I am writing to invite you to submit your students' writing for an upcoming publication of Voices. This edition will include the voices of students from literacy programs across Canada.

My name is Lee Weinstein and I am the co-founder and managing editor of Voices magazine. Voices is dedicated to the idea that literacy learners have important and powerful experiences to share through writing. For eight years we published learner writings from across North America. We published Voices to give learner/authors a publication that valued and respected the authenticity and power of their words. We are pleased to announce that, in association with the John Howard Society, we are going to be producing another issue. It is my hope that the learner/authors in your literacy program will want to have their stories considered for publication in Voices.

Voices last issue was published in 1996. We did not accept any advertisements and we utilised photography as imaginatively as our budget allowed. That same standard will be applied to the new issue. What will be different is that we will have three to four new features on Canadian literacy programs in addition to many new learner stories. We will also be creating two learner workbooks to accompany Voices.

We know that creating workbooks to accompany Voices is a departure from past practices. Although Voices always sneered when saying the word “workbooks”, it is obvious that while many literacy workers liked the magazine, they didn't utilise it in classrooms. We believe one reason was that they may have needed more concrete ways to teach writing as inspired by the stories. Hence, we are developing two workbooks to accompany the Voices publication. The author of these workbooks is Pat Campbell.

Pat Campbell has worked in the field of adult literacy since 1985 as a coordinator, facilitator, curriculum developer, researcher and writer. In the early 80's, she taught ESL in rural Nigeria as a CUSO volunteer. Pat is currently an adjunct professor with the Centre for Research on Literacy at the University of Alberta. She is the co-author of several publications, and is looking forward to tapping into and reflecting upon her experiences with adult educators and students as she develops the workbooks. She believes that workbooks will benefit adult literacy educators and learners, by providing a flexible framework for meaningful exercises and activities. The workbooks will explore the universal themes, such as love, loss, hope and discrimination, woven throughout Voices. Each workbook will provide activities to encourage students to share their experiences both independently through writing and collectively through discussion. In some instances, the workbook exercises will serve as a catalyst for students to move beyond their personal stories and discuss ways to take action about topics and issues that matter to them.

If you would like to submit your learner's writing, we would love to see it. We are looking for stories that read in a powerful and direct way because the words come from the lives and hearts of the authors.

In summary what are we looking for?

• We are looking for powerful learner writing, from beginning through advanced levels for the upcoming Voices issue. We need to receive all submissions no later than December 1, 2000. Voices is committed to using strong, personal learner writing. We are also committed to maintaining the voice and authenticity of the stories. These stories may include a light copy edit for meaning or the odd spelling correction. However, the author will still retain final approval in order that the story be printed as intended.
• The authors of stories that are accepted for publication will receive a $25 honorarium from Voices. If the authors are comfortable with having their picture taken, we will work with designated program staff to locate and contract a photojournalist for the author's portrait. The cost of the photography will be borne by Voices.
• We are also putting out a call for literacy programs that would like to be considered for our feature articles. These articles will be approximately 10 pages in length and will include learner stories with an accompanying article from a staff person giving an overview of the literacy program. The feature concept will be cooperatively developed between Voices and participating program staff. The intent is to give the reader an understanding of the program and its context. Voices will work cooperatively with programs to contract a photojournalist in order to pictorially document and enhance the features. The cost of the photography will be borne by Voices. Programs must notify Voices of their interest in participating on or before September 30, 2000; it is anticipated that features will be completed by January 15, 2001.

Recognizing the commitment on the part of staff and learners in articulating material for the feature, Voices will provide a stipend to programs. We hope that participation in this project will:

— Produce a beautiful product about and by program learners and staff.
— Strengthen connections amongst literacy communities throughout Canada.
— Produce a way of better understanding one's own literacy program through the writing process.

We are looking forward to working with program staff and learners throughout the country on this exciting project. If you have any questions about this project please feel free to call me at the numbers below. If you indicate interest you will receive permission release forms and a request for biographical data to accompany the submission.

* Lee Weinstein, Managing Editor, Voices Literacy Project, 5943-182 Street, Surrey BC V3S 4M8, Tel. (604) 574-0369 or 730-6844, Fax (604) 730-6840, voicesproject@home.com