Leadership Institute Session Review- Digital Storytelling with Social Media

Last week FLC hosted its 10^th annual Leadership Institute, where speakers came to share their knowledge with representatives from various literacy-based organizations from around the state of Florida. On Friday of this two-day event, Annie Schmidt and I presented on using social media to help expand your digital storytelling efforts. For those of you who were there, thanks for attending, and for those that weren’t, here’s a brief review of what was covered.

Social media isn’t like traditional marketing. Instead of the typical one-way marketing scheme where you share content with others in hopes that they will be interested enough to reach out to your organization to join your cause, social media works best when you engage in a conversation with your audience. The hit rate for the traditional type of interaction is far from ideal. Luckily, social media has transformed the way organizations can use marketing and storytelling strategies to better suit their mission.  This transition which social media has made allows for us to engage in real time communications with our community. Knowing this difference is crucial to having success with our social media platforms, whichever they may be.

As stated in mine and Annie’s presentation, social media isn’t about follower count and accumulating “likes” to get a better klout score (yes, in this case with a K, not a C). Social media is about connecting to people. True, social media is used to increase your reach on your target audience, but it all comes down to building and maintaining relationships. Increasing reach is important only to drive traffic to your social media platforms and then subsequently to your website.  Furthermore, what’s most important is that your storytelling is effective so that members of your community become more active with your organization. Whether that means volunteers becoming annual donors or donors becoming advocates, getting followers to take that next step is key.

Once you realize the fundamental goals of social media, it’s time to choose a platform, or platforms, which will best serve you and your community. Questions to consider are:

• Who am I targeting, and what is my audience’s demographic(s)?
• What content do I want to share with my community?
• Has my organization already established a presence on social media, and if so on which sites?
• What’s the best medium to help effectively tell my organization’s story?

There are many different social platforms to choose from. The most common are Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, and WordPress; each of these has its pros and cons. The trick is finding out which site is right for you. For help in making this decision, please look at Digital Storytelling with Social Media where you can see the Prezi which we used at the Leadership Institute.

Incorporating Easter and Passover traditions with Your Adult Learners

Cultural differences are just another barrier which adult learners must learn to overcome. Even the ways in which sects of the same religion, or for that matter same sects of the same religion in different locations, celebrate holidays differ in some way or another. That’s why this week you should take advantage of the Jewish holiday of Passover and the Christian holiday of Easter to teach your adult learners about the traditions, origins, and significance, of these respective religions.

This can be quite difficult to do without coming across as proselytizing a religious view, but it can be done successfully. The best method to ensure that what you teach will not be misconstrued as attempting to convert your students is to state the facts about each holiday in a fun, nonthreatening way. It’s more important to use these holidays as a means of connecting adult learners with unfamiliar language and cultural traditions than it is to use them as a tipping point for spiritual realization.

With that said, tutors might want to look into these websites which cover the traditions of Easter and Passover, taken from Larry Ferlazzo’s EduBlog.

• History Channel’s Passover Page
• Infographic on the Passover Holiday
• History Channel’s History of Easter
• Easter Overview, Customs, and Symbols
• Time Magazine’s Semana Santa Photo Essay (great for a discussion on how different cultures celebrate the same holiday)

If you’re searching for lessons for ESOL or ELLs, check out the resources on these sites:

• Easter Lesson Plan
• Easter Quiz
•  ESL Free Press’s Holiday Weekend

Leadership Institute Live-Streaming from Google+ and YouTube

By now you probably know, even if you aren’t attending, that the 10^th annual Leadership Institute will be occurring tomorrow, Thursday, March 21, and Friday, March 22, at the Hilton hotel in Altamonte Springs. This professional development opportunity is a chance to hone your skills and learn how to better enhancing the quality of your organization’s programs.

Even though you might not be attending the event this year, don’t fret! This year FLC will be live-streaming the two-day event onto both FLC’s Google+ Page and its YouTube channel via Google+’s Hangout on Air feature. The topics addressed include: The New GED Test Series, Fund Development, Learning Disabilities, Board Development, Volunteer Recruitment and Retention, and Social Media. There’s something for everyone!

