The Work Behind the DTES Professional Development Workshop Series (Feb. 2012)

Community mapping of literacy & resources in the DTES, 2010

  The Supporting Learners & Learning Differences: DTES Professional Development Workshop Series will get underway this February in the Downtown Eastside community. Geared towards educators and volunteer tutors involved with students in the DTES, the series aims to help participants build their capacity as they work with various learners and learning differences. Hosted by the DTES Adult   Literacy Roundtable and generously funded by the Rotary Club of Vancouver Arbutus, these free workshops are scheduled to take place on the afternoons of February 17^th (at Union Gospel Mission), April 13^th (at Carnegie Learning Centre), and May 11^th (at the Downtown Eastside Education Centre).

     The genesis of this workshop series traces back to the spring of 2010 when the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable engaged with over 140 individuals     living, working, and participating in the Downtown Eastside to collaborate and share hopes and ideas for strengthening literacy in the community. During these conversations, ‘literacy’ was discussed not only in terms of reading and writing, but also as  having the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate fully in one’s own life.

  From these consultations, it became clear that two overarching goals were important to people when thinking about strengthening literacy in the Downtown Eastside: self-determination and working together.  While both these goals were broadly defined by participants*, ‘self-determination’, in  essence was understood as members of the DTES being heard and respected as they make decisions and take action on community priorities. ‘Working together’ was understood as collaboration, communication, building bridges, and inclusivity.      

     Within these two goals, six major priorities were highlighted for strengthening literacy in the community*, including building capacity to support people with learning difference or disabilities. The DTES Professional Development Workshop Series is therefore a response to this priority. It was shared that while there are dozens of effective and innovative education programs in the community, stronger knowledge and skills about learning differences are needed.  Many people said they felt unsure of how to help themselves or their students when faced with learning differences/disabilities and requested more training and   information sharing. 

    Moving forward with this priority, potential workshop presenters were identified by members of the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable in the fall of 2011.  Educators working in the DTES community were then surveyed about what they, and the volunteer tutors they work with, would find beneficial in a workshop on supporting learners and learning differences. 

     The result of this background work is an exciting series of workshops—presented by experienced and knowledgeable practitioners— which are based on community priorities and working together. Equally important, the workshops provide an opportunity for educators and volunteers to connect, exchange skills, and share ideas.

     On-line registration for each free workshop session, as well as descriptions of the workshops and presenters’ biographies are posted on the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable website.

*A detailed discussion of the goals and priorities can be found in “A Plan for Strengthening Literacy in the Downtown Eastside” (2010) posted on the ‘Resource’ page of the above listed website.