2010 Funding

Community Issues

Total granted in ths category: $180,186

Association of the Inside Out Integrated Theatre Project

Inside Out Integrated Theatre $ 25,000

This community-based program provides accessible, learner-centred theatre training opportunities for adults with disabilities. The objective is to support foundational learners in the development of communication and interpersonal skills, as well as to explore disability culture and community issues. The program emphasizes theatre process as a means of education and development, rather than following the production-focused model used by mainstream theatre companies. Four learning streams include integrated theatre workshops, group script-writing, vocal production, and Deaf theatre.

Calgary SCOPE Society

Integrated Community Kitchen Program $ 5,563

This program operates on a monthly basis. It is an integrated program that is available to clients of SCOPE and other foundational learners in the community. All are on AISH. Members are educated on healthy, affordable meal planning, cooking, inventory and safe food handling. It provides supportive, flexible community membership that accommodates the needs of adults who experience a developmental disability and compounding mental health or emotional difficulties.

Canadian Mental Health Association

Peer Options Workshops $ 22,190 – in three year funding

This program provides a long-term learning continuum for individuals experiencing mental health issues. Learners who have a mental health diagnosis are trained to become facilitators, recreation-mates and mentors. They work with individuals who are learning to manage their own mental health while working toward independent living. It is a unique two-part program whereby graduates move from the role of foundational learners to mentors or trainers. Targeting AISH recipients and the working poor, this program primarily focuses on self-esteem related issues.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Society

Family-focused Sign Language Instruction $15,771 – in three year funding

Family-focused Sign Language Instruction allows adults (parents, grandparents, other family members/caregivers) to learn American Sign Language to communicate meaningfully with Deaf family members. This program provides communication support, educational opportunities and language development to adults where a family member is Deaf or hard of hearing and where, in the absence of sign language, meaningful communication is not happening. In this way, the program strengthens the capacity for vital communication within families and so decreases the risk of isolation and abuse, decreases the risk of children living in a family where basic needs are not being met and decreases the need for children to come into care.

Families Matter Society

Community-Based Family Education $ 88,600 – in three year funding

This program is comprised of approximately 40 parenting workshops, courses, seminars and groups covering a diverse range of topics and skill areas to meet the needs of a broad range of developmental stages and life transitions. Programs are available to all families throughout Calgary and are held in local community venues and in partner organization facilities. Of the 4,000 plus learners who access this program, around 40% have low income. Program fees are charged on a sliding scale and subsidies are available to low-income learners.

Immigrant Services Calgary

Citizenship Learning Project $ 23,062 – in three year funding

This program teaches immigrants and refugees who have decided to apply for Canadian citizenship about citizen rights and responsibilities, Canadian history, culture, geography, volunteerism and the three levels of government. The program aims not only to help foundational learners successfully become Canadian citizens, but to teach them how to become full participants in Canadian society. Four different levels – Basic, Intermediate, Accelerated and Advanced – are offered at low or no cost in simple English or with first language support to ensure those who face financial and language barriers are able to attend the program.

Employment Enhancement

Total funded in this Category: $225,549

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society

Computer Training for Employment $ 45,917

This program provides low cost basic computer training with high quality instruction to low-income learners on evenings and weekends: Introduction to Computers, Introduction to Windows XP and Internet/ E-mail / Windows Vista, MS Word (foundation), MS EXCEL (foundation) , and Keyboarding. Approximately 90% of the learners in these courses are immigrants or refugees.

 Calgary Immigrant Educational Society

Computer Combo Program $ 46,477

This program is comprised of two courses: Computer Technology Made Practical and MS Word & Excel. These Saturday courses teach basic computer skill and knowledge to low-income adults in the greater Forest Lawn area. Most course participants are newcomers to Canada. Each 30 hour training provides instruction and hands-on learning activities such as components of a computer, keyboarding, functions of Windows XP, basic Internet, MS Word and Excel.

Calgary John Howard Society

Learning Employment Enhancement Program (LEEP) $ 57,755

LEEP is an employment program to provide ex-offenders and other foundational leaners with the tools needed to succeed in the workforce. LEEP offers (1) H2S Alive, the safety ticket needed for the oil/gas industry, (2) The Construction Safety Training System ticket with generic WHMIS, and (3) First Aid/CPR. LEEP balances training with sessions on skills for obtaining and maintaining employment. The Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP) philosophy is integrated into the LEEP program to further develop participants’ communication skills and increase the ability of learners to reintegrate effectively into community.

Calgary Workers’ Resource Centre

Employment Rights, Obligations & Benefits Education Program $ 18,000

This program goes out to other Calgary agencies to provide plain language educational workshops on employment-related rights and benefits to workers and job seekers with financial barriers. With the knowledge they gain, learners have greater understanding of their legal obligations and legal rights in the workplace. This in turn increases their capacity to self-advocate, and to exercise rights and access benefits that they are entitled to as workers under various employment-related legislations in Alberta.

Momentum

ABCs of Small Business $ 57,400 – in three year funding

This part-time program offers self employment training for low income Calgarians in three modules: (1) Feasibility Study, (2) Business Plan, and (3) Business Operations. Participants begin their self-employment training with the module that most meets their need. Using the business technical skills, networking opportunities and business coaching offered in this program, participants are able to launch a new business or enhance an existing one.

