Because now is the time to decide what direction we want to take our country. RED & BLACK … A Time For Independence is about the spirit of independence. And four years later, we feel it’s very sad (and very scary) that our sentiments about our country’s leaders having the strength, courage, and conviction to be independent thinkers are still relevant. Maybe even more than ever before.
Take a moment and imagine not being able to read this sentence. Now, think about this … if you’re reading this, you’re doing something millions of Americans can’t.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io |
I’ll admit that I never realized how many people can’t read.
It’s something I’ve always taken for
granted. That’s until Black and I met
someone doing something about it – Jackie Aguilera, now the Project Manager for
the Mayor’s Office of Adult
Literacy (Houston). Her focus
wasn’t only on reading literacy but on “literacies” I’d never heard of, such as
financial literacy, health literacy, and digital literacy. But it all starts
with the ability to read. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io |
It
is called functional
literacy. Obviously, if you
are reading this article, you are on the internet. Which has more information than anyone can
possibly absorb (and is why news literacy is so critical). Now,
imagine if you could not read. All that
information … just sitting there.
Available to others, but not to you. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io |
Books are my great escape. Always have been. So, I can’t
imagine a life without them. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io |
A great escape … in many ways. You may use it to escape from the stresses of
daily life or just as entertainment. But,
books and, more specifically, the ability to read is how people can escape a
life of poverty and limited opportunities.
|
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Working with Jackie made me see that. As did our work with the criminal justice system, as so many incarcerated people struggle to read. And I know you’re a data geek, but please don’t start quoting me statistics. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | OK, no statistics, but did you know that more people in the US are affected by low literacy (meaning they cannot read at a sixth-grade level) than are diagnosed with cancer or heart disease? |
Over the years, as we’ve learned how many people can’t read (including one in three Houstonians), it’s made us stop and think about how that impacts every aspect of their lives … their families … their communities. And also … our communities and our country.
As former First Lady Barbara Bush said many years ago,
If you help a person to read, then their opportunities in life will be endless.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | I have a confession to make, which I’m sure will make you roll your eyes. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Interesting caveat and probably true. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Every time we talk with Jackie (Aguilera) from the Mayor’s Office of Adult Literacy and hear what she’s doing in the world of adult education, I feel like I’m back in school and having to take copious notes. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | I am more than happy to send you “homework assignments” as I come across relevant articles and research. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll stick to taking notes. But that does explain why you’re so knowledgeable about literacy. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | But, reading information is very different from being at the forefront of literacy innovation. And, if we had never met Jackie, I never would have realized how literacy is about more than reading and writing. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | But that alone is such a critical part of all of our lives and can make the difference between struggling and success. Although I never stopped to think about any of that before we met Jackie. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | The funny thing is we first met her because of financial literacy. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Yes, I remember, even though it was over a decade ago. It was shortly after our book was approved as a financial literacy textbook by the (Texas) State Board of Education, and you decided we should go to a Houston Money Week meeting. I didn’t think we were qualified to talk about the topic. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | I did not feel qualified to decide whether or not we could be of any help until I better understood what they did. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | That’s why I let you do the talking when “newbies” had to introduce themselves. Plus, I’d have talked their ears off. But after the meeting, this confident but very approachable woman came striding across the room, extended her hand to me, and introduced herself. At the time, she was Literacy Coordinator at EastSide University. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | All I remember was her energy, commitment, and passion for financial literacy. Not usually a topic discussed with such enthusiasm. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | There’s an understatement. And not only did it take me by surprise, but I hate to admit it, it was contagious. Especially once we started working with her. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Another confession? |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Maybe. I still shake my head in amazement at the incredibly creative ways she makes personal finance, typically such a “boring” topic, come alive. And how she uses outside-the-box approaches to making learning relevant. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | But, it is not only financial literacy. It also includes digital literacy, health literacy, and even news literacy and environmental literacy. Which is why I am honored that she asked us to create various “Conversation Starters” she could use at presentations and workshops. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | I never imagined they could be used to talk about serious concepts in a light-hearted and fun way. Even if she points out how I was a poster child for not being “literate” when it comes to an assortment of life topics. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | I dislike the term “literacy” because it makes people feel like they are “illiterate” when they do not know something. In reality, they may never have been exposed to the information or given an opportunity to learn it. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | I can tell you first-hand that, initially, I felt stupid until you pointed out I was merely sheltered. But that’s given me so much more empathy when I think of other people in the same position I was once in. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | That is why she likes the “Conversation Starters” – they make the topics accessible in a non-threatening way. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | And helps us realize that literacy impacts every aspect of our lives since it is so much more than reading and writing. Raising awareness of that and talking about it with others, especially our families, can have a huge ripple effect. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | That is the purpose of September being designated National Literacy Month. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | September seems the perfect time to learn something new. It’s like being back in school, except you can put the knowledge to work immediately. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | And, this year, with elections just months away, it is the perfect time to learn about news literacy. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Oh, I know better … |
