In 2024, the LAC launched the first cohort of the Literacy & Justice Leadership Institute, a ten-month program where participants from 15 NYC community-based adult education programs build and advance their visions and leadership of adult education work from the standpoint of civic rights, human rights, and social justice.
The cohort spends five months exploring a variety of seminar topics such as Culturally Responsive Adult Education (CRAE) and Popular Education pedagogies, connecting adult education to advocacy and social justice organizing, and the quantitative and qualitative components of leading an adult literacy program focused explicitly on “literacy for justice.”
Participants then develop their own Action Projects which integrate their seminar learning with their own personal expertise, experiences, and advocacy within their programs.
Examples of projects from our 2024 cohort include:
Developing Culturally Responsive English, Social Studies, Math, and Science curriculum for GED students
Expanding leadership opportunities for their organization's ESOL Student Ambassadors Initiative to develop and co-facilitate summer-long Information Sessions for community members interested in the organization’s ESOL program.
Creating an online compilation of educational materials and resources connecting adult literacy educations role in disrupting patriarchal violence, and framed around and trauma-informed and feminist pedagogies.
Building initiatives to support student involvement in advocacy efforts within their program and communities.
See more info about projects here.