Speaker: Christopher Myers
What inspired you to become part of SAAEF?
Christopher Myers: What inspired me to become a part of SAAEF was having been in adult education for 11 years and an instructor for 6 years. I wanted to move to a place of influence. I wanted to be able to advocate for our population at a higher level and even be able to. To put forth movements that would allow more funds to come into our, into our state, for adult education because I recognize the connection that it has with a healthy society, a healthy community and a healthy economy.
What were your biggest accomplishments during your SAAEF fellowship?
Christopher Myers: My biggest accomplishments during my state fellowship would have to be three things. The first one would be being instrumental part of and helping to establish the first ever state association for Oklahoma. I feel like moving forward is we advocate for adult education, being part of a state association or having a body like a state association can help you move things a lot more effectively. So, you know, leaving a footprint in that area that we can build on and in the future, I think it's gonna be big. The second thing would have to, would have to be my correspondence with both Senator Mullin and Governor Stitt about the need to invest in adult education. I think I was able to get them to see the link between investing in adult education and a healthy economy. And I think that, you know, the narrative, is not, is not very strong when it comes to that area. I don't think that, you know, people really understand how those are directly correlated. The last thing would be my interview that I did on Channel 5 during Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. I feel like I did a good job as far as representing not just the SAAEF fellowship but my organization as well and, having the public understand what adult education is and where they can go to get help. So those were, those were the things that I think were my biggest accomplishments.
What would you like to say to someone in the field who is unsure if they have what it takes to be an advocate?
Christopher Myers: OK, so my advice to anybody who's in the field and they're unsure if they have what it takes to be a student advocate or to be part of the advocacy fellowship, my advice would be to go for it. Don't overthink this. If you have a passion for the population that you service, as well as a passion for the work, I feel like that's enough. That's enough for the field that you need. The fellowship itself will equip you with all of the resources that you need to be successful. So it begins with that passion, and that fuel to service the population that we service on a day to day basis, wanting to see sustainable changes made in their lives and creating different paths of revenue for these changes to take place. The fellowship is a key way to do that. So yeah, definitely go for it.
