Issues Coalitions Face ( Dialogue of the issues of social justice)

1. Issues Coalitions Face (Dialogue of the issues of social justice)

2. Issues of Inequity • Systemic barriers • Access • Disparities • Access to materials • Limited culturally competent staff

3. Issues of Inequity • Access to transportation, childcare, healthcare etc. • No instruction for those least skilled • Lack of funding support • Capacity development is often not available for programs located in underserved and poor communities

4. Issues of Inequity • Suburban-urban special education • Distribution of resources • Huge differences in resources & supports for students • Systemic differences in responses & supports • Racial inequities

5. Issues of Inequity • Tax base different in city/suburbs • Suburban taxes go to education • City taxes go to services • Undocumented residents unable to benefit from services

6. Issues of Inequity • Client awareness and access provision (site location_ • Power solutions • Client fears program • Accountability vs Client confidentiality • Balancing needs & priorities of smaller & larger providers

7. Responding to Inequity • Social Justice infusion role of coalitions • Advocacy should be a central purpose • Social Justice should be discussed and articulated in “value statement” • Involvement of adult learners on staff and board – making learners central to work, thought and action! • Acknowledge and try to look with learners’ barriers to linear participation

8. Responding to Inequity • Ensure coalition creates a network of service providers and publicize to community • Transportation, childcare for 2nd shift workers • Labeled as drop-outs - not seen as taking break in study – change language and attitudes • In our own work be genuinely inclusive of learners and their communities • Promote Social Justice

9. Responding to Inequity • The learners are central and must have a central role in all aspects of our coalition work • Work with learners to educate general public about social injustice • How can literacy coalitions promote social justice with members and in community • Infuse social justice into curricula • Central tracking of issues and solutions

10. Responding to Inequity • Teaching students of all ages and lobbying for and with them – offer tools for providers • Treat coalitions employees fairly & offer decent pay/benefits - serve as role model • Have workshops at coalition open to community • Host social justice issues/forums • Facilitate story-telling by students • Hire students on staff

11. Responding to Inequity • Help learners think out their own power analysis to see forces that may have constrained them • Encourage coalition to fund and support development of programs for immigrants • Community building/development • Relationship building/dialogue