Webinars | Symposia | Literacy Leadership Awards

Past Literacy Leadership Awards
2011 – 2010 – 2009 – 2008 – 2007 – 2005

Dollar General Presentation Series
—Provided with generous support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

2009 NCL Leadership Awards Gathers Largest Reception Ever

Congressman Patrick Kennedy (RI), accepting a tribute to his father, Senator Edward Kennedy, spoke to the audience about increasing funding for adult literacy. “Where we put [the money] is the best reflection of where we put our real values. So hopefully we can keep working to put more of our values in this area. Because you get this right, you can start moving everything else forward. You don’t get this right, nothing else will work.” Kennedy’s remarks

“The best way we can show where our priorities are is to put our money where our mouth is,” challenged Congressman Patrick Kennedy (RI) while speaking to Appropriations Committee colleague, Congressman Zach Wamp (TN), and the more than 130 participants at the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) Leadership Awards reception.

Held at the Library of Congress on September 16, 2009, the annual NCL Literacy Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to improving literacy in the United States. 2009 award recipients are:

NCL President, Sherrie Claiborne, also presented Congressman Patrick Kennedy with a tribute to his father, Senator Edward Kennedy, honoring his great work and dedication as a champion of adult education and literacy.

“I’m very proud to live in a country that gives second chances. I’m proud of my family, my friends, and my fans, who have continued their education,” said Gretchen Wilson, Grammy Award winner and country music recording artist, in her acceptance remarks. “As an artist, I was never really very comfortable being a role model…When I started the process of getting my GED… this was the first time I got to feel what being that kind of role model was all about,” she said.

Congressman Marsha Blackburn presents Wilson with a copy of the Congressional record. Blackburn’s remarks

Earlier that day, Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN) gave accolades to Wilson on the House floor for her leadership in galvanizing thousands to go back to school and earn their GED credential. Blackburn noted that in Congress, Members can make certain that the good works of their constituents are duly noted in Congressional record by making an official statement for the permanent record of the proceedings of the House. Blackburn read the full official statement for the reception audience and presented a printed copy to Gretchen Wilson.

"When will we realize that when we leave an adult behind, we leave a family behind?" asked retired Congressman Bill Goodling, as he introduced Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Grijalva was honored for his strong support of working families, especially those who are learning English. In 2007, he introduced HR 1224, the Families Learning and Understanding English Together (FLUEnT) Act, which proposes expanding and enhancing family literacy services, and is cosponsor of a number of bills currently in Congress that promote literacy for children, adults, and families.

“As he saw it, the first step [to overcoming illiteracy] was to tell your own story, and in doing so, come to own your accomplishments, have respect for your own history,” Courtney Miles shared. She told the story of Calvin Miles, her grandfather, and of his commitment to student involvement as she received the award on his behalf. Miles believed illiteracy was “a right to overcome and share”; he took on a mission to bring other adults to literacy. “He was an includer, drawing the hesitant or the outsider into the group. He encouraged you, and made you feel comfortable and valued,” she said of Calvin, who had been a leader in the national adult student organization, VALUE, Voice of Adult Learners United to Educate.

Brenda Dann-Messier, President and CEO of Dorcas Place, an adult and family education and workforce development program in Providence, RI, asked colleagues from her program to stand and be recognized for their outstanding achievements. For 30 years, Dorcas Place has created innovative programs to meet the changing needs of the diverse community it serves. It leads the way in promising practices, highlighted, for example, by the National College Transitions Network. In June 2009, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Dann-Messier as the Assistant Secretary of Vocational and Adult Education at the Department of Education.

Presenting the awards to honorees were:

• Congressman William F. Goodling, presenting to Representative Raúl Grijalva
• Sharon Darling, President and Founder of the National Center for Family Literacy, presenting to Brenda Dann-Messier
• David Harvey, President and CEO of ProLiteracy, presenting to Meri-K Appy
• Bernadine Nelson, Program Director, Wilson County Adult Education, presenting to Gretchen Wilson
• Sherrie Claiborne, NCL President, presenting to Courtney Miles, who received the award for Calvin Miles posthumously

Senator Patricia Murray is a champion for women and families. Murray has drawn on her experience as a PTA member and a school board president to make education a national priority. Among her many successes in raising the priority of education, she has been a champion for increased funding for adult basic education and literacy, and has frequently taken a leadership role urging her colleagues to restore funding for Even Start.

Due to developments on the Hill, Senator Murray could not attend to the reception. However, NCL Board Members Art Ellison and Heidi Silver Pacuilla, Policy Co-Chair Jackie Taylor, and Policy Director Lynn Selmser, presented the award to Senator Murray outside the Senate chambers the following day.

The Literacy Leadership Awards reception was cosponsored by the National Coalition for Literacy and the Center for the Book, and generously supported by a grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. For questions pertaining to the event, contact Heidi Silver-Pacuilla or Marsha Tait .