1 Literacy: Put It Out There Through PartnershipsNOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. Dr. Ida Acuña-Garza Robert Rosell CEO Board President South Texas Literacy Coalition
2 Building partnerships and collaborationsPartnership concepts Messaging Strategies Examples It takes a village…
3 Agenda Ice-breaker – learning activityExpanding services and increasing outreach Establishing partnerships Types of activities Summary
4 What can you do with…..? It takes creativity, imagination, thinking outside the box, being innovative, and taking risks to create new approaches to outreach. Each group of persons has an envelope with a common item in it Open the envelope and on the index card provided and in the time frame provided discuss how many uses the item has. You will be timed! Write down all of the suggestions on the card – use both sides if necessary. Select one person from the group to present your ideas to the larger group of participants READY? Set? Go?
5 Reports from groups Ideas! Ideas! Ideas!
6 Expanding services and outreachWhy is it important to expand services and outreach? Promoting literacy: - Improving literacy skills - Providing an intro to your library or program Showcasing a new program Increasing exposure to books and print materials Increasing number of patrons with a library card Teaching story-telling techniques Educating parents Educate the community or target population Educate other service providers Establish connections – partnerships and collaborations Directly deliver services
7 Establishing Partnerships and CollaborationsRecognize opportunities for change Mobilizing people and resources to create change Developing a vision of long-term change Seeking support and involvement from diverse and non-traditional partners Building trust “Comprehensive partnerships begin because individuals reach out to like-minded people and groups to address issues that affect children and families.” North Central Regional Educational Laboratory When you form a partnership, you: Share the vision; but you also Share the spotlight
8 Teamwork Basics Well-defined goals and deadlines Team DynamicsFull participation – decision-making Trust Open Communication Clear Roles Quality Control Social/Business Balance Well-defined goals – should be simply stated and measurable. Deadlines require that everyone have a calendar to review. Team Dynamics: Full participation – All team members contribute their time and energy to the project; even though this may be accomplished through a variety of methods. All members should be included in decision-making. Trust – trust that each member will add value to the project. Important – that appreciation is expressed for different contributions. Open Communication – when all members: Contribute ideas Provide feedback constructively Ask for clarification on anything that might be confusing Provide frequent updates Listen to each other carefully Clear roles – as defined by Work Function or By meeting function: presenter, clerical, logistics, PR, etc. *Quality Control – team members should be willing to review their output to see if the goals are being met *Social/Business Balance – find a balance between socializing and business allowing team members to get to know each other.
9 Stages of Team Development*Forming – “honeymoon stage” Storming – negotiation, conflict resolution Norming – establish ground rules of conduct Performing – functional team – work gets done Adjourning – flexibility in team roles – future leadership opportunities. Share the vision and then the spotlight! *Bruce Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development, 1965; 2001; 2015.
10 Group Dynamics
11 The STLC Model of Literacy Promotion in the CommunityCelebrate literacy! The Organizer Business Community –based organizations Community resources – civic/service groups Schools Public libraries Higher Ed Local authors, artisans, artists Celebrity readers Arts and crafts Entertainment Literacy games and activities Food! Free books! Fun for the entire family!
12 Examples of Collaborative Community ActivitiesPartnering with South Texas College – ADA Community Awareness Day – Child Development Program Child Care Providers Conference
13 GEAR UP parents at a financial literacy session.Partnering with a church, the Chamber of Commerce and the public library for a workplace literacy training.
14 STLC Quarterly meeting at the Sekula Memorial Library in EdinburgBook distribution set up for a family literacy festival at Pharr Memorial Library. Partnering with Borderfest and the Hidalgo library for book distribution
15 Partnering with South Texas College for a Financial Literacy Festival and a Reading Night – Mid-Valley Campus, Weslaco Partnering with Edinburg and Delta Area Lions club for an eye screening at the City of La Villa Family Literacy Festival.
16 F E S T I B A THE LARGEST LITERACY FESTIVAL IN SOUTH TEXAS!A COLLABORATION WITH: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – PAN AMERICAN CITY OF EDINBURG SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY COALITION EDINBURG ARTS DUSTIN MICHAEL SEKULA MEMORIAL LIBRARY NUMEROUS CIVIC AND SERVICE GROUPS Featuring a book distribution, authors, artists, music, entertainment, celebration of Millionaire Readers
17 Author Congressman HinojosaFamily Literacy Festivals in Hebbronville, San Diego, and at a local elementary school. Over 400 families attended each event!
18 Family Literacy Festivals
19 FREE! F A M I L Y FUN!
20 Community attorneys, PA, CPA and volunteers join LBJ girls in reading the book “IN or Out “by Claudia Gabel in an effort to promote literacy among young LBJ girls. Communities’ “Dads” read “On the Devil’s Court by Carl Deuker” and play a friendly basketball tournament to encourage their sons to read.
21 Local Community business women judge cupcake contest in connection to the book “The Cupcake queen” By Heather Heapler Hidalgo Commissioner, Eddie Cantu, read the novel “The Giver” by Lois Lowry with all LBJ Middle School eight grade classes to promote the love of reading. The Commissioner had a book discussion with all eight graders.
22 Take a book. Return a book.Little Free Libraries The People Who Started the Movement In the beginning—2009–Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it. He built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that said FREE BOOKS. In South Texas, we have partnered with Hidalgo County Commissioners to place Little Free Libraries at Community Resource Centers. We provide the library and replenish books as needed. This has helped us build a collaborative relationship with the County Commissioners Court. Next step? Invite them to support our cause with financial support! Take a book. Return a book.
23 Family Literacy Festivals include:Exhibitors from community agencies Formal welcome and short program Featured author presentation/reading Literacy activities Bookmark-making Coloring Make-a-Book I Love To Read Bingo Love to Read Bean Bag Toss Face-painting Refreshments Book distribution event Door prizes Congressman Ruben Hinojosa loves to read to the children!
24 Make it a Win-Win SituationShare the vision and share the spotlight! Collaborations and partnerships: Enhance everyone’s efforts to create thriving communities. Create a sense of community engaging diverse and non-traditional partners Help to market each partners programming efforts Send a positive message about education and the literacy skills needed for the 21st century and beyond Mobilize people and resources to create long-term positive changes in a community Are a Win-Win for everyone involved and everyone served!
25 Questions and Answers
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