strengthening literacy in the downtown eastside -dtes adult … · 2016-03-02 · capilano...

2015

DTES ADULT LITERACY ROUNDTABLE Simon Fraser University Vancouver Public Library Capilano University Aids Vancouver Frontier College Vancouver Community College YWCA Vancouver Vancouver School Board University of British Columbia Lookout Society Open Door Group Aboriginal Front Door Strathcona Community Centre Neighbourhood House Vancouver Writers Exchange Wish Drop-in Centre Carnegie Community Centre Writer’s Exchange

[STRENGTHENING LITERACY IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE -DTES ADULT LITERACY ROUNDTABLE GOALS] The Downtown Eastside Adult Literacy Roundtable is a coalition of adult educators working in the Downtown Eastside (DTES). The Roundtable understands literacy as having the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate fully in our lives. The group has been collaborating since 2005 to share skills, ideas, support and information. In 2010, the Roundtable organized a community literacy plan and continually implements the plan every year. The group meets in the afternoon on the last Monday of every month and welcomes new members committed to strengthening literacy in the DTES. The Roundtable acknowledges and honours the fact that our community lies within the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people.

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DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable

Downtown Eastside – DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable

Literacy on Downtown Eastside community goes far beyond reading and writing; rather, literacy means

being able to enjoy and participate in everyday life.

Project Steward: WISH Drop-In Centre Society

Literacy Outreach Coordinator: William Booth

Prepared and written by William Booth, Sandra McKay in collaboration with DTES Literacy Roundtable

This report covers from July 01, 2014 – June 30, 2015 with plans up to June 30, 2016.

Literacy Task Group

During the past year, the literacy task group in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) community has been

comprised of adult educators and a network of supporters who sit on the DTES Adult Literacy1

Roundtable and represent a wide spectrum of literacy/educational organizations in the DTES

community.

The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable also regularly communicates with a large network of supporters,

made up of individuals and organizations residing in and/or working in partnership with the community.

The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable is unique in that they are self-organized and have been coming

together since 2005 for the purpose of sharing skills, ideas, support and information. The work of the

Roundtable is organized through monthly meetings hosted by a rotation of its members. At these

meetings, members share new developments in their organizations and the community, as well as well

offer opportunities for professional development and support through workshops and guest speakers.

Community Context

The Downtown Eastside is a dynamic, vibrant, low-income Vancouver neighborhood located on un-

ceded Coast Salish Territory. Also known as ‘the Heart of the City’, the DTES has historically been a hub

of rich cultural life for Aboriginal, Chinese, Japanese, Latin American, Black, working class, and low

income peoples. The strong, community-driven DTES neighborhood prides itself on insider knowledge,

lived experiences, volunteerism, social justice efforts, multicultural diversity, unity and support and

offers opportunities for asset-based learning.

In the past year, a number of developments, issues and decisions have directly impacted people—both

positively and negatively-- living in the Downtown Eastside community, as well as the ability of

organizations to support literacy development.

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Some examples of positive impacts include:

The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable was one of 12 organizations chosen from 61 from across the province to participate in a series of workshops on social innovation for which they also received funding that enabled them to invite a community member to participate and convene two community consultations.

The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable in conjunction with UBC LE is the beneficiary of a grant from Chapman Innovation to develop and test an App for community members providing basic information which they requested. Community members will be hired to assist this project.

The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable continued to foster important connections between

educators and literacy organizations and participate in various community functions such as

Heart of the City, Alley Health Fair, Aboriginal Health Fair, etc.

In the face of ever increasing funding challenges The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable members

and supporters continue to offer and provide innovative and creative programs.

Despite relocation to other parts of the city to find affordable housing, many of former residents

still keep their connections strong with the DTES community through their ongoing participation

in its educational programs, services, advocacy work, artistic initiatives, and social life.

The number and enthusiasm of volunteers and students who support various literacy projects

organized by the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable remains high. Various innovative approaches

are used to support and show appreciation for these contributions, such as professional

development workshop series supported by the Arbutus Rotary.

We continue to support various functions mentioned.

Some examples of Negative Impacts include:

Traditional Adult Basic Education (ABE) offered by members of the DTES Adult Literacy

Roundtable and many organizations in the Downtown Eastside is under renewed threat. Shifts

towards austerity continue to influence decisions that make it more difficult for low income

learners to access free adult literacy education.

Budget cuts, housing shortages and gentrification, continue to rally activists and present

challenges for those providing education, training and literacy opportunities and limit ability to

create sustainable programs in the community.

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Some perceive continuing gentrification to result in less affordable housing and services for low-

income people. Some have moved to other areas in Vancouver and beyond in order to secure

affordable accommodation.

Budget cuts from Provincial and Federal Government, while emphasizing deficit reduction and

job creation, impact and cut initiatives and innovation of programs offered by The DTES Adult

Literacy Roundtable members and supporters and their ability to provide necessary and much

needed education, skill training and learning opportunities to the various sectors to which they

provide services.

While the number of individuals seeking opportunities for a grade 12 equivalent rises, the GED

program has been canceled within BC and thus, several GED program education centers are no

longer running. The result is a shortfall of educational opportunities to those most in need.

What was an expanded capacity of classrooms and larger computer labs of some organizations

such as UBC Learning Exchange, Union Gospel Mission, Harbour Light and DEEC to provide

additional learning opportunities has reversed and UGM and DEEC have been cut, while UBC

learning exchange is suffering from layoffs and a smaller budget.

The centralized model of employment services continues to challenge those seeking

employment. This shift into a ‘one roof employment service’ is problematic for those who seek

computer access and support from individualized employment service programs.

Changes to the policies around welfare and administrative procedures continue to exacerbate

systematic discrimination against low income people. For example, the requirement to

download more documents has resulted in increased barriers for those without regular access

to computers or for those with lower digital literacy levels.

These changes have placed emphasis on volunteer tutors and facilitators which without

adequate training are now filling roles and responsibilities that are the domain of educated

teachers and other highly trained workers.

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Community Development & Literacy Collaboration

In the past year, some of the important collaborations that have taken place in the Downtown Eastside

community to support literacy and the work of the task group have included:

The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable and community supporters met with Vancouver City

Managers to provide input in DTES Local Area Planning Process

Continuing opportunities for computer literacy training at UBC Learning Exchange, Carnegie

Centre, Downtown Eastside Education Centre, VCC and others provide opportunities for trained

educators/facilitators from these programs to support other community members/organizations

in accessing computers

With Raise-a-Reader funding the the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable continues to support

Books, Bags and Babies, the First Nations Languages Sharing Circle, Broadening Horizons

including computer skills and family literacy and Strengthening Community Capacity Bridging

Services and the Education Forum that was organized by the Roundtable and hosted by VCC.

An Education forum, organized by the the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable and hosted by VCC,

was held in September, 2014. Guests for both meetings and workshops Included among

others in regular Roundtable meetings and forums providing a connection with related services

available in the community. Guests included; Kory Wilson, Graham Webber, Michael Yue, from

various programs being offered at VCC, Richard Marquez from Lookout Society, Outlook Society,

H.A.V.E., Aha Media, VanCity, Lifeskills at Belkin House, First Nations Health Authority, Reboot

Vancouver, Vancouver Community Network, City of Vancouver. The forum was successful in

educating service providers in the DTES about access to education within the community.

The result of the Education Forum was a report titled Navigating Education in the Downtown

Eastside. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxkk9NpvR1L8aDRfQnF4NzVCV2M/view

The 2015 funding will continue to support Books, Bags and Babies and Broadening Horizons

including computer skills and family literacy and Strengthening Community Capacity Bridging

Services. The projected goals of Books, Bags, and Babies are: Break the cycle of family

illiteracy, promote the joy of reading to young children, create a positive association with

books for children and their parents, encourage parents to improve their own literacy

skills, introduce children and families to traditional aboriginal teachings and language, and

increase the level of family support.

The DTES Professional Development workshop series, with support from Arbutus Rotary,

continues to involve members, volunteer tutors and educators working with adult learners

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxkk9NpvR1L8aDRfQnF4NzVCV2M/view

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across the community. The Rotary grant supported the DTES Digital Technology Forum and DTES

Legal Access Forum.

Addressing Our Goals & Priorities

The literacy task group in the Downtown Eastside community continues to build on their literacy plan

“Strengthening Literacy in the Downtown Eastside”.

The two overarching priorities in the plan are to work together as a community and to value the self-

determination of community members. Within these overarching priorities, six literacy goals and

possible actions are outlined which guide the Roundtable’s efforts.

In the past year, the Literacy Outreach Coordinators, working in conjunction with the DTES Adult

Literacy Roundtable, have taken steps to address these literacy goals. The following table describes each

literacy goal, examples of how it was addressed (action taken), indicators of success, and any challenges

that may have been encountered along the way.

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1. Connect, Exchange Skills and Share Ideas

Goals for 2015 – new opportunities, challenges, issues, priorities

• Organize professional development Re: Methods of being a resilient adult educator. How to sustain this kind of work. Work-Life Balance – compassion, fatigue etc.

• Post URL links on website to facilitate sharing

• Develop website and use list-serve to access educational opportunities

• Expanded Roundtable website to include information on current events & programs

• Clarify where the Roundtable is connecting, exchanging skills and sharing ideas. There is a great

deal of work going on with members working with members and other organizations.


Literacy Goals

1. Connect, Exchange Skills and Share Ideas

2. Support Revitalization of Aboriginal Languages and Cultural Practices

3. Fund Low Income Resident Teaching and Learning Opportunities

4. Increase Awareness of Literacy Resources

5. Build Capacity to Support People with Learning Disabilities / Differences

6. Create Momentum through Neighbourhood Learning Themes and Events

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Partnerships are happening. Keep track of the work on the website and in other reports.

Action Taken • Continuing monthly Roundtable meetings

• Connecting to larger issues that impact education, such as COMPASS, LAPP, Alley Health Fair.

• Roundtable is bringing in speakers to monthly meetings for professional development. Roundtable rotates venue for meetings.

• Updating the Roundtable website (http://dteslit.ca) as well as the Downtown Eastside Learning

and Training Services Quick Reference Guide. We are currently verifying information from all organizations included in DTES Literacy Guide which continues to be requested to serve as information data for App project which will then be used to update website.

• Applied for and received Social Innovation award to promote Social Inclusion in Vulnerable

Populations. • In June, the Roundtable convened a meeting of representatives from 15 adult learning

organizations to share information about recent cuts to adult education programs and the consequences of these for adult learners hoping to upgrade their literacy and language skills for the purposes of work, further education, high school completion and community integration and participation. Three dominant themes emerged: the consequences of cuts to GED and ABE for access to training and employment for adults; the implications of cuts to literacy and ESL in the context of shifting post-secondary institution mandates, and the broader policy context and consequences of these changes for adults with the lowest incomes and lowest levels of literacy on DTES who are most affected by these cuts.

• Following this meeting, Literacy Roundtable member Dr Suzanne Smythe of the Faculty of

Education, Simon Fraser University compiled and edited “Policy changes and cuts to adult education programs in the lower Mainland, British Columbia: A situation report” which was subsequently submitted to the Ministry of Advanced Education. This is an important indication of our concerns.

• On 18 September DTES Literacy Outreach Coordinator William Booth, along with two other LOC

representatives from Vancouver, made a presentation to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. This Committee had recommended to the Government in 2013 to provide annual funding of $2.5 Million to Decoda Literacy Solutions, who fund our work. While the government delivered some of the recommended amount the short-fall of $.5 Million effects everything from healthcare, to employment to the economy as well as our ability to assist the community to participate in today’s BC jobs Plan. The LOC’s thanked the Committee for its past support, and requested they again renew their recommendation to government.

• On 08 April Vancouver Metro reported school budget cuts will hurt vulnerable students most: “Adult education centres will take a huge hit, with the Downtown Eastside and Hastings

http://dteslit.ca/

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Centres, closing completely. These inner city locations service Vancouver’s urban aboriginal community, which already suffers lower graduation rates.” These further funding cuts and policy changes are impacting the ability of Roundtable members to serve and meet learning needs of the community. Members of the Roundtable produced an Adult Basic Education Blog. You can read more about the impacts and cuts to Adult Basic Education at adultlearningmatters.wordpress.com

• Due to government cuts of adult education centers and implementation of high tuition fees for ABE, members if the Roundtable and other adult literacy educators and researchers created collaborative space for discussion. Adult Basic Education Blog: Adult Basic Education is a Basic Right at: https://adultlearningmatters.wordpress.com/ , as well as a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BasicEdBasicRight?ref=ts&fref=ts The purpose of this collaboration is to gather and share information from around the province about how charging high tuition fees for ABE will affect adult learners, programs and social and economic participation.

• As part of this exercise, in March, the Roundtable convened two community consultations. The

first Community consultation was held at Carnegie Centre and thanks to our colleagues at AHA media video and photographs are available at http://ahamedia.ca/DTES Literacy Roundtable Community Consultation Workshop on Mar 20 2015.

• Subsequently, a similar event was held at UBC Learning Exchange of which further details are available at http://ahamedia.ca/DTES Literacy Roundtable Community Consultation Workshop on Mar 25 2015.

Social service agency workers and community members gathered for these two community consultations to discuss and generate ideas around creating some kind of a hub, or information network, (yet to be defined) that will provide education, services providers and the community with a user-friendly and accessible way to share critical information about existing resources and tools related to education, social services, mental health support, legal resources and so on. With peer support it was suggested that, in the future, community members will be equipped to increase outreach to members of society who are the most isolated and vulnerable. This pilot community-led model will bring together multiple resources of various community-based agencies, secondary and post-secondary institutions into a cohesive ‘one-stop’ literacy resource servicing the entire community.

• Monday, May 4th, Official Opposition MLA and Advanced Education Critic, Kathy Corrigan, put

forward a motion calling on the BC Government to restore funding to Adult Basic Education. The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable was represented by Sandra McKay from VCC as part of a delegation of Educators and Educational Institutions from around the province that went to the legislature to support the motion.

***In spite of continued cuts and challenges to ABE as described in this report, Roundtable membership remains lively with a great deal of proactive participation.

https://adultlearningmatters.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BasicEdBasicRight?ref=ts&fref=ts

http://ahamedia.ca/DTES

http://ahamedia.ca/DTES

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2. Literacy Goal: Support Revitalization of Aboriginal Languages and Cultural Practices Goals for 2015 – new opportunities, challenges, issues, priorities

• Support Aboriginal programs in finding sustainable funding.

• Connect with Aboriginal educators and programs

Action Taken

• Maintain contacts with Aboriginal groups, organizations, partners and friends.

• Worked in collaboration with the Aboriginal Front Door to develop and deliver the First Nations

Languages Sharing Circle; some of the Raise a Reader funds allocated to this program enabled engagement of a weekly organizer/coordinator from community

• Raise-a-Reader funds also allocated the ‘Books, Bags & Babies’ at YWCA Crabtree Corner;

through crafts, storytelling, and drumming, program provides First Nations family with a connection to their culture in a positive learning environment

Indications of Success

• The Aboriginal Front Door, First Nations Languages Sharing Circle was facilitated by the same two Elders since it started in Sept. 2011; average attendance of 8 to 10 families on average. First Nations participants have shared that it’s a safe place for them to remember and share their language. There is a need for sustainable funding. (Note – As of June 30, 2015, the Raise – a –Reader funds will no longer be able to sustain this program).

• Books, Bags, and Babies is offered twice at the YWCA Crabtree The Books, Bags, and Babies program is an early Literacy Aboriginal program available to families in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside and surrounding areas. Two 10 week groups are held each year and facilitated by First Nation elders. The Books Bags and Babies support the literacy of aboriginal children in the early years developing in them a joy of reading and storytelling. The group encourages extended family members to attend such as grandparents who could be providing care for family member's children. The program not only encourages early literacy in children, but also ensures the caregivers attending are exposed to the written and spoken work. Parents bringing their children to Crabtree Corner face many barriers and very often struggle with literacy issues. Many have very negative feelings towards learning due to the legacy of the residential schools, and many have a sense of shame and fear in relationship to learning. This

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can make it very difficult and intimidating for them to encourage literacy in their children.

