Grabill, b

Grabill, Jeffrey T. "The Written City: Urban Planning, Computer Networks, and Civic Literacies." City Comp: Identities, Spaces, Practices. Ed. Bruce McComiskey and Cynthia Ryan. Albany: State U of New York P, 2003. 128-140.

Grabill argues that effective engagement with civic life happens "not necessary on our terms" (128) through an outreach program but rather through broader, sustained efforts that include rhetoric and writing as part of the initiative (128-129). Do a larger needs-assessment project that foregrounds and places first and foremost the needs of communities/agencies and THEN bring in writing program to help out in that effort (135). 'Literacy' shouldn't be an end in and of itself but rather there needs to be a bigger picture of activism or job training or some such concrete end.

Grabill furthers the work begun in his book and also Mathieu's argument to stop making it all about the university personnel (faculty and students) and start putting agencies, their needs, their positionalities, first. In part a critique of a careerist orientation among ASL professionals.