[Reading-hall-of-fame] Third Act

[David P. Reinking]

Dear Hall of Fame Friends and Colleagues,

                I’m an active member of a group—a movement actually—that might interest many of you.  It’s called Third Act<https://thirdact.org/why-third-act/>, a name that fits its purpose to engage concerned citizens over 60 in improving the world for future generations.  Third Act originated and currently operates in the U.S., but there might be similar movements for those of you who live elsewhere.

The movement, thus far, hasn’t incorporated literacy specifically into its agenda, but there is an educators’ working group that I have joined, and there are educational/literacy dimensions of the causes it has taken on.

Third Act has mobilized nationally on two big issues:  climate change (e.g., collective action to suspend business with big banks funding projects that increase our dependence on fossil fuels) and protecting and advancing voting rights (e.g., a “senior-to-senior” program in which members contact high school seniors reminding them to become registered voters).

But, Third Act’s agenda is evolving in these and other areas as it listens to its members.  For example, when I joined the working group, a team leader interviewed me to learn what causes and issues I was most committed to and how I might contribute.

Third Act is a good fit for me as a parent, grandparent, and educator.  It has mitigated my sense of frustration, helplessness, and sadness about trends that threaten democracy and livability on the planet for future generations. It also allows me to reclaim the idealistic activism of my “First Act” as an undergraduate in Chicago during the late 1960s. Likewise, it allows me to counter the now disturbing erosion of the progressive gains from that era.  And, it has been encouraging and interesting to meet and work with like-minded seniors who will not accept the inevitability of a dark future nor a legacy of complacency.

If any of this resonates with you, you might consider joining Third Act, or similar movements.

David

David Reinking
Adjunct Professor of Education
Dept. of Language and Literacy Education
Mary Frances Early College of Education
University of Georgia
http://www.davidreinking.info<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttp-253A-252F-252Fwww.davidreinking.info-252F-26data-3D01-257C01-257Clg40-2540txstate.edu-257Cd43f2d8241584a0ca81608d50aa7b5c9-257Cb19c134a14c94d4caf65c420f94c8cbb-257C0-26sdata-3Dji-252FNnlYJBKtAbG0lEfttgJUZxsi6BinXvN1OaPMm5Uc-253D-26reserved-3D0&d=DwMFAg&c=Ngd-ta5yRYsqeUsEDgxhcqsYYY1Xs5ogLxWPA_2Wlc4&r=gUnMZ3Xw_juA4Q4q8MsCC_IKO_x_v_mImmv8TQcuKAs&m=UedHPeoTlZDAK_Y35nsdvaZ1tvfVsAXM3l43vQNlACI&s=5qWqgpYErOqlfng1rqjL41TgwAGTYZ6oMB15g45RwUc&e=>/
orcid.org/0000-0001-8040-6673

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