(September 20, 2004, Indianapolis, IN) — David Godsted, director of outreach at Indianapolis-based Networks Financial Institute (NFI) will address a global conference of educators in Oklahoma City, October 8-9. Godsted will speak during the ProLitereacy Worldwide Annual Conference about the role of advocacy in funding state dollars for literacy and the financial literacy initiatives Networks Financial Institute has implemented.
Prior to joining Networks Financial Institute (NFI), Godsted led efforts of the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy that resulted in a 50 percent increase in literacy funding from the state legislature. Godsted will share the Coalition’s strategies, tactics lessons learned with educators representing K-12, higher education and vocational training. “It wasn’t an overnight victory, but through coalition building, we were able to overcome some of the isolation individual districts and organizations struggle with, and achieve a significant increase in dollars available to fund state literacy programs,” Godsted said. “Strength in Numbers – What Can You Achieve Through State Level Advocacy” is the title of Godsted’s first address on Friday, September 8.
On Saturday, October 9, Godsted will provide conference attendees with an overview of Networks Financial Institute, an Indianapolis-based non-profit dedicated to serving as a catalyst of change in the financial services arena. Godsted will discuss the process of connecting Indiana State University expertise and the Indiana school system with the intent to develop, pilot and implement a statewide financial literacy curriculum. “It is important for school systems to not only recognize the significance of incorporating financial literacy into the curriculum, but to realize that implementation is possible and that programs are in place,” said Liz Georgakopoulis, executive director of Networks Financial Institute.
ProLiteracy Worldwide is a nonprofit international literacy organization based in Syracuse, NY, that was formed by the 2002 merger of Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. ProLiteracy Worldwide is now the oldest and largest nongovernmental literacy organization in the world and pursues a mission of sponsoring educational programs that help adults and their families acquire the literacy practices and skills they need to function more effectively in their daily lives.
Networks Financial Institute was founded in 2003 with a grant from the Lilly Endowment. The non-profit organization serves as an outreach program of Indiana State University and focuses efforts on improving financial literacy, advancing important financial issues impacting Indiana and funding research. Networks Financial Institute is headquartered in Indianapolis with bureaus on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind., Washington, D.C., and a yet-to-be-determined international location in one of Europe’s financial markets. For more information about Networks Financial Institute, visit
www.networksfinancialinstitute.org