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Beginning in 1992, concerns about the challenges faced by rural literacy providers led Literacy Volunteers of America-New York State, Inc. (LVA-NYS) to collaborate with Cornell University on a study of rural literacy in New York State. Since that time, LVA-NYS has incorporated some of the project's literacy and community development ideals into its Mission and Vision Statement and Strategic Plan: "LVA-NYS recognizes literacy as an integral element in the broader goals of economic opportunity and security, social justice and human dignity." For the past seven years, the Rural Literacy and Community Development Initiative has explored ways to combine literacy education and community development approaches to meet adult literacy learner needs, build citizenship, and expand and enrich a sense of community.
Research and Publications
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Literacy and Community Development. Doug Capagrossi, D. Merrill Ewert, J. David Deshler and Jennifer Greene (1994), emphasize the benefits of a community based approach to literacy education where learners participate in social analysis to promote community development. The article highlights the special challenges of rural literacy programs found in the research conducted by the Rural Literacy and Community Development Initiative.
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Adult Literacy and Community Development: Exploring the Link.
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Rural Literacy Initiative Links Researchers, Providers. Janice Cuddahee (1994) gives an overview of the RLCDI project and summarizes some of the research findings.
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Perspectives on a Community Development Approach
Laurie Vasily and Virginia Steele (2000)
A survey of volunteer adult literacy program directors, board presidents, staff, and volunteers finds that the majority adhere strongly to a learner-centered individualized approach to literacy, while rejecting a deficit approach that sees literacy learners as dependent, defective, or unmotivated. When asked about how their literacy work relates to their community, the majority recognized a relationship between their literacy work and community development.
D. Merrill Ewert, Peter Malvicini, Peter Clark and David Deshler (1993) survey literacy directors in New York State and find that individual-based as opposed to community-based approaches continue to serve as the driving paradigms for rural literacy programs. The authors stress the need to explore ways to link literacy education to community development efforts.
Rural Literacy and Community Development: Building the Link. Literacy Practitioner 1(2). D. Merrill Ewert (1993) discusses the various stages of the Rural Literacy and Community Development Initiative which encourages participatory action research and social analysis to create social change while providing adult learners with an opportunity to gain new skills.
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Social Capital and Community Development.
Literacy Practitioner 4(2). D. Merrill Ewert (1997) explores the concept of creating social capital as a way of solving local problems and explains the implications for adult educators interested in building social capital and strengthening communities.
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Literacy Volunteers of New York State
LVA-New York State serves 50 community-based affiliates of LVA across the State of New York.
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cornell Cooperative Extension combines its funding, research, and program development efforts in areas that are critical to the well being of the state's residents including community and economic vitality, environmental and material resources, and nutrition, health and safety.
Cornell University Department of Education
The Department of Education within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences provides a variety of unique educational programs which apply educational principles to agricultural, biological, environmental, and rural community issues.
Cornell Community and Rural Development Institute
CaRDI links Cornell departments and programs, Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations, and local governments and community organizations in creative collaborations to address community development issues in rural areas.
North Central Regional Center for Rural Development at Iowa State
The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, located at Iowa State University, is one of four regional centers coordinating rural development research and education throughout the United States.
Rural Clearinghouse for Lifelong Education and Development, Kansas State University
The Rural Clearinghouse for Lifelong Education and Development is a national effort to improve rural access to continuing education
Adult Literacy & Community Development
The Rural Literacy & Community Development Initiative
The Literacy & Community Development Bookstore
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