All you need to do now is create a Google+ profile and/or a YouTube account. Signing up for either is free and simple. Please visit this link to sign up for Google+ if you already have a Google account, such as Gmail or YouTube,  or click here to create a Google account. Once you sign up, be sure to add the Florida Literacy Coalition’s Google+ Page one of your Circles (basically the equivalent of a Facebook friend) and/or subscribe to the fliteracy YouTube channel. Then, at the time of the session which you’d like to virtually attend, visit FLC’s Google+ or YouTube and click the play button on the Hangout on Air video. You’ll begin to start viewing the event live!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.                      A Balanced Approach to Resource Development

Todd Ruopp, Unleashing Performance

Friday March 22, 2013

9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.                      Using Volunteers to Support Career Pathways

Camille Davidson, Florida Literacy Coalition

9:20 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.                    Digital Storytelling with Social Media

Annie Schmidt & John Sanchez, Florida Literacy Coalition

FLC VISTA Facts

• In FY2012, FLC VISTA’s raised $64,803.54 in cash resources
• FLC VISTAs are responsible for setting up a computer lab at two partner sites in FY 2012 
• FLC VISTA’s recruited 290 community volunteers throughout the state
• 83% of students report gains in employment after participating in projects coordinated by FLC VISTAs
• The VISTA at Family Literacy Academy of Immokalee organized donations for their annual fundraiser that totaled over $6,000

Opening Keynote: Nelson Lauver

Nelson Lauver

It was a job he almost turned down because there just wasn’t any profit to be made…But on that morning in 1992, twenty-nine year old painting contractor, Nelson Lauver began his day on this particular job: painting parking lot lines at a local car dealership.

Nelson created his small line painting business because he wasn’t qualified for other types of work. He didn’t have the literacy skills to fill out a job application. As a young boy, Nelson fell through the cracks of an educational system that was ill-prepared to deal with a student who couldn’t learn like all the rest.

Nelson was socially promoted and actually graduated from high school (104 out of a class of 104) receiving a diploma he struggled to read. He knew he was different…he just didn’t know why.

On this particular day, though, a chance encounter would change Nelson’s life.

A gentleman approached Nelson and asked him for directions to a local greenhouse. Nelson stopped his work to explain the directions. But the man wanted more. He wanted Nelson to write them down. He pulled out a pad and pen and handed it to Nelson, who struggled and tried to draw a crude map. Again, now more insistently, Nelson repeated the directions. Finally, the man took back the pad and pen and asked Nelson point blank, “You can’t read and write, can you?”

After an entire lifetime of struggle to hide his literacy issues, Nelson finally admitted his secret to this stranger, “Sir, you are correct.” This “stranger” just happened to be a professor at Penn State University. He asked Nelson to sit down and talk with him for a moment. For the very first time, Nelson heard the word “dyslexia.” Their conversation lasted an hour and a half.

For the first time ever, Nelson had a name for his mysterious problem and he also had hope–hope that he might finally be able to change his life for the better.

On the advice of the professor, Nelson sought assistance from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. He was tested, and a dyslexia diagnosis was confirmed. With the help of Vocational Rehabilitation, Penn State University, and a reading tutor–18 months later–Nelson Lauver was able to read and write and start his new life.

“It’s still hard to believe. That professor could have stopped and asked anyone for directions…but he approached me. Why?”

Today Nelson is an acclaimed author, broadcast journalist, speaker, humorist, and education rights advocate.  He shares his story as a way of helping others reach their maximum potential.

Nelson is known to radio listeners across the country for “The American Storyteller Radio Journal,” a daily 4-minute slice of the American experience, broadcast from 2001 to 2010.

2011 marked the release of Nelson’s award winning memoir, Most UnLikely to Succeed – an inspirational story of hope and determination against seeming insurmountable odds.

The more than 300 stories from The American Storyteller, have become more than just a source of entertainment, they have become a valuable tool in ESL and adult literacy across the globe.

