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CCAE form to submit issue of concern
Hi OAEF Folks,
On CCAE's website, there is a page to submit issues of concern regarding Adult Education - including a field to suggest possible solutions to the issue of concern: I don't think you have to be signed in to the website to access the page. Folks can submit thoughts about funding for Older Adults Adult Ed here.? |
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Academic Support
Many years ago, I worked as a clerk on UC Berkeley's MSSP Research Project. The project was out of the Social Welfare Dept. It was a small intimate group. I became friends with folks on the project, etc. (I got hired because I was the nanny/housecleaner for and Marie Grisham - LM was a PI on the project.)? Working on the project helped me understand how things work with academics, research projects, etc. Later, I worked on other research projects as an interviewer - for Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research and for the UC Berkeley Survey Research Center. Some of these projects focused on caregiving. (I also continued to work as a housecleaner/nanny/caregiver!)? Thru all this, in the bottom up kind of way, I learned more about academic, research projects. etc. - and how helpful it is to have a champion in the academic world for a particular cause.?
Eventually the project resulted in the program going statewide. We know it as:? When I was working with Kristen, Irma and others to try to stop of the loss of state funding for OA Adult Ed, I tried contacting academics - mostly at UC Berkeley - but was not successful in connecting with anyone. At that time, I was doing so much on so many levels in my AE work.? I think if we had a laser focus on contacting academics, we would be able to find some academics who would be very interested and motivated in helping us with regaining state funding for OA AE.? I would be willing to try again to connect with folks at UCB (I went there as a student and ended up graduating with a degree in Ethnic Studies).? I'm sure everyone in this group has connections to different schools and people - and between all of us, we might be able to find folks who would be interested in helping out group. I am currently enrolling - as a participant - in a UCSF research project about seniors and caregivers. Maybe being in that group will lead to contacts.? I know there is a lot of research being done now about caregivers, caregiving, aging, etc.. I definitely think that more women entering academic is part of this.? (Kind of like sustainability work - which is largely woman driven.)? I was in a project out of UC Davis as a participant - also about caregiving - but they violated confidentiality so I left the group (and yes, I followed up on all that - as a someone who used to do interviewing I know what a big deal that is.) I'm sharing that as illustration of the fact that there are a lot more of these projects - more PIs - principal investigators - looking at aging, what supports people in the aging process, etc. My takeaway is that - back in MSSP days and continuing today - many folks know - on the ground - or in ivory towers - that support and engagement are keys to health for everyone - including as we age. But given how everything works - that has to be "'proven" - and then that proof can be part of the process that brings in funding to make that happen. Long email but wanted to share some of these points. I believe if I dig thru my old advocacy material, I probably have more info on this. One of my computers crashed so I lost some of my material but I could look.? |
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AARP
Have folks already tried to contact the advocacy branch of AARP?
I believe that Irma was in contact with them thru her Coalition to Save Older Adults Education - but not sure if folks are in contact with them now. They are very good at advocacy - and would be an important asset in this effort.? They also have a section on their website that is about local events, etc.? This would be a good place to promote
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Redistricting and new possibilities and connecting with leg when in home districts
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Something to keep in mind as we reach out to legislators - some may be more vulnerable, more powerful, more in need or less in need of votes, connection with constituents. 2.? Home District Visits Most legislators have some kind of meet and greet events during their recess times when they are in their home visits.? For example, Kevin Mullin, who reps San Mateo area, has "Coffee with Kevin" events. During the pandemic - these might be online Townhall events - with a Q and A online at the end. (I attended a Townhall with Asm Mullin and State Sen Becker last year - was able to ask a question about Adult Ed, etc.)? The good and bad of asking questions at these group events - you might get a more guarded legislator - but also - you are educating whoever else is listening/there - and you may find an ally in them.? I recommend attending some of them. I also recommend following or checking Leg on social media - it's an easy way to learn of these events. |
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Social Media and Advocacy Tips
If folks would like a little zoom workshop in how to advocate thru social media and use it to good advantage when pushing for something, let me know. I'm happy to provide.??
