Canwest Raise-a-Reader is supported by the Canwest Global Foundation, the Winnipeg Free Press and Literacy Partners of Manitoba. This year the program is pleased to offer up to $2,500 in funding for existing family literacy programs and up to $5,000 for new programs developed by organizations not previously funded by Raise-a-Reader grants.

We’ve updated the application form for the Raise-A-Reader Grant. Please click here to download. Applications must be received by April 15, 2008 .

Canada ’s first national literacy forum – Literacy, More than Words - will be held on April 14 & 15, 2008. Interactive video technology will link the academic and business communities for keynote speeches delivered across the country.

Manitoba is a host site and will play a key role in delivering literacy messages to 3,500 Canadians. Literacy Works! Building a Skilled and Resilient Workforce, is Manitoba ’s theme. Charles Coffey, former executive vice-president of government affairs and business development for RBC and former lead of RBC’s headquarters in Manitoba, metro Toronto and Ontario, will address literacy from a business perspective.

LPM will participate with a Learner Caucus. Learners from programs throughout the province will share their stories and contribute to the discussion about literacy.

Read more about the Pan American Literacy Form at http://www.literacy.cmec.ca/. Register online at http://www.plannersplus.ca/literacy/registration.aspx?code=&form=1706846C29DC467BAC6FA2352EB6A158&mode=edit.

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba held a celebration to mark International Adult Learners’ Week on Friday March 7, 2008 .

The event, at Hugh John Macdonald School on Bannatyne Avenue, also recognized the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 26 Right to an Education.

IRCOM invited friends of their adult literacy program to experience the joy and enthusiasm of these newcomers to Canada . The success of the program is due to the hard work of instructors Elizabeth and Dorata. They have done a spectacular job in helping more than 30 learners in their transition to Manitoba life.

Dressed in their brilliant traditional costumes, the learners danced, played music and offered food representing their African and Asian homelands. The most advanced learners also gave speeches and demonstrated their improving language skills after just 6 months of classes.

Submitted by Rob Sarginson, Project Manager

Literacy Partners of Manitoba is an active partner in the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba program. LPM is conducting program evaluations, providing literacy materials and a literacy coach/translator to work with recent refugees.

The literacy coach is fluent in the first language of the learner and in English. She acts as a guide to assist the learners to understand the context of the content during classes. This coaching project is supported by a grant from the Adult Language and Training Branch of Manitoba Labour and Immigration. The program employs a part time coordinator and five part time coaches, representing five different refugee languages.

The pilot project began in October 2007. Based on its success at the IRCOM literacy program and elsewhere, the project has been extended to March 2009.

Submitted by Rob Sarginson, Project Manager

LPM has made it a habit to attend Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Breakfasts. The monthly breakfasts usually feature a provincial cabinet minister who speaks on issues affecting Manitobans. LPM staff and board members attend to remind the Manitoba Chamber and the politicians that there are 290,000 Manitobans who have low literacy skills.

We meet with and inform business and social agency members of the Chamber about literacy issues in the province. At a recent breakfast Rob Sarginson, Project Manager and Lorri Apps, Executive Director were very pleased to be invited to sit at the head table with the Honourable Gord Mackintosh, Minister of Housing and Family Services and his Deputy Minister, Grant Doak.

The Mr. Mackintosh is a strong supporter of literacy. As the former Minister of Justice, he introduced a plain language policy in that department. We hope he will do the same in his current department – one that deals regularly with populations with the lowest literacy rates in the province.

In addition to the MCC meetings, LPM Board and staff members meet with Manitoba cabinet ministers, their senior staff and MLAs to discuss issues related to literacy. 2007 was a banner year in that our efforts resulted in a $500,000 increase to the overall adult literacy budget in the province.

LPM also represents our members and low literate Manitobans at a variety of meetings, forums and events to place literacy in the minds of decision-makers and to effect change and gain support for the literacy field.

Statistics Canada (www.statcan.ca) has just published the most extensive statistical examination of aboriginal economic and social indicators.

