Speaker: Kristin Erhard
What inspired you to become part of SAAEF?
Kristin Erhard: Hello, my name is Kristin Erhard, and I am the North Carolina State Advocate for Adult Education fellow, and I was inspired to become a part of SAAEF because of my passion for adult education. I've been an educator in the field of adult education since 2010, primarily teaching English as a Second Language, but I've also worked in correctional facilities, teaching GED classes and high school equivalency. and I've also served as an advisor to adult education students. So I've seen firsthand how critical it is to provide access to quality education and support for adults who are seeking to improve their lives and achieve their goals. So being part of this fellowship has helped me to amplify those voices through sharing, collecting and sharing student success stories across the state, reaching out and being in touch with the state director, and pushing for systemic changes through, policy advocacy. One of my biggest accomplishments during this fellowship was helping to raise awareness about the challenges facing adult learners and the importance of securing and maintaining funding for adult education, and I feel like because of my role as an instructor with boots on the ground and being at the front line working with students directly, I was able to really capture a variety of narratives from students and share those with COABE and also with our state association. I also got a mayoral proclamation from the mayor of my city, Asheville, North Carolina for Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and shared the Mayoral Lead the Way toolkit with her. And I've put in a request for next year, in advance, for a gubernatorial proclamation from Josh Stein, the governor of North Carolina. That was something that, looking back, I should have done sooner. When I went to request that proclamation, it wasn't far enough in advance. So to prepare the next fellow for 2025, I submitted that proclamation request already. Let's see. One thing that I'd like to say to someone in the field of adult education, advocating is you don't have to be perfect with advocacy. You just have to have a passion for it and a willingness to learn and grow, and for me, it was really helpful to meet with my mentor. We met virtually and she shared resources. For example, a draft of the proclamation request she put in, explained that process to me, talked to me more about what she accomplished in her year as a fellow, and gave me a little bit more perspective. I think I started out the fellow with this fellowship feeling a little overwhelmed thinking I needed to make big sweeping changes and not really knowing how to do that, never having gotten in front of legislators or contacted legislators about these issues. And while I can't say that I was wildly successful in that area, I now have a better understanding of how to navigate that space, and I have heard and learned a lot from people who came before me. So I would encourage future, advocates to find a partner in advocacy, a mentor, to learn from and troubleshoot with, to navigate, and to remember that you have a unique perspective as an educator and advocate, and your voice can make a meaningful impact. You can start small, you can build relationships, and remember that every effort counts and can create change in the long run. Thanks
What were your biggest accomplishments during your SAAEF fellowship?
Kristin Erhard: To repeat, my greatest accomplishment during this fellowship was collecting and sharing stories, student success stories from across the state. So through a listserv, I was able to reach instructors at community colleges across North Carolina, and they sent me a variety of student success stories which we shared with COABE and that also elevated through our social media platforms. And I'd also say that submitting a request for proclamations, and learning more about how to communicate with legislators was another great accomplishment. I still feel that I under-accomplished in that area, but relative to a year ago, I have made great strides.
What would you like to say to someone in the field who is unsure if they have what it takes to be an advocate?
Kristin Erhard: I would say that every effort counts no matter how small, and that advocacy is a long play, and starting small and building relationships is really important to the success of your efforts. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to know everything. Find a mentor would be my top piece of advice, find someone who's come before you so you can ask questions and get some context in mind.