“I certainly recognize the irony. There I was, the kid who couldn’t read and write, and now my stories are helping people all over the globe with reading and writing.

Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau: The History of Sanibel and Captiva

Welcome to Sanibel and Captiva!

These islands, which lie off the coast of western Florida, near the city of Fort Myers, were formed by the prevailing currents in the Gulf of Mexico about 6,000 years ago. Sanibel and Captiva are best known today for world-famous shelling, wildlife-watching and natural beaches.

But the area has shared a rich history with the Calusa Indians who arrived 2,500 years ago. The first modern settlement on Sanibel was established by the Florida Peninsular Land Company in 1832. The company began marketing Sanibel as a planned community that would “become the garden of Florida.” A few pioneers began planting sugar cane, pineapple, pumpkins, melons, corn, sisal and hemp (both used in the making of rope, hammocks and nets). Many turned to farming, in particular tomato growing. With a nine month growing season, October to June, tomatoes became a huge export from Sanibel.

Tomatoes were exported by boat and train and were taken to cities throughout the east coast. Unfortunately, a hurricane in 1926 covered the island with salt water and destroyed the soil for farming.

By the early 1900′s Sanibel was on its way to being a prime destination for vacationers: wealthy families from the northeast. Sport fishing became popular and to some extent replaced farming. Some of the greatest tarpon fishing is just off shore from Sanibel.

In 1928 a ferry service began to and from the mainland. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison visited the island regularly looking for new plant species and shells for study and identification.

In May 1963 a causeway linking Sanibel and Captiva to the mainland was opened. The resulting explosion of growth led to islanders incorporating the City of Sanibel in order to control development in the interests of wildlife, the natural beauty of the island and its residents. The original causeway was replaced in 2007; and features a “flyover” span tall enough for sailboats to pass under, replacing the old bascule drawbridge span.

With increased visitors to the islands, conservation became an important issue. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1945, is closely tied to the history of the conservation movement. J.N. Ding Darling, best known as an editorial cartoonist, came to Captiva Island in 1936 while serving as the head of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey under Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was passionate about conserving Sanibel and Captiva for their unique environments and wildlife.

Today the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 6,400 acres of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass beds, cordgrass marshes, and West Indian hardwood hammocks. Approximately 2,800 acres of the refuge are designated by Congress as a Wilderness Area. It provides important habitat to more than 220 species of birds and welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

Many conservation efforts, including the “no live shelling law,” have helped Sanibel and Captiva islands earn their reputation as the “Shell Capital of the World.” Large parts of both islands are made out of shells. When dug, backyards yield conch, whelk, scallop and clam shells, often perfectly intact. The islands rank top for shelling because of geography. Sanibel and Captiva are among few barrier islands with an east-west orientation: most are north-south. Its alignment acts like a shovel scooping up seashells that the Gulf currents import from the Caribbean and further south. The resulting abundance and variety draws people from all over the world. Throughout the year, shell shops sell seashells and by the thousands. Shells are the dominant motif in island decor and boutique gifts.

Sanibel and its shells even made it into the Guinness World Records. Last year at the 75^th annual Sanibel Shell Show & Fair, hundreds of locals and visitors came to Bowman’s Beach to break the world record for “largest treasure hunt game.” They showed the rest of the world their favorite shell-bent position, the “Sanibel stoop,” to hunt for sea shells.

The beaches on Captiva and Sanibel islands offer unrivalled space for families, walkers and fishermen to enjoy a climate that offers sun, sand and sea throughout the year. Sanibel and Captiva retain the charm and natural beauty that has always characterized the islands and makes it a unique visitor destination.

Source: Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Available Literacy Grants!

Florida Health Literacy Initiative
Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) is proud to partner with Florida Blue to make available targeted grants to promote health literacy. The goal is to provide health-education resources for local adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and family literacy programs so that students in these programs can make informed choices about their health and nutrition.

