Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Week 2024 Recap
Another successful, inspiring AEFL Week is in the books!
We want to express our profound appreciation to all our members, partners, educators, students, community members, and elected representatives for participating in AEFL Week 2024 Activities.
On Day 1 of AEFL Week, scaleLIT showcased a video from the Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, kicking off the week with energy and support.
We also opened the AEFL Week Writing Contest 2024 on Monday, September 17. We gathered 23 responses from students and educators from our member organizations and other service providers. We announced the Writing Contest Winners on Friday:
Student Winner: Edward J Kosek, a learner from The Learning Center
Adult Education Matters because “it gives adults opportunities that may have been lost or forgotten as youths to make a difference in their lives and others. You’re never too old to learn and get some education.”
Educator Winner: Jeanine Caughlin from Heartland Human Care Services
“Adult Education matters because education is a human right. Whether you are 25, 50, or 95, you have the right to develop your mind and skills, engage in work, and enrich your life experience. Education is the key that unlocks all of these doors.”
On Day 2 of AEFL Week, we invited our community to print their Adult Education Matters sign and share why Adult Education Matters to them.
Partners from Business and Career Services (BCS), City Colleges of Chicago, Harper College, Joliet Junior College, Illinois State University, Pui Tak Center, Shawnee Community College, SERCO, and the Learning Center shared pictures and videos with their signs. We also received pictures of adult learners from the Learning Center and featured those in the collage above.
On Day 3, scaleLIT committed to promoting Coalition on Adult Basic Education’s (COABE)’s Educate & Elevate America Pledge, their national initiative to demonstrate the importance of adult education.
As members of COABE, we were thrilled to learn the AEFL Week Resolution passed, designating September 16-20 as National AEFL Week. The US Senate also recently passed a bipartisan resolution declaring September National Literacy Month.
On Day 4, we again looked to COABE to streamline our advocacy efforts for AEFL Week. We used their Action Center to identify elected officials and seamlessly write messages supporting adult education services and funding. We’ve included both links if you have not yet signed the pledge or contacted your elected representative.
On Day 5, scaleLIT held an In-Person Systemwide Meeting at the American Job Center at the King Center. ScaleLIT is the One-Stop Operator (OSO) for the Local Workforce Innovation Area (LWIA) 7 for Chicago and Cook County, contracted through the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. As OSO, scaleLIT typically convenes quarterly systemwide meetings via Zoom; this quarter, scaleLIT hosted an in-person exclusive meeting to close out AEFL Week.
ScaleLIT and panelists discussed efforts across the public workforce system relating to the historic Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). As we identify trends in workforce development, we must prepare the four core Titles of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) to meet the demands of employers and job seekers. Representatives from the Chicago Jobs Council, Elevate, City Colleges of Chicago, and the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership were able to talk about the upcoming education, training, and employment opportunities that will align with the CEJA initiative. OSO and Navigators will continue to share relevant information as we move into this workforce space and build a better planet.
We’ve included several links from Friday’s In-Person Systemwide Meeting below:
