Media Room
Jeff Carter Joins ProLiteracy as Policy and Government Affairs Director SYRACUSE, NY, Jan. 25, 2010 — ProLiteracy, the world's largest organization of adult literacy programs, today announced the appointment of Jeff Carter, J.D., as the organization's first director of policy and government affairs. Starting February 1, Carter will lead ProLiteracy's public policy and advocacy work in Washington on behalf of 1,200 U.S. member programs and 100 partner organizations in 50 developing countries. "Illiteracy among adults is a driving force behind virtually every social and economic problem America faces. Federal investment in adult literacy and basic education is a necessary foundation to overcome poverty, unemployment, failing public schools, health disparities, and incarceration rates seen nowhere else in the free world," said David C. Harvey, ProLiteracy president and CEO. "That's why ProLiteracy is hiring its first full-time Washington-based advocate." Over the past two years, ProLiteracy has been steadily expanding its policy and advocacy work in Washington, D.C. In addition to creating a Washington office, the organization works with Environics Communications, an international public relations agency, and Capitol Hill Partners, a government relations firm, to raise awareness among the general public and policy makers. This work also is supported by a communications team based at its headquarters in Syracuse, New York. Carter brings extensive community-based advocacy and program experience in adult literacy to his national policy advocacy role at ProLiteracy. As executive director of D.C. LEARNs, Washington D.C.'s Literacy, Education, Advocacy, and Resource Network, he led the coalition's advocacy work, raising public awareness and educating policy makers about community needs. "Jeff's training as a lawyer and advocate combined with his long history of community leadership means that ProLiteracy is bringing a new urgency and an unprecedented level of public policy expertise to the national policy arena on behalf of adults with low literacy and the community-based programs that serve them," Harvey added. "Jeff also will support the important work of the National Coalition for Literacy at a time of a great change in our field," said Peter Waite, president of the Coalition and a senior vice president at ProLiteracy. "Like never before, our field has opportunities to influence crucial federal policy initiatives to benefit adults who need literacy and basic education services." About ProLiteracy
ProLiteracy, based in Syracuse, works with local and national organizations to help adults gain the reading, writing, math, computer, and English skills they need to be successful in today's society. ProLiteracy advocates on behalf of adult learners and the programs that serve them, provides training and professional development, and publishes materials used in adult literacy instruction. ProLiteracy represents member programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and in 50 developing countries. For more information, please go to www.ProLiteracy.org and www.NewReadersPress.com
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