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Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 7:03 PM
To: Brian, Dr Donna J G
Subject: New member introduction 


Hello to all!
I was told that I should introduce myself to all of you as the latest
member of the listserv and tell a little about myself. My name is Rose
Walker and I am beginning work at Salem Family Literacy Program in
Salem, Oregon. I am an undergraduate student at Western Oregon
University with a major in Spanish. I volunteered last year with the
Literacy Program and they asked me to do some work with them this year
and it is, very much so, my pleasure. I have some background experience
helping to build a statewide non-profit organization and I hope to apply
this knowledge to the field that I am in right now. 
I was also asked to tell how I feel about the interaction of poverty,
race, and literacy. From my own experience, I know that at least two of
these, poverty and literacy, go hand in hand. From others experiences, I
have seen race become a factor as well. I grew up with a father who
posessed a 3rd grade education and a mother with an 8th grade education.
My mother was a single parent whom I saw struggle to make ends meet
because of her lack of education. I was never able to receive homework
help from her and amazingly, I never saw any outreach from the school
district to try to help any of the poor families in our area. I am the
first person to graduate high school in my family and in one year I will
be the first person to graduate college in my family, thus breaking this
chain. I love my story and my experiences and through the Literacy
Program or any other organization that the universe may lead me to, I
will have this knowledge and these skills to encourage and motivate
others who may not now think that they have any options.
I hope that in the future I can contribute as many good ideas as I have
seen on this listserv and I appreciate your welcome.
 
In kindness,
Rose

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