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English Language Learning

Total Granted in this categroy: $286,076

Bow Valley College

Computer Enhanced ESL Literacy $35,990 – in three year funding

The aim of this program is twofold: (1) to reach financially barriered adult ELL learners who have low literacy skills, with a demonstrated need for further educational opportunities, and (2) to integrate computers within adult literacy learning. This program offers small group ELL literacy instruction through a content-based approach to language learning with an emphasis on training in the areas of economic literacy, employment literacy and personal management literacy. Qualified ELL literacy instructors provide small group ELL literacy training with a focus on increasing reading, writing and computer literacy skills.

Bow Valley College

ESL Volunteer Tutor Program $ 26,800 – in three year funding

The ESL Volunteer Tutor Program provides part-time ELL tutoring in an informal, small group format. Tutorials focus on improving listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The program addresses the needs of a variety of ELL learners including immigrant seniors and the working poor. The downtown location and the provision of daytime and weekend schedules make it easily accessible to learners who may otherwise have employment and childcare conflicts. This long-standing program continues to meet the needs of barriered learners who can access ELL language instruction at Bow Valley College at a minimal cost.

Bow Valley College

ESL Volunteer Tutor Training $ 22,153 – in three year funding

Four organizations with established volunteer programs – Bow Valley College, YWCA, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society and the Calgary Public Library –collaborate to identify and address volunteer ELL tutor training needs with this program. The resulting series of three-hour workshops enhance and supplement agency-specific training already provided by volunteer programs. The joint workshops also foster connection and cross-sharing of ideas among volunteers from over fifteen organizations providing ELL.

Calgary Chinese Community Service Association

Stepping Stones: Forward into Community $ 50,000

This program provides basic English language training and literacy skills for Mandarin speakers, Cantonese speakers and Afghani learners who have not been successful in other ELL programs. Instruction is facilitated in small classes of linguistically homogenous learners by a bilingual facilitator of the same culture and first language as the learners. An ELL professional coordinates the program, creates the base curriculum and mentors the facilitators.

Calgary Immigrant Women's Association

Pebbles in the Sand $ 56,133 – in three year funding

Pebbles in the Sand is an ELL Literacy program for immigrant and refugee women with multiple barriers. The program uses a learner-directed approach called REFLECT. This encourages participants to become decision makers in their own educational process. Participants are women who are typically from remote rural areas of the world who are non-literate and have low English language skills. The program is geared toward providing necessary, basic life and language skills that are vital to daily living in Canada. In order to further reduce barriers in accessing programming, Pebbles provides free pre-school childcare for program participants.

YWCA of Calgary

English for New Canadians $ 95,000

Adult Basic Literacy

Total Granted in this categroy: $245,344

Bow Valley College

Evening Adult Basic Literacy Classes, Academic Foundations (Final grant) $ 9,471

The Marlborough evening ABE classes offer individualized, competency based upgrading in reading, writing and mathematics, employment readiness, study and thinking skills training and basic word processing using Microsoft Word, traditional paper based materials, computer assisted instruction, computer managed learning and various software packages.

Bow Valley College

Building Reading and Writing Skills [NEW PROGRAM] $ 29,755

This new program provides systematic reading and writing skill development for adult learners who are approximately at the grade 4 to 6 skill level. There is a growing need to serve this level of programming since Alberta Works is decreasing the availability of bursaries for this level of training. Participants in this program who have a goal of taking upgrading can start in a part-time mode and ascertain whether they have the skills and interest to pursue further upgrading. The program offers continuous intake, group learning with some individual streaming, and reading and writing instruction with an instructor and education assistant.

Bow Valley College

Lifeline to Literacy $ 21,275 – in three year funding

Lifeline to Literacy is an evening program that serves the needs of learners seeking to improve their emerging literacy skills. It caters to those whose reading, writing and math skills are at or below the grade five level. It is a non-credit program for those who find access to other academic programs not appropriate either because the literacy level is too high, or the class is too expensive. A facilitator and student work together to identify learning goals and design a Learning Plan with realistic and attainable goals. The facilitator and volunteer tutors work with the students in small groups or one-to-one to achieve their literacy goals.

Bow Valley College

Speech-Assisted Reading and Writing (SARAW) $ 24,760 – in three year funding

There are few things as important as a person's ability to communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Those unable to speak and who are further challenged with other physical disabilities are the least able to communicate their needs, struggles and dreams. The SARAW talking computer program allows multi-barriered learners to take steps toward improved communication that allows them to better participate in the community. With the help of one-to-one volunteer tutors, SARAW teaches basic reading and writing to adults with disabilities.

Calgary John Howard Society

Learning Opportunities Program $ 57,144

Offered at the Calgary Remand Centre and at the Inn from the Cold, this drop-in program offers foundational learning to individuals who are at risk of committing crime or with criminal backgrounds. Participants improve their literacy competency, increase self-esteem, and gain confidence and comfort in expressing themselves through reading and writing. Materials and learning strategies are tailored to individual needs.

