ReadingtheFuture:PlanningtoMeetEdmonton’sLiteracyNeedsOctober27,2015,ARC,1:30to4:00pm

1. WelcomeandintroductionsDonnaLemieux,ChairoftheEdmontonLiteracyCoalition,setthestageforthesession,bypresentingafewfactstoframethediscussion.• Overthelast10years,Canadianliteracyrateshavedropped:in2003werankedaboveaverage

comparedtoothercountries,nowwearejustaverage

• ThepercentagesofCanadianswithbelowdesiredliteracyandnumeracyratesarestaggering:49%forliteracyand55%fornumeracy

• Inthe2013OECD(OrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment)surveyCanadaisrankedeleventhintheworld,behindtheSlovakRepublic,EstoniaandAustralia

• ThesurveyalsoshowedthatCanadianyouth(16to24years)areunder-performinginliteracycomparedtotheirOECDcounterparts

ShestatedthattheCoalitionwillsharetheworkthatcomesoutofthesessionwiththeattendeesandthatitwillhelptosetprioritiesforthenext12to24months.2. Keynotespeaker:BriannaOlson,iHumanYouthSociety

Manager,OutreachServices/SocialWorkerBriannadescribedtheworkofiHumanYouthSociety.iHumanengagesyouthinexpressingtheirlifeexperiencesthroughart,anddescribedsomeoftheunderlyingfactorsintheirlivesthatcontributetoliteracychallenges.Sheencouragedotherorganizationstocomeandseewhattheydo,andindicatedtheywelcomereferralsandopportunitiestocollaborate.3. InnovationsandgapsaddressedInsmallgroups,participantssharedinnovationsintheirrespectiveorganizationsinrecentmemory,identifyingwhatgapwasbeingaddressed.Innovationsincluded…

• neworpartiallynewprogramsorservices• moreeffectivewaysofreachingpeople• newresources• neworchangedpolicies,oradvocacyforpolicychange

Innovationsaddressingcoordination,collaboration,andaccessGap:Overarchingstrategicpolicyorpracticedevelopmentacrossmulti-sectorsintheareaoflearning(CityofLearners)Innovation:Over-archingfocuson:collaboration,communication,strategicplanning

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Gap:Nodirectoryofservices(allparticipants)Innovation:EdmontonImmigrantServicesAssociation’swebsiteliststheirprogramsandservicesforimmigrants Gap:Multiplebarriersforfamiliesaccessingprograms(CentreforFamilyLiteracy)

Innovation:

• Connectingwiththecommunityoutwheretheyare• Workingwithorganizationsthatliteracymaynotbetheirprimaryfocusandhowtheycan

enhancetheliteracythatdoesexist• Askingcommunitieswhattheywant/need,notalwayswhatwewanttooffer

Gap:Geographicaccess,easy,close,walkableorreadypublictransit(JaniceMelnychuk,VibrantCommunitiesandPovertyEliminationTaskForce)Innovation:Communityhub–socialconversationsettingforpractice,communityspaceforlanguagelearning,builtinchildcarespace,placebasedapproachGap:Functionalliteracyprogram(StolleryFoundation)Innovation:FundedcollaborativeapproachwithexistingagenciesGap:Howwelldoourprogramsmeetourcommunitylearningneeds(West-CentralAlberta,CommunityAdultLearningProgramRegionalSupport)Opportunity:Cultureofcollaborationtoprovidesupport,fundingandresourcesforcommunityengagementeventstolearnlocalaboutlocallearningneeds.Gap:Lackofcommunicationamongstliteracyorganizations(P.A.L.S.)Innovation:

• CreationofEdmontonLiteracyCoalitionandLiteracyWorks• Promoteknowledgeviajointventure• Hostingworkshopsontopicsrelatingtoliteracybringorganizationstogether

InnovationsaddressingbroadissuesofpovertyandculturalknowledgeGap:Childcare–oftennotavailablewhichlimitswhoprogrammingreaches(Groupconversation)Innovation:commondirectoryofservicesGap:Transitaccessforyouth(CityofEdmonton)

