ALL IN: The Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network

While there are many solutions to the obstacles of addressing adult literacy, this issue can only be solved if there is thoughtful collaboration. Policy influencers have a role in education, government, the community, as well as local public spaces. Companies and employers can invest in the communities they are integrated in and close the literacy gap in the American workforce. Join the Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network today: https://lnkd.in/eRPtjVK8

Are you using digital tools to support writing skills for adult learners, including multilingual learners? Check out my new article in ProLiteracy Worldwide's Adult Literacy Education journal to learn more about the use of Comic Life in adult learning contexts! Feel free to share examples of other digital tools for writing instruction!

Help ALL IN tackle the hidden adult literacy challenge by voting for our SXSW EDU session, featuring Sarah Cacicio of ALL IN, Andrew Roberts of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Priyanka Sharma of World Education, and Federico Salas-Isnardi of the Houston Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy!

Resources create access, access drives results - For most employers, factors that drive funding for literacy skills training include higher quality of work, talent development and retention, and improved bottom lines. In order to lead and drive the renaissance of literacy in our society, it’s imperative that funding be a pillar in our strategy. We collectively understand the importance of resources in order to improve performance and ensure healthy work environments. Cashflow is a must in order to truly be #ALLIN. Learn more about employer perspectives on literacy in the #ALLIN Nationwide Employer Survey Report: https://lnkd.in/gbKJh_Rt

Accountability and accessibility - As a community, we can’t move the needle without follow-through. Most employers surveyed in our Nationwide Employer Survey Report agree that low literacy affects team productivity, introducing challenges with communication, leading to greater turnover, and causing some employers to overcompensate. It’s imperative that employers provide adequate resources and literacy skills support for employees. We can work with employers in navigating this issue and hold ourselves accountable along with the rest of the #ALLIN collective to fight for literacy skills as workforce skills. Access more information about the #ALLIN study here: https://lnkd.in/gMYFjCd3

“Little is known about actual assessment practices in programs and classrooms. Learning more about both the strengths and challenges faced could help shape improved assessment tools, professional development, instruction, and learner outcomes.” On June 3, Alisa Belzer shared her work with ProLiteracy Worldwide, an international nonprofit organization that supports literacy programs that help adults learn to read and write, during the ALL IN Research Small Grants Initiative webinar showcase. Learn more about what supports are needed to collect and use assessment data that can inform instruction in deep and meaningful ways. https://rb.gy/vrzev9

“Rendering the invisible visible,” 1 in 3 employers out of 500 say their average employee does not have the literacy skills needed to do their job well and estimate that it will lead to $46 billion in lost revenue. Fortunately, based on new research, employers in America want to be a part of the change and recognize it takes a team effort. In the #ALLIN collective, we are on a journey to improve work environments and productivity for all through literacy in the workplace. Learn more about employer perspectives on literacy in the nationwide survey report: https://lnkd.in/gbKJh_Rt

“The knowledge, perspectives, and expertise of adult foundational education (AFE) practitioners and learners are critical for understanding what matters most to adult learners.” On June 3, Margaret Patterson and Jungeun Lee discussed their work through Evidence-Based Adult Education System (E-BAES), a national initiative of the Open Door Collective and Literacy Minnesota, during the ALL IN Research Small Grants Initiative webinar showcase. Learn more about their research to explore the perspectives of AFE practitioners and learners on their goals and outcomes in AFE to inform future recommendations for return on investment (ROI) studies. https://rb.gy/1glzxv

“It is imperative to ensure that adult learners are equipped for workforce development training and post-secondary education.” On June 3, Brooke Machado, Sarah Soroui, and Aaron Park shared their work through the City of Boston’s Office of Workforce Development, an innovative public agency dedicated to ensuring the full participation of all Boston residents in the city’s economic vitality and future, during the ALL IN: The Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network’s Research Small Grants Initiative webinar showcase. Learn about program models, strategies, and support mechanisms that facilitate effective transitions into occupational training and post-secondary education. https://rb.gy/kt10q7

Black history is American history. Equity is vital to our democracy. Join ALL IN this Juneteenth in celebrating Black adult educators who recognize the critical link between adult literacy and civic engagement. We honor Septima Poinsette Clark(1898-1987), a teacher and Civil Rights activist born in South Carolina, known for connecting foundational literacy skills to voting rights. She helped start Citizenship Schools for Black adults and led the Voter Registration Project from 1962-1966. Adult educators, click to download and apply a special unit of study on three Black women of literacy—Harriet A. Jacobs, Susie King Taylor, and Septima Poinsette Clark—who were inducted posthumously into the Reading Hall of Fame in 2020, designed by our partners at Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy: https://lnkd.in/eYdh3YvH