Meet the Board: Valerie Currie

How long have you been with the Board? Four years

What inspired you to get involved? I love the work that you do. You are so inspiring and really motivating to so many upgrading programs. You have fabulous resources and the advocacy you do on the part of upgrading programs and people who need upgrading is professional, thorough and very much needed. Love your insights on trends in the field and love that everything you do you share with all programs that have anything remotely to do with literacy, employment or general advancement of people who struggle with literacy issues.

Why is literacy important to you, or how do you see it being connected to the "big picture" of the work you do? Literacy is very important. In my mind, it is what gives people the power to determine their own lives. Education, formal or informal, leads to knowledge, which leads to choice, choice leads to power. Power is what we all need to determine the direction of our own lives. Education = Choice = Power = Self Determination

Can you share one thing you've done, learned, or been involved in as a result of being on the Board? I've learned so much. Learned current trends in government initiatives, employment trends, diversity issues. Increased awareness of resources for upgrading programs and how organizations use them. Linkages with workforce development have been very beneficial.