Learning For Change
About
The Board of The Learning Centre (TLCLA) has received funding from the Edmonton Community Foundation to conduct a community based, community wide, participatory adult learning assessment process. In partnership with the Edmonton Social Planning Council, TLCLA understands that many benefits can accrue to both the community as whole and to adult learners who are marginalized.
We have created four ‘Learning Groups’ to investigate together a specific lens or issues related to Adult Education in Edmonton. The groups will be meeting 3 -5 times over the next 5 months with logistical support provided by The Learning Centre and The Edmonton Social Planning Council. The discussions and learnings within these groups will provide deeper, more community-based understandings of the current shortfalls of adult literacy and related educational programs for those experiencing marginalization.
The more diverse the participation, the richer the learnings to be shared with community organizations, policy and funding decision-makers, service providers, citizens and learners, to inform strategic planning, priority setting, program outcomes, and program improvements. The gathered information would also afford stakeholders opportunities to develop a preferred ‘future’, to address adult learning needs.
NOVEMBER 2020
We are in REBOOT Mode!
In these COVID times, much of our time and energy is devoted to keeping people healthy and safe. Nevertheless, life does go on and the issues that were critical just one year ago continue and continue to intensify.
In November 2019, the Learning Centre Literacy Association, in Edmonton Alberta, hosted a Community Assembly: Reimagining Literacy, Social Justice, and Adult Education. This was a gathering of community to kick off a comprehensive community-wide, community-based adult learning needs assessment for underprivileged or marginalized citizens.
Seeking to
(a) More clearly understand this community’s learning needs,
(b) Better determine the extent and efficacy of current resources and,
(c) Investigate what new options or solutions are possible,
The Learning Centre began the Learning For Change project.
Four ‘Co-Learning Groups’, representative groups of citizens, were formed specifically including those facing marginalization. Their voices are essential in the creation and provision of quality, equitable and just educational programs. Participants were challenged to be responsible for one another’s learning as well as their own—resulting in greater community cooperation in making meaningful changes in the lives of marginalized citizens.
We anticipated discussions and learnings within these groups to provide deeper, more community-based understandings of the current shortfalls of adult literacy and related educational programs for those experiencing marginalization.
This learning had just begun – then COVID. Engagement as we had planned was no longer an option – is no longer an option!
Yet we know we must not relent in the pursuit to provide marginalized adult students with better, more equitable learning and educational opportunities to support them in improving their lives and fostering their hope for a better future.
As a community, we believe that the absence of robust literacy and numeracy skills has profound consequences affecting:
- economic disparities between different groups
- health outcomes and life span,
- levels of political engagement,
- the degree to which people feel integrated into, or isolated from, society.
All of which combined, contributes to the well-being of our community. Or not….
Well, the time has come to get back to this important work. As we reboot our project one year later – Let’s revisit where we began-
“In these times … literacy and ongoing education for adults is an urgent necessity that has everything to do with the future that we will collectively make happen. We have no other choice but to keep on learning if are to save this planet from destruction.” Rinaldo Walcott 2019
Coming soon
Part 1 of the Community Assembly, November 2019
Part 2 of the Community Assembly, November 2019
Coming soon
Community Outreach Program Partners