Amount: Up to $5000

Deadline: March 19

Walmart Local Giving Program
Walmart is a global company, but we give back locally – right in the neighborhoods where we live and work. Through the Local Giving Program, Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs and Logistics facilities can support the needs of their communities by providing Community Grants to local organizations. The Local Giving Program awards grants of $250-$5,000 through each of our Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs and Logistics.

Deadline December 1, 2013

Enterprise Holdings Foundation
The Foundation provides charitable support to worthwhile, non-profit initiatives that are actively supported by the company’s employees, their spouses and loyal customers in the thousands of local communities where we operate. The Foundation also provides more sizable special grants to non-profit groups or causes of significant strategic or social importance to the company and its employees.

First time grants: $1,500

Deadline: March 1 and August 1, 2013

Dr. Phillips Charities
The primary focus of Dr. Phillips Charities is to respond to community needs in Orange and Osceola Counties. Proposals that address established areas of interest are given the highest priority. These include; education programs, children and youth services, cultural programs, health or rehabilitative programs and social services.

Deadlines: May 10 and September 13, 2013

Florida Humanities Council Mini Grants for Community Organizations
FHC Awards mini grants (up to $2,000) that provide financial support for the planning and implementation of public humanities projects. Mini grant proposals are typically for small projects such as single events, lectures or panel discussions, reading and discussion groups, film series, and/or on-line resources which may include interpretive brochures, reading lists, audio/video recordings of scholar presentations, and classroom resources.

Deadline: March 1, June 3, Sept 3, 2013 at 4pm (EST)

Comerica Charitable Foundation
The Comerica Charitable Foundation regularly reviews needs in each of our geographic focus areas (Texas, Michigan, California, Arizona, and Florida) to ensure grant allocations are directed to support the most critical needs in our communities. Our giving priorities include economic self-sufficiency (financial literacy, job readiness, etc.), education (financial literacy programs for k-12 and adults), access to health care (preventative care for the uninsured and under-insured), and programs supporting diversity and inclusion.

Applications accepted January 1- March 15, 2013

Darden Foundation
The mission of the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation is to maintain a spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy as defining characteristics of Darden Restaurants. The Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation carries out this mission by focusing its philanthropic efforts on access to postsecondary education, preservation of natural resources, and good neighbor grants.

Deadlines: January 1, April 1, August 1 and October 1

Community Foundations

Southwest Florida Community Foundation Community Impact Grant
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation seeks to be a responsive and proactive community partner that works strategically to address existing and emerging community needs through our competitive grants program. Applicants must be located in and primarily serve residents of Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, and Collier counties. Organizations based in Collier County must also serve at least one of the other four counties in order to be eligible. In the Community Impact Grant Cycle, SWFLCF provides grants of up to $25,000 to organizations in five different program areas: Animal Welfare, Community Development, Education, Healthcare and Human Services.

Deadline: May 2013

Gulf Coast Community Foundation
The six regional priority areas for Gulf Coast’s grants process are revitalize and diversify the regional economy, provide a competitive workforce, strengthen social service delivery, leverage and coordinate the arts, develop  social and civic capacity and manage environmental assets. Leveraged and Transformative grants are more than $10,000 will clearly target important regional challenges or opportunities, utilize creative approaches, and provide measurable data to assess their impact. Community grants are $10,000 or less and help nonprofits take on projects that have a positive impact on the community.

Deadlines for Leveraged and Transformative Grants: April 23, 2013

Community grants: Rolling basis

Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization which administers funds established by individuals, corporations, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations to support the charitable needs of the Tampa Bay area. Program interests of the Foundation include arts and culture, community development, education, emergency services, environment and animals, and health and human services.

Maximum Award: $7,500

Deadline: March 1 and September 1, 2013

Community Foundation of South Lake
Proposals for grants should value South Lake County, Florida, have a strong quality of planning, leadership, support and vision and the nonprofit must demonstrate financial stability. The Foundation supports education, health and wellness, and community development projects.

Deadline: March 29, 2013

 

Deadline for Award Nomination is Fast Approaching!

