Including Community Action in ESL/Civics Andy Nash, World Education anash@worlded.org

Our current adult education system focuses on . . . Individual growth and advancement Preparation for work Citizenship But not . . . Social change Good jobs Civic engagement Here is the definition from the Center for Applied Linguistics. I highlighted in red two of these concepts that I’d like to look at more deeply at this point. And the third – US history – will also be featured in the workshop.

What is civic engagement? Collect people’s definition on newprint.

Civic participation is the process that draws newcomers into collective problem solving to improve conditions in matters affecting their lives. Craig McGarvey, Pursuing Democracy's Promise: Newcomer Civic Participation in America, 2004

Thomas Ehrlich, Civic Responsibility and Higher Education A morally and civically responsible individual recognizes himself or herself as a member of a larger social fabric and therefore considers social problems to be at least partly his or her own; such an individual is willing to see the moral and civic dimensions of issues, . . . . and to take action when appropriate. Thomas Ehrlich, Civic Responsibility and Higher Education

Three Types of “Citizen” Personally responsible citizen Participatory citizen Justice-oriented citizen Joel Westheimer and Joseph Kahne, “What Kind of Citizen? The Politics of Educating for Democracy,” 2004

If we want to support empowerment and community action, we need to . . .

1. Build community Strengthen the class community by sharing stories and doing joint activities and projects: food or clothing drive, fieldtrips Bring immigrant and receiving communities together to meet the “other”: community dialogues and meals, crafts sharing, community clean-up, guest speakers, ESL/ABE cross-class projects

2. Build civic skills and knowledge Develop the skills to: Build community Develop and express informed opinions Hold decision-makers accountable Work with others to make change And draw upon: Knowledge of systems and history Understanding of democracy and current events

3. Provide opportunities to practice civics Practice democracy in the classroom - opportunities to take part in decision-making and to build an expectation of inclusion Civic inquiry - opportunities to learn about how things work and how they can change Take part in an on-going civic efforts or community activism, watch and “practice” with others

Who among us. can’t. relate to that title: “At First I was Scared…” Who among us *can’t* relate to that title: “At First I was Scared…”? There are a lot of ways this could resonate in the classroom. Might not necessarily inspire everyone to become a community activist, but it might remind people that “being scared” isn’t the end point necessarily.

4. Connect personal priorities to civics 1. Identify interests and concerns - Respond to prompts - Describe experiences - Examine commonalities and the social factors that affect personal experiences 2. Build knowledge - Elicit what students already know - Add new information or perspectives - Do research 3. Reflect and form opinions 4. Participate to be heard

Recap: To be civically engaged students need . . . A sense of community A personal connection to an issue Skills that prepare them to take informed action Understanding of how the unit addresses their learning goals Role models that remind them that change is possible and help them recognize the importance of their voice in that change Rehearsal of unfamiliar interactions

Resources Pick Your Candidate http://tech.worlded.org/docs/pick/ The Right Question Institute http://rightquestion.org/ Welcoming America http://www.welcomingamerica.org/ Integrating Civic Participation and Adult ESOL http://www.nelrc.org/publications/cpandesol.html What Kind of Citizen? The Politics of Educating for Democracy www.mills.edu/academics/faculty/educ/jkahne/what_kind_of_citizen.pdf

The Change Agent publishes a Call for Articles twice a year (in February and August), inviting students to submit their work to be reviewed by the editorial board and perhaps published in a national magazine. Student authors who are published receive a $50 stipend for their pieces. changeagent.nelrc.org Download a PDF of Call for Articles: http://changeagent.nelrc.org/write-for-us