Tag: advocacy
Rally for Adult Literacy
Yesterday University Settlement Adult Literacy Program students journeyed to City Hall to make their voices heard about a proposed $12 million cut in funding for adult education classes in New York City. Watched the video above and view the pictures below.
To learn more about how you can support adult education, click here.
Adult Literacy Means…
From the New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy (NYCCAL):
Please participate in a city advocacy effort today in anticipation of the release of the upcoming city budget! This week’s messaging will be directed towards the Mayor’s Office and agencies to support the refunding of the $12M we achieved last year, including for DYCD expansion funding that is at risk of expiring on June 30th. Please add it to your calendars and spread the word to your staff and students so that calls, tweets and messages are sent this Thursday!
Once the budget is released we will follow up with additional advocacy plans for city council members as well.
What: NYCCAL City Advocacy Alert Day of Action
When: Thursday, April 20, 2017 (all day)
Why:
- The NYC budget will be released this month and it’s imperative that services for adult literacy students and their families are maintained and expanded, especially now during NYC Immigrant Heritage Week!
- If the City doesn’t re-fund last year’s adult literacy investment, 5,700 current students will lose their seats in city-funded English language (ESOL) or High School Equivalency (HSE) classes onJuly 1st.
- 15,000 additional applicants are still on waiting lists right now to enter classes.
How: Call, tweet or email the city to make sure that no classes are cut from the budget! Make sure that NYC stands up for adult learners and their right to education. Talk about how important English and high school equivalency classes are for you, your family and your neighborhood.
Call:
- 212-788-3000 (Mayor’s Office general line) OR
- 311
Use the template at https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1YIxzzuFzCKZEpHRHVBWnBvVGM to take a picture of yourself and send Tweets to:
- @NYCMayor
- @nycgob (Spanish NYC account)
- @NYCYouth (DYCD account)
Send a message:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/static/pages/officeofthemayor/contact.shtml
Write a Letter to Support Adult Education!
Advocating for Adult Literacy
Earlier today students from the University Settlement Adult Literacy Program attended a rally at City Hall to support funding for adult education programs in New York City.
From the New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy (NYCCAL):
What:
Over 100 immigrants, adult learners, educators and their allies will gather for a press conference at City Hall on March 22nd at 9:30am to call attention to their plight. Thousands of students across the City are currently enrolled in adult literacy classes not scheduled for renewal in the Mayor’s budget. They say they need English classes more than ever, particularly as misinformation and fear about the President’s immigration orders and ICE raids permeates low-literacy immigrant communities.Who:
The press conference is organized by the New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy (NYCCAL), a citywide coalition of community based organizations, CUNY programs, libraries and union training programs. Students, teachers and allies will be joined by City Council supporters, including Immigration Committee Chair Carlos Menchaca.Why:
2.2 million adult New Yorkers currently lacking English proficiency and/or a high school diploma – 1/3 of the entire adult population of the city – yet the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget did not renew $12m in funding included in last year’ budget, an investment advocates called historic at the time.Literacy programs provide a pathway to economic mobility, social integration, parent-child engagement, improved health outcomes and improved community safety. However, these programs are dramatically underfunded and less than 3% of those in need can access adult education programming. A 2015 survey by NYCCAL revealed at least 15,000 New Yorkers were waitlisted for adult literacy classes where they sometimes waited for over a year.
Here are more pictures:
To learn how you can take action, click here.
Sign It!
The University Settlement Adult Literacy Program participates in NYCCAL (New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy) and we are urging for your help in asking New York State to increase ALE, Adult Literacy Education funding. In other words, we want more money for English classes, Adult Basic Education classes, and High School Equivalency classes for adults in the Empire State. If you want that too, click below to sign the petition.