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Innovation:Distributingyouthtransitpassesthroughsocialservicesanddiscussionofloweringyouthpassrate.InnovationsaddressingliteracyamongFirstNationsyouthandadultsGap:Povertyandlackofculturalknowledge(YellowheadTribalCollege)

Innovation:• FoodbankestablishedoncampusfundedbyCollege• FoundationcoursesinFirstNationsculture• Elders,ceremoniese.g.feasts,sweatsaspartofprogram

Gap:LackofknowledgeofservicesandresourcesforFirstNationsyouthandadults

Innovation:• AppliedforgranttoidentifyAboriginalyouthandadultservicesandresourcesforliteracy• UofApartnershiptoidentifygapsinservices

Gap:LowliteracyandnumeracyskillsamongFirstNationspeople.

Innovation:• FourDirectionsBasicLiteracyandEssentialSkillsprogramforadults(16weeks)

Gap:LackofopportunitiesforadultslearningCree

Innovation:ProjectthroughBissellCentretohelpAboriginaladultslearnCreeInnovationsaddressingliteracyneedsamongforadultnewcomersGap:LowliteracyinSomalicommunity–barriers–childcare,transportation,andisolation(SomaliCanadianWomenandChildrenAssociation)

Innovation:CreatednewprograminpartnershipwithMennoniteCentre

Gap:AlternativeEnglishLanguageLearningopportunitiesaccessibilityfornewcomers(Candora)

Innovation:Conversationkitchens–cookingandELLessentialskillsandinterculturallearning.Gap:Newcomerparentsinschoolstrugglewithcomputeruse.(EdmontonImmigrantServicesAssociation)

Innovation:• 10-week,1dayperweek–teachparentshowtousecomputers,check“schoolzone”sites,

teachthemaboutlibraryresources• AfterschoolprogramtohelpESLstudentswithhomework(5EPSschoolswith2instructors)

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InnovationsaddressingliteracyneedsforyouthandadultswithparticularlearningchallengesGap:Meetingspecialneedsadulteducation(TheLearningCentre)

Innovation:• Hiredaspecialneedscoordinatortoworkwiththispartofourlearners.• EstablishedrelationshipwithAlbertaMentalHealth.• Acquiredassistivetechnologytoputsupportsinplacetohelpadultsspecialneedslearners

succeedinreachingtheirgoalsGap:Supportingadultswithspeciallearningneeds(TheLearningCentre)

Innovation:• Workingwithagencieswhosupportadultswithmentalhealth/speciallearningneeds• Partneringwithsupportsforyouthwithspeciallearningneedsandtransitioningintoadult

literacylearnersGap:ReachinglowLiteracylearners(BobBruinsma)

Innovation:• LibrariesareanaturalfittohelpreachpeopleforELL/EAL• Librariesareseenasasafespace

Gap:FrancophoneLiteracy/ESLstruggle(TheLearningCentre)

Innovation:• FundingfromECALAandFacultéSt.JeanofferingprogrammingtodevelopstrongerFrench

literacyinitiallyGap:Adultliteracyfordeafcommunitydoesnotexist.(ConnectSociety)

Innovation:StartedaPreparationtoLearnersLicenseClassGap:Demandofstrugglingreadersinschoolsexceedteachercapacitytowork1on1withstudents(FrontierCollege)

Innovation:• FrontierCollegecontractsteacherstoworkinschoolsusingbenchmarkingandassessments–6-

8months50%moveup1gradecommitmentistwo30minutessessionsperweek.• UseUofAstudents,certifiedteachersandcommunityvolunteers.

Innovationsthataddresspost-secondaryandemploymentinterestsGap:Exposuretopost-secondaryeducationasachoiceandoption(UofA)

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Innovation:• USchoolprogramatUofAfor“atrisk,immigrant,lowersocio-economicfamilies”• OneweekstudyatUofAfollowingtheirregularcurriculumbutwithUniversityprofessorsand

resourcesGap:MeetingtheneedsofjobseekersatEPL(EdmontonPublicLibrary)

Innovation:• Attheresearchlevelforprogramdevelopment,internlibrarianhiredi.e.resumes,jobseeking,

applying.Gap:Lackemploymentskills(TheLearningCentre)

Innovation:LiteracyOutreachTowardEmployment(LOTE)programInnovationsthatincreaseresourcestosupportadultlearners/adultliteracyGap:Assessmenttoolsforadultliteracylearners(TheLearningCentre)Innovation:ReadForward,WriteForwardiscoming.Gap:Readingskills(West-CentralAlberta,CommunityAdultLearningProgramRegionalSupport)

Innovation:• UsingAlbertaReadingBenchmarksandReadForward.• Breakintochunkssetlearninggoals.

Gap:Language/literacyforcommunityeducationparticipants

Innovation:• Helpingparticipantswithcommunityprogrammaterialsthroughtutors• Financialliteracytutoringwithafinancialbenefituponprogramcompletion• Requiresreferral,closelinkage,qualifiedtutors

Gap:Earlyliteracyprogramsovercapacity(EdmontonPublicLibrary)

Innovation:Madeprogramsdrop-inGap:Lackofawarenessofwhatthelibrarydoes(EdmontonPublicLibrary)

Innovation:CreationofCommunityLibrarianpositions

Gap:Recognizingliteracyembeddedinotherprogramming(P.A.L.S.)Innovation:

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• Createdacommunitykitchencurriculumthatincorporatesnumeracyandliteracy.

Gap:Findingwaystosupportindividualneeds/wants(EdmontonCatholicSchool)Innovation:• Creatingflexibleschedulesforstudentsandteachers• Safetytotakerisks• Creatingaspaceforlearningandallowingchoiceaboutwhattheywant• Emphasisonamentor

Gap:Adultlearnerisolation/establishingcommunityoflearning(CentreforFamilyLiteracy)Innovation:• Helpingbuildacommunityoflearningvia“Learners’Clubs”• Speakerscomeandtalkabouttopicsofinterestsolearnersaren’tfeelingalone(mostreceive

onetoonetutorsupportanddon’tgettoknowotheradultlearners)• Helpsreducestigma,comingtoa“workshop”notsomuchaliteracyclass• Buildingonwhattheyneedandco-constructionknowledge

Gap:Needtosupportdevelopmentofcriticalcompetenciessolearnersdon’tgetscammed(TheLearningCentre)

Innovation:Civics101,creativewritingtowardsliteracy,Humanities101

Gap:Needmoreexperiencedtutorstosupporttradestudentsinbasicmathandscience(P.A.L.S.)

Innovation:• 10weekclassformathandsciencethroughP.A.L.S.runstwiceayear–8studentspersession• Developedcurriculum,foundbooksandtutor• Addressedschedulingchallenges• 36tutorswith1-3studentseach

4.1 OutstandinggapsIndividualgapsnamedAwarenessofresources,coordination

• Directoryofliteracyorganizationsforpotentialclients.• CommondirectoryofEAL/ELLservicesinspecificareasofthecommunity,e.g.,Northeast

Edmonton.• Newcomerswhomaynotbeawareofresources.• Connectingwithlearnerswithoutfamilies.• Sharingofresourcesamongstfacilitatorsandvolunteers.

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• Minimizingtheduplicationofservicesandresources.• DialoguebetweenK-12andadulteducators.• Corporatenon-profitpartnerships.

Accessibility,affordability

• Childcareforadultlearners;Affordablechildcare;Childcarespaces.• Childcareandtransportation;Lackoflatenighttransitservice;Affordabletransportation;

Transportation.• Programattendanceforbabies/childrenofteenmoms.• Teenprogramattendance.• Costofschoolfees.• Affordablehousing.

Availabilityoffunding,programs

• Whosedomain(department)doesthisbelongto…Health?Education?HumanServices?

Employment?Federal,Provincial,Municipal?• Lackofongoingfunding;Lackoffunding.• Lackofvolunteersforprograms.• Aboriginalliteracy.• Programsfornon-statusindividuals,e.g.,temporaryforeignworkers.• Basicadultliteracyprograms.• Supportforlearnerswithspecialeducationalneeds;Learnersupportservicesforadultswith

disabilities;Resourcesforsupportingmentalhealthissues,learningdisabilities.• Connectingwhonewcomerswhoareatsecondstagelearning;Programsforestablished

immigrants;Literacyservicesorprogramdevelopmentinyournativelanguagefirst.• Lackofwritingresources.• Recognizingneedfortechnologyliteracyasacommunity.

Other

• Devisingtransferoflearning.• Development• Research

4.2 SuggestedstrategiestoaddressgapsAwarenessofresources,coordination

Gaps IdeasAwarenessandcrosscollaborationofresources

• [Have]everyorganizationincludeapagewithlinkstootherorganizationsworkinginsimilarfields.

• [Create]posterwithwebsite–websitefilteredbylanguage-

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agenciesthathavestaffwhospeakcertainlanguages.• [Develop]morecross-organizationcollaboration,sharing

information.• [Establish]literacyhelplinerunbythecityorprovinceand

directsthemtotherightagencies(one-stopshop)• [Develop]collaborationwiththegovernment;government

partnersshouldexperiencetheprogram.• [Facilitate]dialogueandcommunicationbetweenfundersand

agencies.

Needforacentraldirectoryofliteracyservices

• [Show]sensitivitytoneedofadultswhocannotreadbrochureorwebsite,perhaps311or211,orvisualimages,SAGE.

• Namewhatotherlanguagesmaybespokenon[agency]site,culturallyrelevant.

• Namewhichservicesofferchildcare.• Usethepooloftrustedliteracypartnerstocreatedirectory,

partnerswhocontinuetocommunicateandbuildthislargernetwork.

• [Secure]reliableongoingfunding.Uncertaintyincreatingnewprograms.

Accessibility,affordabilityUncertaintyincreatingnewprogramsduetofunding

• [Secure]reliableongoingfunding.[repeatedfromabove].

Transportation • Utilizelibraryandcommunityhallstobringservicestoclientsratherthantheotherwayaround.

Childcare–affordability,knowledge,culturalcomponents,qualifications,awarenessoflaw,spaceandroomforchildcare,nighttime

• WorkcollaborativelywithEarlyChildhoodeducationprogramstogetpeopletodopracticums.

• Workwithneighbourhoodorganizationstousetheirspace.• [Arrange]childmindingwithparentsonsite.

Availabilityoffunding,programs OtherKnowledgeofrootcausesofincreasingrateofbelowdesiredlevelsofliteracy

• [Conduct]research,development,dialoguewithotherlearningsystems,i.e.K-12

Seealso,under60SecondAnonymousFeedbackbelow:

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60SecondAnonymousFeedback1. Whatworkedwellforyou?[Note:semi-colonsindicateseparatebutrelatedcomments]Overallprocess,keynoteaddress• Greatevent!Wellfacilitatedanddesignedtogenerateconnections,collaborationsandnewideas

thatservetoimproveservice/programstoadultlearners!• Facilitatedsession.• Goodorganizationandfacilitation.• Veryinformative.• Process• Thedialogueandformat.• Initialpresentationforcommonbackground.• iHumanspeaker

Smallgroupsharing Processofmixinggroups• Workinginsmallgroups(x2);Group

discussion;Interactivediscussions.• Lotsofdiscussiontime.• Thecollectionofideasfromothersatthe

tables;Sharingideasandexperienceswithotherorganizations;Meetingneighbours,hearingtheirconcerns,learning;Lovedengagingindialogue,learningaboutseriescurrentlyoffered;Brainstormingofideas.

• Groupsize;Stickynote.Groupworkedwell.• Networkingwithsomenewandfamiliarfaces;

Goodchancetonetwork;Networking;Collaboratingwithothers.

• Inter-groupdiscussion;Collaborativeapproachandmixedtableconversations.

• Appreciatethedivergenceofviewsonsomeissuesandthediversegroupofparticipants;Lovely.Likedmeetingotherpeople.

• Movingaroundtoseveralgroupsworkedverywell.

• Mixinguptheparticipantsbecausewegotamuchbroaderperspective.Heardabouthowotherswereabletohandleissuesindifferentways.

