A new Coast-wide literacy project is already paying dividends.
Sandy Middleton, Literacy Now co-ordinator through Capilano College, and Kimberly Foster, a literacy researcher from the Pender Harbour/Egmont area, are both excited at the Literacy Now project launched earlier this month in conjunction with Bev Craig, literacy co-ordinator with School District No. 46 (SD46).
Middleton said the project is part of the community literacy plan process and an arm of the 2010 planning guide. She said the purpose of the project is to look at the gaps and needs around literacy as well as the strengths and resources in the community.
Through partnerships with the Sechelt Indian Band and Lighthouse Learning Network, the project will look at what is already in place and what needs to be done to enhance literacy needs for individuals and families on the Coast.
Once the needs and strengths are determined, Middleton said the project will have enough information to develop an action plan and a vision and involve the whole community in the process.
Foster said to get the needed information, people involved in the project are creating ways for community members of all ages to give their input and perspective on what literacy is and what they would like to see more of. Foster said community engagement is vital in a project like this where the goal is to be flexible and accessible to a diverse range of people.
"The thrust of the research in each community is about doing a program inventory of literacy across a lifespan - from birth to the grave," said Middleton. She said it's about finding out what people know about literacy, what they know about what's available in their community, what they think works well and what are the barriers and challenges.
Part of this process, Foster said, is making sure that as many people as possible are involved and engaged, whether that be in the form of talking to people on a one-to-one basis or through community forums. Both women are excited about the project and the process because, Middleton said, it's a "catalytic process by bringing people together in a dynamic and interesting way."
Learning literacy is more than learning to read and write, Foster said. There are many different venues through which people come to literacy, such as music, art and theatre. And, she said, it's about the different ways there are to teach the fundamentals of literacy.
Once the information is gathered from across the Coast, which Middleton said should be around the end of July or early August, it will be used to create an action plan they can then submit for implementation funds for sustainable projects and resources across the Coast.
Middleton and Foster said there will be a number of ways for people to participate over the next few months. To find out how to get involved, contact Sandy Middleton at 604-885-9310, ext. 5928.
