“[The strategy] helps you advocate for yourself, without feeling overwhelmed or inferior to what someone might have. I wasn’t intimidated any more… it makes you feel like, ‘I can do this.’” – Alicia, Boston, MA
The Right Question Institute, Open Door Collective and Urban Alliance for Adult Literacy will bring together adult (foundational) educators from across the United States in a second, free pilot project beginning September 10, 2026. This collaboration will provide trainings from RQI and a community of practice (CoP) around the Right Question Strategy (RQS). The CoP builds on years of work with adult educators who helped shape RQI’s approach. These trainings and CoP have been specifically designed for adult foundational education practitioners (teachers, tutors, and administrators) providing instruction in basic literacy, adult basic education, adult secondary education, ESL/ESOL or other adult foundational education skills or knowledge.
The Right Question Strategy is grounded in decades of work with direct service providers in low-income communities around the country and was developed in partnership with adult foundational educators. By applying the Right Question Strategy, adult educators support adult learners to:
- Strengthen their ability to think and learn independently, in the classroom and beyond
- Feel new agency and confidence as they navigate systems and participate in decisions that affect them in a range of institutions
- Develop their skills to advocate for themselves and their families and take action on their own behalf
Practitioners who participate fully will be able to learn, practice, use and help adult learners to use the Right Question Strategy. This can help adult learners build essential skills for thinking, learning, and advocating for themselves and their families.
This pilot project requires attending two initial trainings by Right Question Institute staff, and regular attendance for eight months at monthly, one-hour, CoP meetings with co-leaders from the Urban Alliance for Adult Literacy and the Open Door Collective. It also requires participation in individual or small-group coaching, responding to occasional emails, and a one-hour interview at the end of the pilot project.
Submit your application here.
Link to application: https://forms.gle/BgiStuMaKTrskSs67
We strive to accommodate as many participants as possible. However, due to space and resource limitations, we are unable to accept all applicants. We want to thank you in advance for your interest and for sharing your goals with us.