• More community members are aware of Aboriginal languages and cultural practices in the neighbourhood. Partnerships are formed; languages and cultures are nurtured in ways that Aboriginal groups define; participation rates have steady increase over time.

3. Literacy Goal: Fund Low Income Resident Teaching and Learning Opportunities Goals for 2015 – new opportunities, challenges, issues, priorities

• Create more partnerships and partnership opportunities.

• Review the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable definition of literacy.

Action Taken

• Hourly living wages paid to community members for their work in the following roles; Social Innovation workshop series paid honoraria to community members engaged in community consultations. Community members hired to assist with testing of APP. Literacy Outreach Coordinator has written references letters for these community members as they seek further/additional employment

• WISH donates admin fees back to Roundtable

• 40% of implementation funds spent funding low income resident teaching and learning opportunities in the community

4. Literacy Goal: Increase Awareness of Literacy Resources

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Goals for 2015 – new opportunities, challenges, issues, priorities

• Access assistance from Learning Exchange for distribution of guide • Work with students and community members to create an App using the Roundtable Guide as

well as various community resources

• Hire a person for social media

• Investigate what type of social media to use to give more educational access to students

• Have a workshop on social media via Rotary Club Important to reach DTES students through easy access to FB, Twitter, etc. (Is twitter the way to go?)

• Access grant writing opportunities through VPL data-base

Action Taken

• Distribution of over 1600 copies of the “Literacy, Learning, Training and Education Services in the DTES” quick reference guide through the Carnegie Newsletter and at various community events

• In February of this year the DTES Literacy Roundtable, in collaboration with UBC Learning

Exchange, and funded by Arbutus Rotary, hosted the Downtown Eastside Digital Technology Access Forum: Navigating Technological Needs, Challenges, Innovations and Opportunities. This forum arose out of an expressed desire from community members and community organizations to work together to discuss and potentially create a unified plan to address the digital divide. Comments by presenters including: William Booth of DTES Literacy Roundtable; Mark Smith of UBC Learning Exchange; Elder Doris Fox of Musqueam Nation; Adrian Wong of Free Geek Vancouver; April Smith of AHA MEDIA; Roland Clarke of DTES Street Market; Lucy Alderson of Capilano University Community Development & Outreach; and Richard Marquez of Lookout Emergency Aid Society can be found at http://ahamedia.ca/2015/01/28 . The forum determined that successful solutions for these matters must not treat digital exclusion as an isolated matter, as it is entwined in all of the lives and complex situations of those it affects. As such it is beyond the means of any one person or organization to take on independently. The current City of Vancouver digital access strategy outlines a 4-year plan with prospects of rolling out free Wi-Fi as early as Spring 2015. (from: http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/City_of_Vancouver_Digital_Strategy.pdf )

http://ahamedia.ca/2015/01/28

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/City_of_Vancouver_Digital_Strategy.pdf

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5. Literacy Goal: Build Capacity to Support People with Learning Disabilities/Differences Goals for 2015 - new opportunities, challenges, issues, priorities

• Investigate Learner Assessments Cost, Location Assessments at Open Door – Work BC? Criteria? Find out more. Assessments at UBC

Assessments at Simon Fraser - Contact Suzanne Smythe

• Arrange for the new library to house software and other resources related to helping people with learning disabilities/differences so all organizations can use it

Action Taken

• Discussion around Learning Disabilities and organizations who offer these services at Education Forum and in the report titled Navigating Education in the Downtown Eastside. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxkk9NpvR1L8aDRfQnF4NzVCV2M/view

• Working with Work BC and Open Door Group to work together with certain students, assessments, funding for education.

6. Literacy Goal: Create Momentum through Neigbourhood Learning Themes and Events Goals for 2015 - new opportunities, challenges, issues, priorities -More participation.

• Plan and host community forum “Strengthening Community Capacity” at VCC in

September, 2014. The Roundtable and Forum Steering Committee with host over 170 service providers in the DTES and discuss practice, gaps, referrals, needs etc. at VCC.