Is it a way to meet people, share memories, or help the environment? Or is it about bargain hunting? As we've talked about before, garage sales can be about so much more than just getting rid of things you no longer want …
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Thanks for the accounting of your garage sale. But, given how many hours you spent preparing for it, and then the actual sale itself, did you calculate how much you “earned” on a $/hour basis? |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | No, all I know is that it seemed to take forever to go through everything in Mom’s house and decide what to keep, what to sell, what to donate. And what to trash. As far as the garage sale, I’ll give you your half the next time I see you. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Keep my half. You did all the work. I did not even offer to help. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | And that was a big help. Thank you. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Obviously, you must be exhausted because you are making no sense. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Sorry, but I have a specific way of running garage sales, and the last thing I needed was another “cook in the kitchen” . |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Not a good analogy as “cook” is a four-letter word that I do not use. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Cute. But seriously, I knew if I had asked you to help, you would’ve. But I can only imagine how you’d have reacted when you first saw all the stuff for sale. Especially as I treat garage sales as a way to get rid of items that I know have very little value. I’m not trying to maximize the money I make; I’m just trying to make the stuff “go away”. In fact, I don’t even put prices on them. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | That all makes sense. Except for not having everything pre-priced. That would drive me crazy. How do you know what to charge people? |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | It’s an experience thing and another reason why I didn’t ask you to help. I have a sense of prices, but not something I could quantify in advance. When someone arrives, I tell them that everything’s cheap and give them an example. They usually look at me like, “Wow, she means it.” And then I tell them to collect what they want and that I promise to give them a good price. And I do. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Is that why you and Mom never had joint garage sales? I cannot imagine she would let you determine prices on the spot. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Actually, she’s the one who “taught” me not to price things. That if someone picks up something or you see them looking at it, they’re interested. And that’s all you need to know. Where we differed was in how much to charge. To her, it was fun, but also a way to make money. To me, a garage sale isn’t my retirement account. It’s my way to get rid of stuff, especially big, bulky stuff. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | In other words, people are paying you to haul off your trash. Or, save you trips taking stuff to your local thrift stores. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Exactly. Although I still take a lot of items to thrift stores that would probably sell for a decent price at a garage sale because I believe in what they’re doing, and I know that my donations make a difference. But I forgot how fun a garage sale can be, meeting people and laughing, just making connections, and knowing that someone will now enjoy and/or use your things. Or, in this case, Mom’s things. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Is there a particular age group that came to your garage sale? |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | It was truly a mix of people. Not counting the kids tagging along with their parents, which reminded me of when the girls would set up a lemonade stand to benefit Make-A-Wish at my garage sales years ago, they ranged from 20-somethings to senior citizens. But I’m almost afraid to ask why you asked. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | I will not get into studies and statistics, but younger people are really into the environment and reusing older things, especially clothing (which is one of the three “new” R’s – reduce – reuse – recycle ). So, garage sales, along with thrift stores, are becoming more popular than ever. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | I love it! And the idea of so many of Mom’s things, now that she’s passed, will get to live on and be enjoyed by others. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | At the risk of sounding like a MasterCard commercial , there are some things that money cannot buy. Like sentimental value and fond memories. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | I know. Which is why the process of sorting everything was so time-consuming. Interestingly, when that came up in conversation during the garage sale, so many people could relate and then shared their own stories. It was as if they wanted me to know that Mom’s things were getting a good home. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Well, if you add that to the cash you made, it sounds like a very successful garage sale. Hopefully, the next sale, being an estate sale with larger and higher-priced items, will be as successful. And, although I tried to get you to use a professional “estate sale” company that would do everything for you, I am beginning to understand why you decided to do it yourself. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | The hardest part was culling and organizing, and there was no way I’d let strangers go through all of Mom’s things. And the internet makes “advertising” the sale and posting items online very easy. All-in-all, there’s no reason we can’t do it ourselves. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | We?! |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io | Yes, because your ability to combine photos into a single image and correct my grammar is important. But your spreadsheets will be critical. |
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | Now, that I can do. |