There are 1.2 million Aboriginal people in Canada . Eight out of ten Aboriginals call the western provinces and Ontario home. About 15% of Manitoba and Saskatchewan ’s population are Aboriginal. Fewer than 50% of Aboriginal adults live on reserves, but most Aboriginal children do. More than 1/3 of Aboriginal children live in single parent families.

In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, by 2017, 25% of people beginning their careers and establishing families will be Aboriginal.

The International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey showed that First Nations peoples in urban areas were scoring on par with non-aboriginal adults. Provincial testing of school students has shown that rural aboriginal students tend to fall far behind their non-aboriginal cohorts. Since many of the children speak Cree or other native languages as a first language, this difference is hardly surprising.

In 2003, 30% of registrants in provincial adult literacy programs declared themselves as Aboriginal; for adult learning centres, it was 40%. With the extension of the numbers of ALC’s into rural communities, the numbers of Aboriginals receiving literacy upgrading are predicted to rise. Some programs already report 90% of their learners are Aboriginal.

The Movement for Canadian Literacy is a national non-profit organization representing literacy coalitions, organizations and individuals from every province and territory. Our mission is to be a national voice for literacy for every Canadian through networking, research, government liaison, learner development, communication, collaboration and to build the capacity to support people and organizations involved with adult literacy education.

As of March 31, 2008 The Movement for Canadian Literacy will welcome Melody Paruboczy as its new Executive Director.

Melody brings to the organization extensive leadership, fund-development, change management, government relations, communication, and strategic planning experience within the non-profit sector. From 2002-2008, Melody was the Executive Director of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, a non-profit agency providing substance abuse treatment to youth 13-18 years of age and their families. Prior to that Melody was with Vista Centre, an agency providing outreach and residential treatment services to persons living with the effects of brain injury. Melody’s educational background is a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology, and a Behavioural Science/Social Service Worker Diploma.

Melody joins the Movement for Canadian Literacy keen to work with the member Provincial and Territorial Coalitions, organizations, individuals, and all literacy stakeholders to advance and further the important field of literacy nationwide.

You may reach Melody by telephone at 613-563-2464 or by email at melody@literacy.ca.

Submitted by Melody Paruboczy

Debra Litkowich, Resource Centre Coordinator, has been out visiting programs. She’s sharing how easy it is to review and use LPM’s online catalogue to browse the collection and borrow materials. If you are interested in having Debra visit your program, please call her at: (204) 954-3854.

It's officially spring – the sun is shining and the days are longer so it’s a good time to stop in and visit our Resource Centre. I am available to help you on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2:00pm – 5:00pm . If those times don’t work, call me at (204) 954-3854 and perhaps we can arrange an appointment.

I’m pleased to announce three travel trunks, portable collections on a variety of subjects, are ready for circulation:

HIPPY Canada (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) is an interactive learning tool with tools and instructions for parents, teachers or daycares to use with their preschool children.

THE LITERACY TOOL KIT provides libraries interested in literacy with a framework for program planning and suggestions for needs assessment, program selection and evaluation.

NEW ADULT LITERACY TUTORS AND PRACTITIONERS, sponsored by the Thomas Sill Foundation, includes 30 items that are useful to tutors and practitioners who are new to the world of literacy.

Stay tuned for announcements as more travel trunks become available for circulation. If you have ideas for trunks that you would like to suggest be added to our collection, please call me at (204) 954-3854.

Submitted by Debra Litkowich, Resource Centre Coordinator

If you’ve visited www.mb.literacy.ca lately, you may have noticed Maria Goncalves, our Featured Learner Writer.

Learner writing is welcome. The theme is open. Read submissions guidelines.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Literacy Partners, we want to congratulate Deborah Schnitzer on her nomination for the YWCA-YMCA Winnipeg's Women of Distinction Awards. LPM is very fortunate to have community and business leaders involved in our organization. Congratulations, Deborah!