Action Taken

• Roundtable members, who represent both community-based organizations, secondary and post-secondary learning institutions and are instructors and programmers working directly with community members, convened Downtown Eastside Education Forum: navigating learning needs, challenges, innovations and opportunities to discuss the impact of low-


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literacy on low-income people’s ability to continue their education. Support for this initiative came from Raise-a-Reader and VCC. Navigating Education in the Downtown Eastside https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxkk9NpvR1L8aDRfQnF4NzVCV2M/view

Programs

The Writers' Exchange makes literacy exciting and accessible for inner-city kids through free mentoring

and creative writing projects. All of our free after-school and summer programs take place at the

Writers' Exchange home-base, located at 881 East Hastings Street. VancouverWE.com

Vancouver Community College, in addition to offering a full range of certificate, diploma and continuing

education classes, is the largest college provider of adult literacy programs in Vancouver. It has a long

and proud history of collaborating with a wide assortment of community constituency groups. Some

recent partners include: the Lookout Society, the Salvation Army, the Vancouver Public Library, the

Vancouver Board of Education, Safeway, Coast Mental Health and the YWCA.

The Basic Education Department is the Adult Literacy Fundamental Level program at VCC. It

encompasses beginning skills up to approximately Grade 9. Currently, the department offers

classes in fundamental level English, Math and Computer Studies. It offers both group-based

and self-paced continuous intake classes at the Broadway Campus. Basic Education has well-

established adult learning centres at the Vancouver Public Library’s Downtown Branch and at

Salvation Army’s Harbour Light, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in the Downtown

Eastside. More recently, we have started adult learning centres at First Place, a residence

operated by the Lookout Society, and at the Coast Club House, operated by Coast Mental

Health. First Place offers a combined literacy/numeracy/basic computer skills class. This friendly

small-group class offers reading, writing, mathematics and basic computer instruction up to the

grade nine level.

College and Career Access - Adult Upgrading courses are offered at the Intermediate (Grade

10), Advanced (Grade 11) and Provincial(Grade 12) levels for students wishing to earn credit or

obtain academic prerequisites leading to high school completion and the BC Adult Graduation

Diploma. Students can complete prerequisites: (1) for entry into institutions such as

BCIT, Langara, Kwantlen, etc., (2) in preparation for entry into other VCC programs (e.g.

Pharmacy Technician, Practical Nursing, or Electronics) or (3) for entrance into academic, career,

or technical programs.


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Intermediate Program for Youth: Broadway Youth Resource Centre offers an Intermediate ABE

Certificate Program (Grade 10) and Advanced ABE courses (Grade 11) at the Broadway Youth

Resource Centre. The ABE Youth Program offers individualized and self-paced instruction in

English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies in a structured and supportive educational

setting that allows youth to achieve their academic goals to develop the skills to be productive

and responsible individuals. The Youth Program prepares students to enter adult graduation

programs, public secondary schools, career and skills training programs and/or employment.

Essential Skills for College and Career Success at the VCC Downtown Campus (250 West Pender)

offers:(1)Education and Career Planning; Self Assessment, Career Explorations and Interview

Skills, (2) College Success: Active Learning, Study Skills, Goal Setting, (3) Computer skills: Word,

Excel, and Windows. These courses are being offered in a flexible format that includes self-

paced study and scheduled courses at various times to suit the student. Courses are tuition free

(college application, student association and college initiative fee are charged).

The Simon Fraser Faculty of Education supports adult and community literacy education by

training undergraduate students in literacy education methodologies, offering supervised

practicum placements in community organizations, carrying out research projects on issues

related to adult literacy and learning, and collaborating with literacy organizations to offer

workshops and events that support their work.

The Community Education Program, Lifelong Learning, Simon Fraser University manages a

broad array of community and professional programs, aimed at strengthening community

capacity and increasing access to the university for a diverse range of adult learners. Working in

partnership with the Carnegie Community Centre Association and the Carnegie Community

Action Project, SFU's Community Education Program offered a series of workshops focused on

Community Capacity Building to a group of 12 learners. Topic areas included Community Asset

Mapping; Communicating with Government; and Building Allies. The group is highly engaged,

and has recently begun implementing a project to build connections and relationships between

the DTES and other communities in the region, with the aim of humanizing the neighbourhood

in the face of increasing pressure from gentrifying forces. The challenge, as always, is

sustainability. Our goals for 2015 include working to identify new opportunities for continuing

this important series, and working in partnership with community organizations to expand and

strengthen this approach to community literacy and capacity building as appropriate.