I could create something like that focused on Older Adults (essentially - it would be similar to the Green Advocacy doc but tweaked for OAAE).?? |
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Google Doc with OA Info
Hi Folks,
Putting this in here so it's part of the resources in this group:? ? It has lots of links, resources, etc.? This AEM post - ? - has slides from Kristen's super good history of Adult Education - which shows when Older Adults Adult Ed was and wasn't funded by the state, etc. It's a great big picture overview.? That presentation was part of Kristen, Bruce Neuburger, and my presentation at the 2015 Network for Public Education Conference on Adult Education.? |
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Contacting Paul Steenhausen of LAO - writing new report on AE Reg Cons system
Hi Folks,
Paul Steenhausen of the Legislative Analyst Office has been working on a new report about Adult Ed - how the Regional Consortia system is going.? I do not know if he is still working on it or has finished. It isn't published yet on the LAO website.? I learned about this last Fall. If he's still working on it, I think it's crucial that he hear from our group about the consequences of not including Older Adults in state funded Adult Ed.? "Unintended consequences" type info.? I put a call into this office this morning to find out if he is still working on it. I don't know if he'll call back to let me know or not.? |
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Equity in Adult Ed - and - Digital Inclusion ---- including OA Voices in Policy Work - bring up OA as equity issue
Hi Folks,
1. COABE's current newsletter is on equity in Adult Ed. Lots of good info. I haven't read it with a fine tooth comb yet. I suggest as a group folks read it, respond on social media, bring up issue of Older Adults as an equity issue.? I personally think that how Adult Ed became ground down to workforce focus was grounded in white supremacy thinking. Each member of the community is important, deserves support, and makes contributions. That is not something I have had to explain to many of my students from cultures and countries where people are seen as interconnected to each other. (Just like I didn't have to explain why my parents stayed at my house vs a hotel or why I have chosen to help my parents as I have.) 2.?CA Department of Education, Adult Education Office, is working on a Digital Learning Guidance Document for the field. I was invited by OTAN to join a workgroup on this (because I'm on the OTAN Distance Learning Advisory Panel). Not sure if I will or not.? If I do join, I will bring up the issue of digital inclusion for Older Adults - whether they are enrolled in ESL, GED/HSD, Career Ed, Citizenship or Community Ed (including Older Adults Classes).? I often bring up accessibility for low-vision, blind students and community members - this is a group that crosses over into some in the Older Adults community. Accessibility of this kind is rarely addressed in Adult Ed.? I'm not an expert in ANY of these areas - but know something about low-vision through my previous jobs as reader for the blind (one of my former clients is now director of Lighthouse for the Blind!) and as daughter of someone with macular degeneration who got lots of services thru VA.? I have had some Adult Ed ESL students with low-vision and did my best to provide them accessibility. And as social media person for our school and Adult Education Matters, I learned about and practiced accessibility for low-vision and blind readers.? ----------- Point of this post: Look to where policy is being shaped in Adult Ed and bring up including and serving Older Adults as an equity issue.? |
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CFT Adult Ed Committee
Hi Folks,
I'm on the Adult Ed Committee.? At a previous meeting, we passed a resolution to regain state funding for Older Adults and Parent Education Adult Ed classes. We are now working on adding in Community Classes, including health and financial literacy. Two members of the committee, Matthew Kogan - chair, and Diane Jhun - Health Community Ed teacher - are interested in attending a OAEF meeting. Kristen will send them info and invite for next meeting.? Is anyone in this group a member of CTA?? It would be good to know if this issue is on their radar.? FYI, I will stay on the CFT Adult Ed Committee thru April - by then hopefully a replacement for me in our local will step up and can take over.? |
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If you are interested in learning more about advocacy, please let me know
I have slowly ended up in various situations where I could be a voice for Adult Ed, the various programs - including those which lost funding, student leadership and inclusion in policy making, teacher leadership and inclusion in policy making, equity, and sustainability. I need to pull back from much of this in order to focus on caregiving for my mom and finding new means to support myself (supplementing my retirement). As you know, advocacy and policy influence is generally unpaid.?