2012 Literacy Award Recipients

Attention! Attention! Award nominations are due in TWO WEEKS! Do you have someone you want to be recognized for their noteworthy accomplishments and achievements at Conference? Nominate them for their great work. The deadline is: MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013.  Submit a Nomination Now!

Your selected nominee can be nominated for any of the following awards:

Individual Award Categories

Outstanding Literacy Volunteer Award- honors a literacy volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional service and commitment in either tutoring or program operations. This award may be given as recognition for a specific outstanding achievement or for ongoing exceptional service. The recipient will receive a $100 gift certificate from New Readers Press.

Mary J. Brogan Leadership Award- Recognizes a Florida resident whose support of literacy exhibits the highest standards of excellence, dedication, leadership, creativity, and accomplishment. The recipient will receive a $100 gift certificate from New Readers Press.

Flight for Freedom Award- honors an adult student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishment in improvement of literacy or leadership skills within literacy. The adult student must currently be tutored by a literacy volunteer, enrolled in an adult education program (GED, ESL, Workplace Literacy, etc.), or be a former student who was enrolled in a program within 6 months of the nomination submission. The recipient of this award will receive two complimentary round-trip airline tickets from Southwest Airlines.

Organizational Award Categories

Excellence in Education Award- honors an organization demonstrating achievement, innovation, leadership or organizational excellence in support of adult and family literacy education in Florida. Eligible organizations include community-based volunteer literacy programs, local educational agencies, and institutional literacy programs. The recipient of this award will receive a $100 gift certificate from New Readers Press.

Outstanding Business Partner Award- honors a company or business partner for leadership or significant contributions in support of literacy at the local, regional or state level. Nominees may have established a literacy program in the workplace or shown leadership in supporting community adult education, literacy or family literacy activities. Example areas of support may include, but are not limited to providing: grants/financial contributions, volunteers, space for training/tutoring, in-kind donations, or publicity and media coverage.

The perks of being an award recipient:

• Each award recipient will receive two complimentary tickets to the Awards Banquet on May 9th at the Florida Literacy Conference in Captiva, Florida.
• Each award winner’s affiliated organization will also receive a reduced conference registration rate of $75, which is transferable to anyone in the organization, as well as one free Awards Banquet ticket.

The Florida Literacy Coalition would like to thank Southwest Airlines and ProLiteracy for their generous donations and continuous support.

For more information, contact Amanda Terrell at intern@floridaliteracy.org, or call (407)246-7110 ext. 210

FIRST LOOK: Sessions at the Florida Literacy Conference!

Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal to present at the 2013 Florida Literacy Conference. I was extremely impressed by the number of proposals that we received, and their overall quality. After reading each submission, I was inspired by the dedication and thought that went into each and every proposal. I am confident that Conference attendees will have an opportunity to learn from some very knowledgeable and devoted practitioners at this year’s event. Conference participants will have the opportunity to attend sessions within the following 14 tracks:

Adult Learner

Corrections Literacy

ESOL

Family Literacy

Financial Literacy

Health Literacy

Learning Disabilities

Library Literacy

Program Management

Reading

Technology

Volunteers in Literacy

Workforce Education

Adult Basic Education, GED, and Adult High School

 

For those of you that have been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the sessions for this year’s Conference, a preliminary list can be found here. More information about the specific and dates and times of the sessions will be available at the beginning of March. See you in Captiva!

Upcoming FLC Deadlines!

Don’t miss your opportunity to attend these important events hosted by the Florida Literacy Coalition! In the coming months, we are offering a variety of trainings such as the 10th Annual Literacy Leadership Institute and the Train the Tutor Trainer Course. The registration deadlines are fast approaching, so reserve your spot today!.

March 1- 10th Annual Literacy Leadership Institute Registration Deadline

March 6- Adult Learner Essay Book Submission Deadline

March 8- Last day to register for the Conference at the Early Bird rate

March 11- Florida Literacy Award Nominations Due

March 13- Webinar: Tutor Tips and Strategies for Teaching Reading

March 15- Train the Tutor Trainer Applications Due

March 19- Health Literacy Grant Application Due