Carnegie Learning Centre, Capilano University is a community-based learning centre operated

in partnership between the Community Development and Outreach Department of Capilano

University and the Carnegie Community Centre. They offer one to one and small group tutoring

in reading, writing, esl, math and computer skills for community residents. They also assist

community members with emergency literacy tasks such as resumes, job search computer skills,

online welfare applications, reading and understanding official letters and documents, etc. This

program also does literacy outreach at Oppenheimer Park and at community events.

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In the past year the 50 volunteers involved with Carnegie’s Learning Centre, in collaboration

with Capilano University, have committed 8000 hours of their effort to support drop-in

participants.Some half of these folks require immediate literacy assistance to access

government programs only available online; apply for jobs, prepare for trade programs analyze

information and various other reasons to enable them to improve their ability to participate

more fully in community life and activities.

The Strathcona Family Literacy program has been working with immigrant parents and

grandparents in the Strathcona community for eleven years. They offer a weekly class with

language instruction, computer workshops, presentations by community groups and service

providers, cooking demonstrations and field trips. Childcare is provided. The program is a

partnership between Capilano University, Strathcona Community Centre and the Vancouver

Public Library, Strathcona Branch.

WISH Learning Centre is open three nights a week a the WISH Drop In Centre, a resource centre

for women working in the sex trade in the DTES. Capilano University and the WISH Drop In

Centre Society have partnered in this outreach literacy and upgrading centre for over 14 years.

The WISH Learning Centre provides support to women maintaining and developing their literacy

and community participation skills and assists women to bridge to further educational

opportunities.

The UBC Learning Exchange, University of British Columbia, was created to make mutually

beneficial connections between the Downtown Eastside and UBC. Literacy programs at the

Learning Exchange include ESL and computer workshops led by local residents, and a wide

variety of volunteer and informal education opportunities. This centre has been impacted by

budget cuts both to programs and layoff of Staff

Humanities 101 offers three non-credit university-level courses at UBC for people living in the

DTES and surrounding areas who have a lust for knowledge and education, especially those

whose economic situation, academic experience, financial and social well-being are

compromised. With respect to their low incomes, all students receive course materials, bus

tickets, meal vouchers and childcare, as well as student cards which give access to UBC

amenities. These courses offer Writing, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Music, Art, Sociology,

Popular Culture, First Nations Studies, Literature, History, Politics, Gender Studies, Law,

Architecture and more.

The Downtown East Education Centre will be closed as of 30 June 2015. It is a small storefront

school offering tuition-free courses to eligible adults. We are part of the Vancouver School

Board and offer courses in a variety of subject areas such as English, math and computers.

These courses range from lower levels to high school graduation.

Friends of the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable

Aboriginal Front Door

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Aboriginal Wellness Center Native Education College ARA Mental Health Rain City Housing Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Vancouver Coastal Health South Vancouver Neighbourhood House DTES Neighbourhood House Potluck Catering- Potluck Café Society The Native Courtworker & Counselling Association of BC Decoda The Portland Hotel Society Kitsilano Neighbourhood House Mosaic Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC Gallery Gachet Kiwassa House Tradeworks BC Educacentre College Megaphone Magazine Reach Community Health Centre Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS) Vancouver Second Mile Society Watari Counselling & Support Services Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Battered Women’s Support Services Carnegie Action Committee Atira Women's Resource Society The Bloom Group Gordon House Youth S.E.A.R.Ch. NICCSS PHS Community Services Society VPD The Vancouver Community Network Care of Multi-diagnosed Patients in the Urban Core Aboriginal Child & Family Support Services Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Vancouver Co-operative Radio Pace Hope in Shadows City Centre Care Society Vancouver Native Health Society Strathcona Business Improvement Association YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society Frontier College LOVE - Leave Out Violence BC Housing Vancouver Status of Women The Resist Collective

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Lookout Society Open Door Group AIDS Vancouver Community HIV/AIDS Coalition Aha Media The Binners Project VanCity City of Vancouver

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strengthening literacy in the downtown eastside -dtes adult … · 2016-03-02 · capilano...

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