President’s Message

We Hereby Proclaim…Be It Resolved…..

Proclamations and resolutions….these words have many meanings. To paraphrase the American Heritage Dictionary, a proclamation is “an official public announcement, a conspicuous and publicly declared document used to declare, proclaim, make plain, praise and extol.”

Mayor Barrett and the GMLC have done just that, on February 14th at Washington Park Library, as we kicked off 2006 as the Year of Adult Literacy. We hope that you will join your voices with ours as we will continue to “declare, proclaim, make plain, praise and extol” the important work that our members are doing every day of every year.

The GMLC has developed a course of action that has identified and explained the problems of illiteracy and has offered solutions. In addition, Common Council President, Willie Hines, Jr., and the Milwaukee Common Council have issued a formal resolution which congratulates the GMLC for its efforts and extends its appreciation on behalf of the community.

GMLC has been working steadily and quietly in the community since 1986. In the past 20 years we have seen many changes in our students and their needs as well as in the resources and tools available for our work and our lives.

This year GMLC has resolved and proclaimed that we will make more noise and be more visible in the community in order to improve literacy rates and the quality of life of our students. We have called upon the community to help and we hope that they will respond as they hear more from us and see the banners that proclaim www.helpmilwaukeeread.org

See elsewhere in this issue of the newsletter for the details on recent events and for ways you can help. I’m excited about the possibilities and looking forward to working with more of you to truly make 2006 the Year of Adult Literacy.

Sincerely,

Dawn Lauber

A Proclamation

WHEREAS quality education equips adults with the literacy necessary for the workforce, parenting, and community life, and

WHEREAS general awareness of the extent of the need for adult literacy activities is limited, and

WHEREAS cooperation and collaboration between city government and literacy organizations, local corporations, social service providers, community groups, religious leaders and adult learners ensures that the voices of all stakeholders are heard, and

WHEREAS a coordinated system between government and community literacy providers insures that funds are targeted for those communities which have the greatest need for services and minimizes duplication of effort, and

WHEREAS the maximum feasible participation of the community in the process of combating illiteracy increases the self-sufficiency of the members of the community, and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Tom Barrett, Mayor of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin do hereby proclaim:

The year 2006, ADULT LITERACY YEAR, in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and commission my staff to collaborate with the Greater Milwaukee Literacy Coalition in initiatives promoting literacy and combating illiteracy in our fair city.