Calgary Public Library

Digital Literacy in the Community $6,327

Using a mobile technology lab, this program takes the Library’s existing successful computer training programs “on the road” to key partner agencies that serve low-income foundational learners (e.g. Women in Need Society, Calgary Housing). Six laptop computers loaded with applicable software are used to provide about 16 free computer programs including MS Office products (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel), intros to computers and the Internet, slower-paced Cyber Seniors courses, and Web 2.0 technologies. Partner agencies then can choose from this palette of courses based on the interests of their clients.

Further Education Society of Alberta

Family Literacy Program $ 58,695 – in three year funding

This program presents solid, well-researched parenting and literacy information in a competency-building, culturally sensitive manner through four program models: Literacy and Parenting Skills (LAPS), Parent Child Mother Goose, Homespun and Books for Babies/ Jumpstart. Programming is offered throughout the city in partnership with numerous community groups and organizations that provide services for at-risk parents.

Mount Royal University

Transitional Vocational Program – Adult Basic Literacy $ 37,917 – in three year funding

The Adult Basic Literacy Program supports adults with developmental disabilities to achieve literacy and numeracy learning goals. Collaboratively, students and instructors develop individualized program plans that are reviewed and modified according to student progress. An underlying goal of the program is to foster a positive environment whereby students enhance their self-esteem, social skill development, and appreciation of lifelong learning.

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2010 INITIATIVE GRANTS

 Calgary John Howard Society - FASD Action Hall

Community Issues Initiative Project $ 9,996

The FASD Action Hall Project helps adults who are living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and are at risk or involved with criminal activity to develop critical thinking skills and confidence to self-advocate. An innovative approach, the advocacy complements the traditional model in which service providers and parents advocate for individuals living with FASD. The Action Hall is an inclusive model centred upon 'self-advocates', that is, the adult participants living with FASD and 'allies' – people without FASD such as facilitators, social activists and family members. The FASD Action Hall consists of weekly group meetings over one year and provides a supportive and safe environment for the participants to learn how to self-advocate.

Immigrant Services Calgary - Citizenship Class Enhancement Project

Special Project $ 10,000

This project aims to revise and enhance the current Citizenship Education Program with reference to the new Citizenship Study Guide introduced in November 2009. Two end products will result from the curriculum revision and enhancement: (1) a simplified, user-friendly study guide with extensive sue of diagrams, pictures and pint form to facilitate the understanding and retention of important information; (2) an enhanced classroom program incorporating a multi-media component and interactive hands-on exercises for each module to facilitate interest in learning as well as comprehension, retention and application of important information and knowledge.

Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute - My History, Our Future: Building Self-Advocacy Capacity

Community Issues Initiative Project $ 10,000

This unique self-advocacy training program aims to provide low income adults with developmental disabilities the self-advocacy skills necessary to 1) build their capacity for community involvement and citizenship, and 2) support other adults with disabilities to develop their self-advocacy skills. Using an evidence-based curriculum that is presently being developed with funding from the Government of Alberta Human Rights and Multiculturalism Grant Program, this phase of the project will pilot-test the curriculum and training resources, and use the feedback gathered to inform the evaluation and refinement of the program.

Calgary Learning Centre - Helping with Homework

Adult Basic Literacy Initiative Project $10,000

This project is to develop, implement and evaluate a "Helping with Homework" program for parents of grade 4 - 6 students who must use 'reading to learn' (the next step up from 'learning to read'). Through hands-on activities, parents are exposed to the vocabulary, language and expectations of schools. They engage in literacy activities (reading and writing) and math activities that are expected of their children - they improve their own skills and develop greater capacity and the confidence to assist their children. Parents also are introduced to the computer technology that their children are expected to use. This unique project provides parents with literacy, language and learning challenges to participate in meaningful literacy activities that will be of benefit to them and their children.

Further Education Society of Alberta - First Steps Towards Financial Literacy

Adult Basic Literacy Special Project $ 10,000

This research project explores building financial literacy within family literacy programs. Learners frequently seek financial information within regular family literacy programs. These learners often lack confidence, vocabulary, or skills to take part in beginning level financial programs and courses. This project tests strategies to build confidence, create financial awareness, and link learners to organizations and programs that further develop financial skills and knowledge. The research takes place within already established community programs to allow some preliminary work to design activities that increase financial literacy.

The following special project was commissioned by Calgary Learns:

Literacy Alberta - Integrating Foundational Learning: Training & Mentoring

Adult Basic Literacy Calgary Learns- Commissioned Special Project $ 43,132

Calgary Learns identified a specific need for training and mentoring of funded-agency staff involved with two categories of funded programs: Community Issues and Employability Enhancement. These programs offer meaningful learning opportunities to adult learners and many intuitively meet foundational learners at their skill levels. However, opportunities to help learners improve their foundational skills are easily overlooked by educators when learning is not designed with foundational learning/literacy in mind. This project assists program staff to think and strategize around literacy and essential skills, and to embed foundational learning within their programs. Project activities include assessment of current program goals, group training on identifying and integrating foundational learning in their programs. Literacy specialists will be recruited to mentor participating program staff.

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