2015 [Strengthening Literacy in the Downtown Eastside
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2015 DTES ADULT LITERACY ROUNDTABLE Simon Fraser University Vancouver Public Library Capilano University Aids Vancouver Frontier College Vancouver Community College YWCA Vancouver Vancouver School Board University of British Columbia Union Gospel Mission Lookout Society Open Door Group Aboriginal Front Door Strathcona Community Centre Neighbourhood House Vancouver Writers Exchange Wish Drop-in Centre Carnegie Community Centre [STRENGTHENING LITERACY IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE - DTES ADULT LITERACY ROUNDTABLE GOALS] The Downtown Eastside Adult Literacy Roundtable is a coalition of adult educators working in the Downtown Eastside (DTES). The Roundtable understands literacy as having the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate fully in our lives. The group has been collaborating since 2005 to share skills, ideas, support and information. In 2010, the Roundtable organized a community literacy plan and continually implements the plan every year. The group meets in the afternoon on the last Monday of every month and welcomes new members committed to strengthening literacy in the DTES. The Roundtable acknowledges and honours the fact that our community lies within the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people. 1 Downtown Eastside – DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable Literacy on Downtown Eastside community goes far beyond reading and writing; rather, literacy means being able to enjoy and participate in everyday life. Project Steward: WISH Drop-In Centre Society Literacy Outreach Coordinator: William Booth Prepared and written by William Booth, Sandra McKay in collaboration with DTES Literacy Roundtable This report covers from July 01, 2014 – June 30, 2015 with plans up to June 30, 2016. Literacy Task Group During the past year, the literacy task group in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) community has been comprised of adult educators and a network of supporters who sit on the DTES Adult Literacy1 Roundtable and represent a wide spectrum of literacy/educational organizations in the DTES community. The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable also regularly communicates with a large network of supporters, made up of individuals and organizations residing in and/or working in partnership with the community. The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable is unique in that they are self-organized and have been coming together since 2005 for the purpose of sharing skills, ideas, support and information. The work of the Roundtable is organized through monthly meetings hosted by a rotation of its members. At these meetings, members share new developments in their organizations and the community, as well as well offer opportunities for professional development and support through workshops and guest speakers. Community Context The Downtown Eastside is a dynamic, vibrant, low-income Vancouver neighborhood located on un- ceded Coast Salish Territory. Also known as ‘the Heart of the City’, the DTES has historically been a hub of rich cultural life for Aboriginal, Chinese, Japanese, Latin American, Black, working class, and low income peoples. The strong, community-driven DTES neighborhood prides itself on insider knowledge, lived experiences, volunteerism, social justice efforts, multicultural diversity, unity and support and offers opportunities for asset-based learning. In the past year, a number of developments, issues and decisions have directly impacted people—both positively and negatively-- living in the Downtown Eastside community, as well as the ability of organizations to support literacy development. DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable 2 Some examples of positive impacts include: • The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable was one of 12 organizations chosen from 61 from across the province to participate in a series of workshops on social innovation for which they also received funding that enabled them to invite a community member to participate and convene two community consultations. • The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable in conjunction with UBC LE is the beneficiary of a grant from Chapman Innovation to develop and test an App for community members providing basic information which they requested. Community members will be hired to assist this project. • The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable continued to foster important connections between educators and literacy organizations and participate in various community functions such as Heart of the City, Alley Health Fair, Aboriginal Health Fair, etc. • In the face of ever increasing funding challenges The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable members and supporters continue to offer and provide innovative and creative programs. • Despite relocation to other parts of the city to find affordable housing, many of former residents still keep their connections strong with the DTES community through their ongoing participation in its educational programs, services, advocacy work, artistic initiatives, and social life. • The number and enthusiasm of volunteers and students who support various literacy projects organized by the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable remains high. Various innovative approaches are used to support and show appreciation for these contributions, such as professional development workshop series supported by the Arbutus Rotary. • We continue to support various functions mentioned. Some examples of Negative Impacts include: • Traditional Adult Basic Education (ABE) offered by members of the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable and many organizations in the Downtown Eastside is under renewed threat. Shifts towards austerity continue to influence decisions that make it more difficult for low income learners to access free adult literacy education. • Budget cuts, housing shortages and gentrification, continue to rally activists and present challenges for those providing education, training and literacy opportunities and limit ability to create sustainable programs in the community. DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable 3 • Some perceive continuing gentrification to result in less affordable housing and services for low- income people. Some have moved to other areas in Vancouver and beyond in order to secure affordable accommodation. • Budget cuts from Provincial and Federal Government, while emphasizing deficit reduction and job creation, impact and cut initiatives and innovation of programs offered by The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable members and supporters and their ability to provide necessary and much needed education, skill training and learning opportunities to the various sectors to which they provide services. • While the number of individuals seeking opportunities for a grade 12 equivalent rises, the GED program has been canceled within BC and thus, several GED program education centers are no longer running. The result is a shortfall of educational opportunities to those most in need. • What was an expanded capacity of classrooms and larger computer labs of some organizations such as UBC Learning Exchange, Union Gospel Mission, Harbour Light and DEEC to provide additional learning opportunities has reversed and UGM and DEEC have been cut, while UBC learning exchange is suffering from layoffs and a smaller budget. • The centralized model of employment services continues to challenge those seeking employment. This shift into a ‘one roof employment service’ is problematic for those who seek computer access and support from individualized employment service programs. • Changes to the policies around welfare and administrative procedures continue to exacerbate systematic discrimination against low income people. For example, the requirement to download more documents has resulted in increased barriers for those without regular access to computers or for those with lower digital literacy levels. • These changes have placed emphasis on volunteer tutors and facilitators which without adequate training are now filling roles and responsibilities that are the domain of educated teachers and other highly trained workers. DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable 4 Community Development & Literacy Collaboration In the past year, some of the important collaborations that have taken place in the Downtown Eastside community to support literacy and the work of the task group have included: • The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable and community supporters met with Vancouver City Managers to provide input in DTES Local Area Planning Process • The DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable members and supporters in collaboration with Carnegie Community Centre hosted a meeting with Translink to discuss implications of the Compass Card system for community members wishing to access learning opportunities. • Continuing opportunities for computer literacy training at UBC Learning Exchange, Carnegie Centre, Downtown Eastside Education Centre, VCC and others provide opportunities for trained educators/facilitators from these programs to support other community members/organizations in accessing computers • With Raise-a-Reader funding the the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable continues to support Books, Bags and Babies, the First Nations Languages Sharing Circle, Broadening Horizons including computer skills and family literacy and Strengthening Community Capacity Bridging Services and the Education Forum that was organized by the Roundtable and hosted by VCC. • An Education forum, organized by the the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable and hosted by VCC, was held in September, 2014. Guests for both meetings and workshops Included among others in regular Roundtable meetings and forums providing a connection with related services available in the community. Guests included;