• Gettingsuchadiversityoffolkstogethertodiscussaveryimportantsocietalissue.

2. Whatcouldbestrengthened?Soundissues• Difficulttohearspeakersbecauseofprogramrunningconcurrently;Setting–acousticsandnoise

level;Roomacoustics;Couldn’thear–toonoisy;Thespacehadsomestruggles(thenoise).Itwashardtohearguestspeaker;Quietersurroundings;Moreprivatelocation(easiertohear).

• Improvespacetodelivermeeting;Unfortunatelythevenuewasnotconducivetotheworkweweretryingtodo;Location,location,location(x2).

• Alwaysprovideasoundsystemforamplification.

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Preparation Participation• Purposebehindthiskindofworkshop.• Providemoreinformationandquestions

beforesession;Advancenoticeofcompleteagendaforevent

• Wedoalotofsharinginformationanddiscussion.Preachingtothepreached.

• Increasedparticipation/attendancefromFirstNationsandMetisandimmigrant/newcomerliteracygroups

Length Clarityandplanfornextsteps• Eventmighthavebeenalittlelonger–

perhapsanotherhalfhour,nevertheless,Ifeeltheeventwasreallysuccessful

• Notenoughtime–onedayworkshop;Moretime;Moretimeneeded.

• Bitmoreguidanceregardinggapsidea–e.g.,morefundingisalmostcliché

• Lackofsolidoutcomesatthewrapupofthesession.

• Findingactualcollaborationstoplanandworkonwithgroups

• Whatarethenextsteps?

Other• Doitmoreregularly• Collaboration

3. Whatdoyouseeasthehighestpriority,lookingahead?

Continuetotalk,collaborate Takeaction• Continualcollaboration.• Morecollaborationandopportunitiestoshare

whatwearedoingwithothers.• Continuetonetworkandcollaborate.• Keeptalking.• Sharingofideasandcommunalconcernsis

helpfultobringchangeandmakefutureplans.• Weneedmoretothesemeetingstobringnew

andfreshideasandlearnmoreaboutwhatotheragenciesaredoingandifsomeoftheseideasapplytoourcentre.

• Adequatelocation.• Engagepeoplewithlivedexperience.• Focusgroupsonthemedtopics.• ConnectwithEndPovertyEdmonton.

• Prioritizeoneortwoissuestotakeforward.FunderslikeSCF,ECFcouldconsiderprojecttoshareprograminfobetweenagenciesandmakeinfoavailabletoclients.

• Actingonallthegreatsuggestionsthatwereshared.Workinggroupsneedtoseeaction.

• Continualadvocacy.• Ihavebeenatanumberofmeetingsdealing

withliteracygroupsinEdmontonwherewehavedonesimilarthings–brainstorming–aswehavedonetoday.Unfortunatelyallwehavedonewiththesegreatideasis“discuss”.However,notmuchcomesoftheseendeavors.Weneedsomesuccesswithallthisinfo.Whenwillthisoccur?

• Don’ttaketheinitiallistofgaps,generatedquicklyasacompletelist.

Awarenessofresources,coordination Accessibility,affordability• Makingservicesknownmorefullytoprovide

moreaccess.Thankyoufororganizingand• Moreresourcesforlowliteracylearners:

classes,childcare,transportation,individual

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leading.• Centraldirectoryofagencies/resources.• CentraldatabaseofallEAL/ELLopportunities

intheareatohelpsupportstudents.• Commondirectory• Resources• Informationandresourcesharing…

o Toparticipantso Amongagenciesandproviderso Tothepublicatlarge

support.• Sessionreaffirmedtransit,childcare,and

affordabilityasaccessbarrierstoliteracyandsuccess.

• Childcare• Languagebarriers,morediverselanguagesto

besupported.• Servicestonewcomersandothervulnerable

groups.

Availabilityoffunding,programs Research• Reducingliteracyratio.• Outreach• Programdevelopmenttoaddressneedsplus

responsivetochangingneeds.

• Researchregardingwhyliteracyrateslowinadults.

• Rootcauses.• Research