects of LD, workshops for educators, parents and professionals and more. The Learning Disabilities Association of California (LDA-CA) is a state organization devoted to defining and finding solutions for a broad spectrum of learning problems. Originally formed by a group of concerned parents, LDA-CA does crucial work on behalf of children and adults with learning disabilities.

Literacy Volunteers of America annual conference, Nashville, TN November 10-13, 1999.Information available online at http://www.literacyvolunteers.org/conference/index.htm

relatively new on the website:

- Research Agenda for Adult ESL The National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education, in collaboration with National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy and with additional sponsorship and support from Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, has published a Research Agenda for Adult ESL. Its objectives are to provide funders with clear priorities for funding; to provide researchers with support for proposing specific projects; and to provide a focus for dis-cussion about how to improve adult ESL programs. The document incorporates feedback from learners, instructors, program administrators, policymakers, and researchers, and is available, free, from NCLE, 4646 40th street NW, Washington, DC 20016; (202) 362-0700 extension 200, or can be downloaded from NCLE at http://www.cal.org/ncle (and is also linked to LR/RI's ESOL page).

- The Key on line - Monthly newspaper for adults in Wisconsin's basic education and ESL programs.  http://www.keynews.org/ (and is linked to LR/RI's learner page).

from previous bulletins: REMINDERS, RESOURCES:

The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy has recently released a set of informative fact sheets outlining for practitioners and others the projects with which NCSALL researchers are currently engaged. Project histories, plans, and implications for practice are all highlighted in the fact sheets. Projects include studies of Learner Motivation, Impact of Literacy Programs on Adult learners, Adult Multiple Intelligences, Home Literacy Uses, Adult Development and Literacy Learning, Staff Development, Assessment, GED Impact, Health and Literacy, and Reading Diagnostics, Anyone interested in reading about one or all of the projects or anyone who may be interested in project participation information may receive copies by contacting David Hayes at (401) 331-9261. (The PDRN bulletin, including a link to the NCSALL fact sheets is also available online.

list servs:

LEARNER is intended primarily for adult learners. LITERACY is a general list for adult literacy practitioners and others. Information on these electronic lists is below.

LEARNER To subscribe to LEARNER, send an email message to: listserv@nysernet.org

Skip the message header and in the body of the message, type: subscribe LEARNER Yourfirstname Yourlastname All submissions to LEARNER should be addressed to: LEARNER@nysernet.org Questions regarding the list should be sent to: Beverly Choltco-Devlin Moderator, LEARNER bdevlin@dreamscape.com

LITERACY To subscribe to LITERACY, send an email message to: listserv@nysernet.org

Skip the message header and in the body of the message, type: subscribe LITERACY Yourfirstname Yourlastname All submissions to LITERACY should be addressed to: LITERACY@nysernet.org Questions regarding the LITERACY list should be sent to: Beverly Choltco-Devlin bdevlin@dreamscape.com

Welfare to work listserv: from Glenn Young - For those interested in the subject of welfare reform and learning disabilities, there has been a listserv created through NIFL. To sign up, please send a message to: listproc@literacy.nifl.gov write in the body of the message subscribe nifl-wtwld and your name. Do not write anything in the subject line and do not use any dots or dashes other than between nifl and wtwld. (Click here for more information on listservs).

women and literacy listserv.

To participate, subscribe by sending an email message to: LISTPROC@LITERACY.NIFL.GOV with the following request in the body of the message: subscribe NIFL-Womenlit firstname lastname Substitute your first and last name spelled exactly as you would like it to appear. For example, to subscribe to the NIFL-Womenlit list Sue Smith would type: subscribe NIFL-womenlit Sue Smith There should be no other text in the message (e.g., your signature block). It is recommended that the subject line be left blank if possible.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

How is the internet being used in adult education? What are some helpful uses, and how do we sort through the huge amount of material available on line? Susan Gaer is interested in helping programs link to one another, and has been doing so through an email project homepage on-line, at http://www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/emailproject/email.htm. If you have or know of similar learner work on line, please contact Susan at SusanG2@aol.com.

David Rosen has asked that we have a look at the inquiry maps on the Adult Literacy Resource Institute's home page. As he explains, "[a]n Inquiry Map is a group participatory research process on a topic of high interest to the group. Participants (in this case, adult learners) make their own questions, and then set about finding answers to them. The Inquiry map is a process which is never finished. Many of the questions go unanswered, are only partially answered, or have only one answer given where other points of view are possible. So, there is room for other participants to join in the process at any time, to add their answers, their comments on the answers already given, and questions which they might also choose to research." Questions, answers and comments can be posted to David Rosen <DJRosen@world.std.com>, and he'll add them to the inquiry map. So, it keeps on being an inquiry process with each new person who reads and adds to it. He welcomes additions of questions and answers; as you may know, many internet sites run threaded conversations on a variety of topics. The ALRI sites are: http://www2.wgbh.org/MBCWEIS/LTC/ALRI/I.M.html and http://www2.wgbh.org/MBCWEIS/LTC/ALRI/IM3.html (How to make inquiry maps).