Intercambio Staff Connect with Partners at the 2022 ProLiteracy Conference on Adult Education

ProLiteracy, the largest adult literacy and basic education membership organization in the nation, believes that a safer, stronger, and more sustainable society starts with an educated adult population. Intercambio staff attended the 2022 ProLiteracy Conference on Adult Education, which was held this year in San Antonio, Texas from October 3-5 and featured the participation of hundreds of leaders in different sectors of adult education. The conference provided the opportunity for Intercambio staff to showcase our materials and resources, connect in person with many of our partner organizations, and present and participate in innovative workshops on a variety of topics related to adult education, English language instruction, and community building.

Sessions presented by Intercambio included Pronunciation for Adult English Language Learners; Addressing U.S. Systems, Laws, and Scams in Adult English Classes (How to Use the Immigrant Guide); Sparking Conversations About Race with English Language Learners; Creating Classes that Foster Cross-Cultural Conversation, Mutual Learning, and Inclusion; and Fundraising in a Post-COVID World. Karin Bates, Curriculum and Training Specialist at Intercambio, shares, “Building relationships is at the heart of Intercambio’s work and it was amazing to connect with so many partner organizations at ProLiteracy.” A highlight of the conference for Karin was participating in a session called The Mind’s Design: Neuroscience of Optimal Adult Learning, presented by Dr. Ellen Beattie, founder of The Center for Intentional Learning. The session focused on brain development differences between children/young adults and adults, and how neuroscience informs learning. Leanne Chacon, Director of Curriculum and Training at Intercambio, states, “The conference was an excellent opportunity to share our curriculum and materials with organizations around the country and engage in valuable conversations about different areas of adult education, such as technology-supported learning, engaging learners with different levels of literacy, and student-centered learning circles.”