SILVER CITY, N.M. – Literacy Link – Leamos Program Director Mary Beth Folia met with County Commissioners Tuesday, july 23, 2019, to highlight the organization’s services. She also answered questions about funding issues in the Santa Fe legislature that would have affected the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy, the key grant funder for Literacy Link.
“The Coalition is our most important, reliable funder,” Folia said. The Coalition distributes funds from the State to about 20 community-based literacy programs across New Mexico. They also provide data tracking and assessment software that would be prohibitively expensive for small programs to purchase on their own, as well as training and professional development opportunities.
“Some individuals in the Higher Education Department sent out language interpreted as a request for bids on the contract currently held by the NMCL. That contract is not due to be put up for bid and the Coalition was in the process of contract amendments with the State when this email went out to selected colleges and universities,” said Folia. “It was not posted, or shared with the Coalition or its affiliated programs.”
She went on to explain that Adult Basic Ed programs run by higher education institutions and community-based programs share the same intent—to help educate adults—but use different approaches. “There’s a place for both models. We have a cordial partnership with WNMU’s Adult Ed Services. But many adults struggling with jobs, childcare and transportation find it easier to work at their own pace during flexible meeting times with the same LLL tutor at our Public Library.” If the Coalition was de-funded, Folia said, it would have created a real hardship for Literacy Link – Leamos and other small programs serving rural areas. Also, the Coalition recently received an AmeriCorps grant, which will bring volunteers to Coalition programs this fall. “I was looking forward to having those volunteers,” Folia said, “and didn’t want to lose them.”
Alicia Edwards took a leadership role in notifying and coordinating with the other Grant County Commissioners, who received letters from Literacy Link the week of July 15. Rep. Rebecca Dow’s office and Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales also made inquiries in Santa Fe to help resolve the issue. It is now clear that the contract is not up for bid at this time.
“I’m so grateful to our commissioners and state legislators,” Folia said. “Our grant funding is unusually low this year, and it’s a huge relief to know that the Coalition funding is safe.”