ABC Life Literacy Canada

(Toronto, ON - January 12, 2012)  In early April 2011, ABC Life Literacy Canada visited Port Alberni, BC and Kamloops, BC on its first Life Literacy Tour. A road trip of sorts that allowed connection to members of the literacy community working directly with adult learners and an opportunity to connect with decision-makers and the media to tell the positive tales of how improving literacy helps improve a nation, it was a powerful and moving experience.

While in BC, we had the pleasure of participating in the LinK Adult Literacy Forum.  We met advocates and professionals who strive each day to better the lives of adults seeking assistance to improve their literacy skills.

Among them were the incredible people from Street School – an innovative adult learning centre providing targeted outreach and literacy programs for students on various learning journeys.  In operation since 2006, Street School has helped single mothers, unemployed skilled labourers, high school drops outs, students with previous learning disabilities and students recently released from correctional facilities.

In a mid-December email, Director Peter Grinberg shared with us memories and highlights from their May 2011 graduation banquet that included the two Valedictorian speeches from the ceremony.  Inspirational and persistent are just two words that come to mind when you read each of the speeches.

Champions of a true community and one-on-one approach, Street School and its outreach worker Tonia have helped countless individuals overcome obstacles on their path to living a fully engaged life.

As an outreach worker, Tonia embraces her advocates role and gives of herself with every encounter. To ensure students receive the right kind of support and assistance they need along their learning journey, Tonia begins by getting ot know the individual and connecting on a personal level.  In so doing, she is able to provide tailored support to them that matches their needs and goals.

From connecting them to education programs that are in line with their specific areas of interest or finding suitable childcare so they can classes to helping fill out complicating paperwork and set appointments, Tonia understands that the smallest of steps can have the greatest impact.

Because of her dedication, passion and commitment to the person, Street School was able to graduate 42 students in the spring and continues to provide front line support for adults seeking to better their lives through the improvement of their literacy skills.  

You too can get involved and help students and adult literacy programs across Canada. Become active participants and join ABC Life Literacy Canada’s vision of a nation where everyone has the literacy skills they need to live a fully engaged life. Support life literacy programs and initiatives with an online donation at abclifeliteracy.ca/donate or donate your time or money directly to a community adult-literacy program like Street School in your area.

Congratulations to all community-based adult literacy programs across Canada who graduated students from their various programs.  Keep up the great work.

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