The National Urban Alliance and IRA

A Call to Action, A Call to Service

Urban Partnerships for Literacy (UP) mobilizes communities of citizens, educators, and scholars committed to all students in prekindergarten through 12th grade achieving high levels of literacy—especially children of color and those in disadvantaged circumstances. UP unites the International Reading Association (350,000 members and affiliates strong in scholarship and practice in 80 countries) with the National Urban Alliance, whose decade-long work in more than 30 U.S. urban areas has refined its programs of professional coaching for teachers and mentors, and its promotion of systemic reform.

Experience and research confirm that schools can reach and teach all students. UP works with local partners to apply evidence-based research and the expertise of practitioners to specific classroom challenges while promoting sustainable school and system policies and practices that ensure all students receive timely and skillful instruction in all grades toward achievement of high standards.

We are hoping that you might be interested in working with us—in several roles—as consultants to work with the National Urban Alliance with intense, positive, and fast-paced professionals dedicated to change. They are looking for people who:

understand education as ongoing research and development—field-based studies, experiments, and possibilities
read, read, read
investigate, experience, and share current urban education methods
work at the intersection of research and hands-on learning and living
possess urban experiences and are excited about building cultural knowledge
are excited about working with children and other teachers
are intrigued by technological tools.

If you are interested, check the NUA website at http://www.nuatc.org and use their online form.

We are also interested in having people sign up to be short-term consultants to work with UP for Literacy. Contact us through our website at http://wwwnuatc.org or through the IRA website at http://www.reading.org.

Conferees attending the IRA Annual Convention this year can also get further information about the IRA/NUA partnership and the UP and NUA programs there. Come to the Sierra Conference Suite G at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco to meet with the NUA team on Monday through Wednesday of convention week (April 29 through May 1) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information call 202-393-2400.