I know that this is a group of experienced advocates and so you may already know about how all this stuff works - but if some reason you don't and would like tips about getting involved in these ways, please let me know.? So often in these spaces, I was one of the few people bringing up any of the issues listed above. Not always but often. It's really important to have multiple voices included in decision making. We now have a window of opportunity for more involvement and inclusion given Thurmond's leadership of CDE and the cultural emphasis on equity. As we know, these windows open and close so while they are open - we need to climb thru!?? Do or don't we have voices within these orgs speaking up for Older Adult Adult Education?? Good question - a place to get started.? |
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Village movement
Hi OAEF,
Are you familiar with the Villages for Elders Movement???https://www.giaging.org/issues/the-village-movement/ Here's the one in SF:? My mom and I are in the process of applying to join.? They have these villages in other communities. I think they would be a great place to turn to to talk about OA Adult Ed and if they are interested, ask for their support in advocacy. After I join the SF Village, I'll know more and can share.? Cynthia |
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Re: Village movement
Thanks Cynthia, This sounds like a great lead.? Keep us posted. Kristen
On Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 05:08:07 PM PDT, Cynthia Eagleton via groups.io <zimzamjamz@...> wrote:
Hi OAEF, Are you familiar with the Villages for Elders Movement???https://www.giaging.org/issues/the-village-movement/ Here's the one in SF:? My mom and I are in the process of applying to join.? They have these villages in other communities. I think they would be a great place to turn to to talk about OA Adult Ed and if they are interested, ask for their support in advocacy. After I join the SF Village, I'll know more and can share.? Cynthia |
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Re: Village movement
开云体育Dear OAEF members, I believe I attended one or two SF Village events online, a few months into the pandemic. ?A friend in SF was a member and told me about some of their scheduled events. I was not sure what other activities and services they had developed. ?During the pandemic, the coordinators seemed to be reaching out to seniors who lived in San Francisco and were at home, maybe alone, during the pandemic. One event that I heard about was an online party. I think I may have attended briefly but my friend wasn’t there, and I left. (Just like real life!) On Zoom, I think there needs to be some structure or purpose for a meeting, more than just socializing -- unless the people already know each other. I didn’t end up joining the village. I felt that I had other connections (online and/or local) that I wanted to invest in). ?I may have the wrong impression since I didn’t participate in it very much. There is also the San Francisco Senior Center. ?I am familiar with the one at Aquatic Park and I think there is at least one other in SF. ?At one point, my boyfriend added me to his membership and I got ?e-mails about their activities. ?Before the pandemic, they had a full schedule of activities, including some that attracted many seniors on a regular basis! ?Even during the pandemic, they have had some excellent online activities for participation -- a really good wellness class, a Chi Gung class (one way of spelling it(?)), and a “how-to” class for group leaders new to Zoom. ?Musical activities online included some guest musicians (young people in the community), and a holiday sing-along with members of a Marin ukulele group. Some of the same members attended multiple online events and probably already knew each other. ?It appeared that (depending on the activity) there was some interaction with the teacher and/or saying “hello” to friends after the activity or class. I don’t know whether those kinds of activities are of interest to our group, but I thought that the SF Senior Center offered a lot to seniors who were stuck at home during the pandemic. ?They were were reaching out on a regular basis with e-mails about the schedule of activities. ? Since Cynthia and Kristen were interested in whether we could network, I started thinking that there could be some interaction and communication between our local senior centers and ones in San Francisco and other Bay Area towns. ?Maybe different groups might interact and support each other. However, whether a town has even has a senior center is uncertain these days -- and even when a town has senior center, it’s run in a different way and with different leadership and funding (or lack thereof). And then there’s the question of whether seniors who participate in groups (or centers or villages) have the ability and interest to join with us for political change! Anyway, I’ll be interested to hear what Cynthia has to say. ?It might be a good program for her mother! Linda Cain?
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Re: Village movement
Hey does anyone know if Ashby Village is part of the village of Elders? If so I know people involved with Ashby Village.
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Carol Kehoe
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Education and Sharing Day 4/12 in El Cerrito
开云体育Dear OAEF! It looks like April 12 is being declared “Education and Sharing Day” in El Cerrito -- with a nod to the memory of the Lubavitcher Rebbe … (& mostly focusing on education for children) We could go for a little education and sharing ourselves! Linda Cain |
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Re: Education and Sharing Day 4/12 in El Cerrito
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On Apr 5, 2022, at 7:46 PM, Linda Cain <lsc1661@...> wrote:
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Re: Education and Sharing Day 4/12 in El Cerrito
开云体育:-)On Apr 6, 2022, at 10:05 AM, Marjorie Fujioka <mfujioka@...> wrote: ? Thanks for all you do and keeping us informed.
Marjorie Fujioka On Apr 5, 2022, at 7:46 PM, Linda Cain <lsc1661@...> wrote:
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Education Town Hall w/ DeSaulnier on Thurs April 28
Not sure of the topics, but there may be time for listeners' comments about Older Adult classes, or Adult Ed in general.
From his email: "Education can be one of the most important ingredients for success, but we must make sure it is affordable, equitable, and accessible. Join us for a virtual town hall on Thursday, April 28th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss how as a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, we are working to support students and teachers, expand access to higher education, address disparities in our education system, and more. We are honored to be joined by the Chairman of the Committee, Congressman Bobby Scott, who will share his expertise. To RSVP and submit a question, click or on the image below. We hope you can join us!"If the link above isn't a real link, this is it: |
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