January 30, 2009 ... Calvin Miles, former president of VALUE's Board of Directors, passed away on January 22, 2009. He had been in a coma for three weeks after suffering a heart attack

Calvin was president of the VALUE Board of Directors from 2002 - 2008. He was a forceful advocate for adult learnr involvement for more than 20 years. Calvin was one of the first adult learners to be on the staff of a local literacy program. For many years, he worked for Literacy Parnters, Inc., formerly Literacy Volunteers of New York City. Calvin testified before the United Nations General Assembly and the New York City Council. He appeared on the Today Show in 1993. He served on the New York City Council's Advisory Committee on Literacy and the national Advisory Board of SCALE, the Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education.

John Gordon, a close friend of Calvin’s wrote: “Everyplace he went from conferences and workshops, rallies and protests, to the living rooms of students, Calvin spoke up for the importance of student voice ... In particular, he argued consistently and [convincingly] for students' right to play a significant role in shaping their own education.”

David Greene, a close friend and former tutor wrote: "Calvin believed in and acted upon the idea that all voices are important, and that listening and learning from others is essential.   He travelled to Latin America in November and December 2008 to learn from their literacy campaigns and popular education programs. This made him more determined than every to end illiteracy in the United States.  His legacy is the fight for adult education tied to social justice, and if he were here he would be pushing us to be active in a campaign to end illiteracy."

He is survived by his companion, Lynn Sherman of Brooklyn, NY; his children, Alvin Miles of Queens, NY, Calvin Miles Jr.  of Charleston, SC, and Tina Brown of Baltimore, MD; his sister, Lillian Miles Harding of Pleasant Hill, NY; and his brothers, Marshall Miles and Michael Powell, all of Gaston, SC and Charlie Miles Jr. of Durham, NC; six grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.