PCC Celebrates Adult Education & Family Literacy Week

PCC Celebrates Adult Education & Family Literacy Week

PCC’s Adult Basic Education for College & Career division started celebrating National Adult Education & Family Literacy Week a day early, and we kept on celebrating for a day after as well.

Last Saturday, staff, student leaders, AmeriCorps members along with their family and friends worked on the courtyard to maintain and clear out the lovely plants and landscaping that that they started last year.  I stopped by on Monday to check out the progress, and it looked awesome!

Our Literacy Connects friend, Betty Stauffer had a wonderful op-ed published in the Star. It was a positive story about the literacy needs in our community.  http://tucson.com/news/opinion/column/guest/betty-stauffer-literacy-is-the-foundation-of-a-community/article_5b9ca900-5645-52c2-88da-6e1a9be3d513.html

On Monday, all of our teachers and instructional leaders attended an in service on formative assessment. They learned, reflected and practiced techniques to ensure students are learning and that teachers are delivering content in a culturally sensitive and respectful manner.  At the end of the day, the 50+ gathering split into open space groups to discuss a variety of topics.

Our Civics & Student Leadership program also participated in a Get out the Vote campaign at the YWCA with the League of Women Voters.  Did you know there are just over 500,000 people registered to vote in Pima County?  Did you know that in the last primary, only 30% of the eligible voters turned out?  That means, your three crazy friends are deciding the future for the 7 of us who are sane!

On Wednesday, KOLD’s Maria Hechanova did a story about our classes and interviewed a student.  Richard was open and honest about why he dropped out, how he had tried over and over for 10+ years, and that he was finally dedicated to finishing.  Watch for Richard in your classes, because I told him we would help him finish!  He wants to be a broadcast journalist when he finishes; and he wants to be a good role model for his kids. http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/33274891/pcc-recognizes-national-adult-education-family-literacy-week

Also, on Wednesday, superstar Ambassadors, Laura Porfirio and BHS/IBEST HSE graduate Linda Langston were hobnobbing with policymakers in D.C. They met with both Arizona Senators or staff, Representatives Grijalva, McSally and others as well.  COABE sponsored the trip for nearly 50 advocates and held 100+ meetings with policymakers! They were able to tell them about the importantance of adult education for thousands in our community.  Linda was able to speak firsthand how adult education, her teachers and our programs changed her life. Laura secured a few tours this Fall, so watch for those bigwig visits as well.

On Thursday, Telemundo came to do a story about our program as well. Teresa Moreno, Student Services Tech extraordinaire, handled the entire interview.

On Sunday, we ended the week with a large Pima County Interfaith Council (PCIC) accountability session. Over 500 people attended the session.  “All politics is local”, as House Speaker O’Neil was credited with saying… in a time where speaking about national politics can lead to angered friends and family feuds, pay attention to the local and state races  And more importantly, help your students see themselves and their issues in context – help them see why voting is important to them.   Many times, local policymakers are the most accessible and the most responsive.

Throughout the week, there were highlights, facts and figures posted on social media.  The purpose of National Adult Education & Family Literacy Week is to raise awareness about what adult education is and why it is so important for our nation.  I think we did that!