During the recent state budget crisis, ABE services in Massachusetts were severely threatened. The power and importance of the adult learner in restoring budget cuts became more evident than ever. Literally thousands of students worked with their programs in making phone calls and even going to the State House to let their voices be heard about the importance of adult literacy in their lives. In addition to working with their programs directors and teachers, adult learners took it upon themselves, in an organized fashion, to play a major role in advocating for funds. This subsequently led to the successful restoration of nearly all of the funds that were cut. The Massachusetts Alliance for Adult Literacy (Mass AAL) is an organization formed by current and former students of adult literacy programs, including Adult Basic Education, ESOL, and GED. Mass AAL is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Education, Adult and Community Learning Services.

The leadership of Bob Bickerton must be acknowledged in terms of his progressive thinking of the field of adult education and of the significant role that adult learners should play in the advancement of our field. His support helped to get Mass AAL off and running. One of Mass AAL's purposes is to build student leadership by creating and implementing activities for adult learners statewide. These activites are intended to empower students and help them become more active citizens who can have a positive effect on their communities.

Outstanding Projects
In a recent project, Mass AAL sponsored, in collaboration with Dr. Marcia Hohn of Northeast SABES, the Health-Focused Student Leadership Project. Grants were given out to a number of programs statewide.These grants are sponsored through a collaboration of SABES and the Mass AAL. The grants enabled students to carry out health projects. One of the most outstanding of these projects was based in the southeast SABES region.

Mobile Health Services
At the ACCCESS Program of Cape Cod Community College, adult learners obtained a mobile van supplied with medical equipment. They got doctors and nurses to volunteer on the van, and they themselves were trained to become intake workers. Residents bringing babies to the van received inoculations that would protect them from life-threatening diseases-some for the very first time! After the pat-ients were seen they were led from the van into a health clinic. The learners got the van to park right out front. Residents, many for the first time, were now enrolled in the health care system. This project literally saved lives!

The Health-Focused Student Leadership Project has proven that given the right conditions, adult learners will rise to the occasion and exceed anyone's expectations. It is Mass AAL's belief in the adult learner that compels us to continue our work.

Mass AAL Goals
Mass AAL is focusing on a number of goals:

• To foster student leadership by helping to create student advisory councils in programs throughout the state.
• To help strengthen student advisory councils that already exist.
• To encourage adult learners to play a major role in informing the public and policymakers about the power and importance of adult literacy to our society.
• To assist adult learners in becoming active and effective citizens, making a positive impact on their communities.

Regional Meetings
In order to move our goals forward, Mass AAL is planning to hold regional meetings in each of the five SABES regions. After the regional meetings, a statewide adult learner conference is also planned. The reason for these meetings will be to learn more about starting student councils. Students will also talk about advancing the cause of adult literacy, as well as explore issues particular to programs in their regions.

Mass AAL has great interest in working closely with teachers and practitioners at programs. The conditions are ripe for such a collaboration: at a recent meeting of ABE program directors, a focus group was held, placing "student leadership" as number two on its list of priorities of issues important to programs.

When meeting with adult learners statewide, Mass AAL found that students overall considered improving the salaries and working conditions for teachers as the number one issue. Adult learners feel that teachers do important work and should be compensated commensurate to their worth to society. Mass AAL would like to ask teachers and other program staff for their help in getting the word out about the organization and with help in getting student councils started. We've put together an adult learner leadership training guide that includes, "How to Start Student Councils." We'll be glad to come out to programs to talk about it.

Ernest Best, a former adult learner, is the executive director of Mass AAL. He can be reached at 617-782-8956, ext.13, or by e-mail at: ernest@alri.org