International Literacy Day is September 8, 2000!

Check out NIFL's International Literacy Day page for a sample media advisory and suggestions for International Literacy Day activities!

Click here to read Thoughts on Literacy for International Literacy Day from Archie Willard, Chair of Voice for Adult Literacy United for Education.

This year's events include:

• NATIONAL LITERACY SUMMIT 2000 REPORT LAUNCH

  On September 7, the eve of International Literacy Day 2000, after more than a year of discussions and planning involving thousands of participants, the national literacy field and its partners will launch the National Literacy Summit 2000 Action Agenda for a more literate America. Click here to download a copy of the Agenda. (PDF file - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

  The launch will take place at a lunch on Capitol Hill, Rayburn Building B338, beginning at 11:45 a.m. on September 7. After the launch of the Summit report and action agenda, a distinguished panel of federal and state policymakers will respond to its findings. Following a brief break, a second panel comprised of partners from a variety of sectors will respond to the report. The launch will conclude at 3:30 p.m.

  Marsha Tait has actively represented the National Coalition for Literacy (of which she is chair-elect) as a member of the Summit Steering Committee. She will attend the launch event and release the Summit report with Robbin Sorensen of the Coalition.

  Respondents to the Summit report release include: Senator Paul Simon, Congressman Bill Goodling, Congressman Tom Sawyer, Governor George Ryan (IL), Secretary of Education Richard Riley, Assistant Secretary of Education Patricia McNeil, Dr. Reed Tuckson (American Medical Association), Dr. Sue Sheurman (AFL-CIO), Mr. Chuck Lee (Verizon Communications), Mr. Raul Yzaguirre (National Council of LaRaza), and Sandra Feldman (American Federation of Teachers).

  LVA has been proud to be able to take a leadership role in the planning of the Summit and at the Summit itself. Participants from the LVA network include:

  • Jim Abbott, member of the LVA, Inc. Board of Directors
  • Paul Arcand, member of the LVA National Student Advisory Board
  • Jane Brody, executive director of the Sterling Municipal Library
  • Dale Christianson, 1998 LVA Chairman's Award recipient
  • Carol Gabler, executive director of LVA Chippewa Valley and 1999 Secretary's Award recipient
  • Peggy May, LVA liaison and conference manager
  • Susan Mead, tutor, LVA New River Valley
  • Congressman Tom Sawyer of Ohio and member of the LVA, Inc. Board of Directors
  • Kevin Smith, executive director of LVA New York State
  • Vikki Jo Stewart, director of the Kansas State Library Literacy Program and LVA, Inc. Board of Directors chair
  • Carol Thigpin, executive director of NashvilleREAD, Inc.
  • Judy Vest, 1999 Ruth Colvin Student of the Year.

• Yellow Pages Publisher's Association GET AN IDEA™ AMERICA Tour Finale

  The Yellow Pages Advertising Council (YPAC) wants Americans to GET AN IDEA™ and help adults learn to read. From Los Angeles to Washington D.C., with 20 stops in between, YPPA has committed summer 2000 to help people learn about LVA and the state of literacy in the U.S.

  A reprise of a similar effort last year that raised $25,000 and recruited 370 literacy volunteers, the 2000 tour includes 22 cities, culminating in Washington, D.C. on September 8, International Literacy Day.

  Wally Amos will help promote International Literacy Day and the finale of the Yellow Pages GET AN IDEA™ America Tour by conducting a Satellite Media Tour on September 8. So far, stations in 23 different cities have signed on to have live interviews with Wally during their morning show. The interviews will focus on literacy issues in the United States and what people can do to help.

  Participating cities and stations are: WXIA- (NBC) Atlanta; KUSA- (NBC) Denver; WSTM- (NBC) Syracuse; KPHO- (CBS) Phoenix; WAWS- (FOX) Jacksonville; WBTV- (CBS) Charlotte; WTXL- (ABC) Tallahassee; WINK- (CBS) Ft. Myers; WDBJ- (CBS) Roanoke; WBTW- (CBS) Myrtle Beach; WBRZ- (ABC) Baton Rouge; WSPA- (CBS) Spartanburg; KESQ- (ABC) Palm Springs; WOWK- (CBS) Charleston, WV; WDEF- (CBS) Chattanooga; WYTV- (CBS) Youngstown; WKYT- (ABC) Lexington; KTHV- (CBS) Little Rock; KCEN- (NBC) Waco; KUTV- (CBS) Salt Lake City; WPSD- (NBC) Paducah; KVIA- (ABC) El Paso; and WPBF- (ABC) West Palm Beach.

• Other Events - International
  • International Reading Asssociation (IRA)
  • National Adult Literacy Database (NALD)(Canada)
  • National Literacy Secretariat (NLS)(Canada)
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• Other Events - National
  • National Institute For Literacy (NIFL)
    NIFL's page has a sample media advisory and suggestions for International Literacy Day activities.
  • Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)