Recently I met with Stacey Smith, social worker at Bread for the City,
who spoke at our event, Is Reading Really Fundamental, last month. He has agreed to blog for us and share stories of interacting with clients he sees who want employment and need help with improving their lives, but lack the necessary literacy skills to do these things. During our meeting, he shared some thoughts about the importance of literacy, and I thought presenting those thoughts would be a good way of introducing him as a member of our blogging team.
Here Stacey discusses how promoting and encouraging adult literacy should be everyone’s responsibility and how it means more than just reading and writing:
It really is our responsibility to get people to understand what literacy is all about. It’s about being able to communicate. It’s being able to switch from talking to one of your buddies to talking to a professional. When I meet with some young men, they have no idea of how to switch to talking more professional – because they’re not exposed to it.
Does [literacy] come through reading? Yes it does, but it also comes through continually meeting people and being in that arena and talking to folks. Literacy can be the point of leaving Southeast DC and just hanging in a different community and understanding the culture and diversity. Exposure is so vital.
So, let’s talk about literacy in the sense of communication. Let’s talk about literacy in the sense of culture. Let’s talk about literacy in the sense of professional development. Let’s talk about literacy in the sense of social services. It’s a big deal because you have a lot of people who want to utilize services, but they don’t feel comfortable navigating the system because of social interaction.
We talked about our September event and how at the end of the program, we encouraged people in the audience to do something about the illiteracy problem and to help us heighten the public’s awareness of the need to support adult literacy in the District. Then Stacey shared his thoughts on how everyone should be involved:
I think we should hold people accountable. Everybody is accountable – this affects everyone. Regardless of what walk of life you are in, literacy affects everybody. I was talking to some DC Council members [when Bread for the City was working to save the city's safety net of social services for the poor and homeless] and I said that I find it challenging for you all to really understand the impact that the safety net has, but I also said that it is my understanding and my upbringing that when you pay taxes, that means you are making investments. So, when you make investments, then you need to make sure that your investments mature – that you actually get what you are trying to get from them. [When they heard that], I saw them turn their heads, and when they did that, I knew I had them, because it’s true.
So when I say that literacy affects everybody, it affects everybody. Because if you’re thinking you’re paying all this tax money and [you're wondering] where’s it all going, well, then if you feel that it is not doing what it needs to do, then you need to make sure it does what it is supposed to do. Which means that you need to hold yourself accountable and also the city accountable to make sure that they provide the resources for [people who need help], and also get out in the community and not think “I want something back,” but say “I’m willing to help somebody,” because on the spiritual level, you have an obligation to help somebody move forward. It’s your obligation to do that.
So, what do you think? Should everyone take responsibility for helping those who need improvement of their literacy skills? Do we all have an obligation to help others? Leave a comment and let us know. For more information on Bread for the City, check out their website and blog.
{ 2 comments }
I think literacy like any other thing that prevents people from living their life to its full potential, be it poverty, hunger, or any other disconnect we feel from the world we live in, is the concern of all. How can we expect anything to change if we are not doing anything ourselves?
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe(or the world, or Washington D.C. or your neighborhood)
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man’s death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne
I agree that everyone has a responsibility. We all live in this world together which means it doesn’t just benefit one but rather us all to contribute however we can. The issue of literacy affects everyone regardless of race or socio-economic status. But I think some of the lack of support is a result of folks simply not being aware of the numbers and statistics as it relates to adult literacy. However, social networking is starting to put a real dent in the lack of awareness across the board and not just as it relates to this one issue but sites such as twitter, facebook and individual blogs are allowing associations and organizations to reach individuals and populations that might not otherwise take notice of this issue. I think continuing to create forums and events such as what you reference in your blog, where those in social services and those who have a passion for literacy, can speak about raising awareness, efforts to address, implementing programs, etc., is critical to making a change. But also creating opportunities to expose those that are directly affected and who might not otherwise have an opportunity to be exposed to professional conversation and talking and what it means to make that transition as needed and feeling comfortable and confident doing so. I wish you great success in your efforts to affect change should you need add’l resources, please feel free to contact me. Best …