At a glance:
The Taber & District Community Adult Learning Association (TDCALA) is one of 130 Community Adult Learning Programs across Alberta. For the last 43 years, they’ve delivered part-time informal adult learning to their rural community, covering literacy and foundational learning, family literacy, and community capacity building. Asked to describe her team of 18 mostly part-time staff, Executive Director Jane Brenner quoted Margaret Mead: “’Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ They go above and beyond daily to make a difference in the lives of learners.”
Programs of note:
TDCALA created the “Families Learning Together” program when a new wave of immigration began in their community. “Our rural area saw 10-12 thousand people arrive over 10 years,” says Jane, “many of whom were Low German Speaking Mennonites.” Newcomer mothers in this community, TDCALA found, were often vulnerable due to interrupted formal education, limited English skills, geographic isolation and unfamiliarity with Canadian culture.
TDCALA knew they’d need to take a holistic approach to bring their literacy programming to this group. Their ten week, 3-day-a-week program provides free literacy education, child minding, and even transportation to make sure all learners can get to the classes. Adult learners focus on reading, writing, and digital technology, while their kids get to practice their English in speaking, writing and play. Benefits extend from stronger English skills and a better understanding of themselves as their children’s first teacher to greater confidence, further learning, and even better health.
“To make this program successful, we really had to break every barrier,” explains Jane. That involved educating the larger community, too. TDCALA hosted a Community Dialogue on welcoming and inclusive communities, and they invited newcomers, service providers and local businesses. 125 people attended, and its discussion and sharing was significant in breaking down prejudice and building a stronger supportive community.
This sort of work isn’t part of the traditional “literacy” wheelhouse, but it’s critical to TDCALA’s success. “If we don’t help our learners break down barriers between them and learning,” she says, “they can get worn down and give up—there are so many obstacles. Once they have the skills, they have the confidence and momentum to break barriers themselves.” That’s when great change happens.
Current focus:
TDCALA is currently piloting a Learner Support Services program at five other Southern Alberta literacy organizations to help them better serve their adult learners. It provides dedicated staff help for learner needs that touch but extend beyond the literacy sphere, guiding them through services and referrals, and offering everything from help with paperwork, to access to computers, to video-conferencing services in the nearest city. They’ve had great success so far, and are hoping to expand the program across Alberta.
Coming up next:
When asked what her team is looking forward to, Jane laughs. “Quite frankly… a break! We’ve had a very busy year with lots of successes, and are hoping somewhere in the future, we can have a break.” Adventure, though, is a certainty. TDCALA never knows what learners will walk through their doors, but they know they’ll be there to help.
Want to learn more? Check out their website, Twitter or Facebook or Youtube page.
