by Judith Hayes, Learner Speaker Bureau coordinator and Marg Rose, Executive Director, Literacy Partners of Manitoba

This article outlines the background and several highlights of this exciting development. Please contact LPM (http://www.nald.ca/litpman.htm) for sample posters, the cited guidebook and/or further details via literacy@magic.mb.ca

The LPM Learner Speakers’ Bureau/Learner’s Circle Project, ran from November 1998 to June 1999, and provided an innovative approach to making literacy “faces” more visible to the public, policy makers, funders and potential stakeholders. As well, the project encouraged learners to become active participants in the Canadian literacy movement and literacy programs in Manitoba. This project was funded through the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS). As IALS shows, there are thousands of Canadians who struggle with low literacy levels, yet the public rarely sees their faces since literacy is labelled by many as “the invisible disability”. This project addressed the need for more concrete tools to show the importance and impact of adult literacy on real people’s lives.

The Winnipeg Learner’s Circle met monthly to discuss learner issues in literacy programs. The learners also got the opportunity to speak with Chris Dodge from the NLS with their ideas. They participated in the election of the Manitoba Learner Representative to the Movement for Canadian Literacy (MCL) conference in Ottawa. Their representative, Abe Friesen, was able to take learner concerns to Parliament Hill in 1999 with other provincial learner representatives. 

The Learner Speakers’ Bureau held monthly training workshops over seven months and prepared 10 learners as speakers to promote literacy in 1999. These learners were able to present their experiences with literacy to over 20 audiences. Speaking engagements included presentations at literacy program recruitment and graduation events, to the government caucus, and as described below.

The Learner Speaker Bureau Phase II Project 1999-2000 was designed as a follow-up to the initial Learner Speaker Bureau pilot project of 1998-99. Based on requests from the field and across Canada, it builds on the successful completion of the initial project by developing and publishing a resource guide outlining a step by step plan for developing a successful Learner Speakers’ Bureau. A copy of this Guide will be posted on the NALD website as a full text document in the fall.

The 2000 Speakers’ Bureau has also successfully trained 18 literacy learners as speakers in a seven workshop training program. Two speakers from the initial phase of the program have played an important role as Learner Mentors in the Learner Speakers’ Bureau. These Learner Mentors, Dan Deurbrouck and Ken Gesell, have assisted in delivery of the workshops in Winnipeg and the Westman region of the province and provided support to new speaker trainees as they developed their skills and provided input into the development of the SPEAK UP! SPEAK OUT! Resource Guide.

New speakers have been provided opportunities to practice their speeches at a variety of events this year as well. In all, over twenty speaking engagements have been presented by the Learner Speakers’ Bureau in 2000. A launch of the Learner Story of the Week on NALD kicked off the fall campaign, and was covered by CBC Radio and the largest newspaper in Manitoba. Learners enjoyed the series of training events and the professional coaching by media experts such as Louise Charette of CBC Radio and Jim Ingebrigtsen, a local television personality. They have gone on to speak at elementary schools, government offices, at the Mayor’s Forum on tax reform, at three learner conferences, at a packed house of shift workers at a factory, at the PGI 2000, at Rotary meetings, to the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Winnipeg, to Chapters Inc and the United Way of Winnipeg for Canada Book Day, and to reps from private businesses such as Great West Life.  The demand grows for appearances of trained speakers to make the case for investing in literacy. Besides the benefits of the training, the members of the Speakers’ Bureau are featured on posters, in pamphlets and receive a small honorarium for their speaking engagements, to assist with baby-sitting, transportation or materials costs.

Literacy instructors attending the Completion Ceremonies expressed support for the program’s ability to build both skills and confidence in the learners. At the wind-up in May, the new Learner Speakers were presen-ted with certificates in recognition of their hard work. They told the powerful stories of their personal struggles with literacy. The learners greatly enjoyed their training and recognize their personal growth as a result of the opportunity to present their stories in a professional fashion.

The project has provided an important role for learners to encourage and promote awareness around literacy issues in Manitoba. As LPM launches a cohesive social marketing campaign this fall, the combination of statistics, heartfelt messages about the impact of literacy on the social and economic fabric of our province will be complemented by the personal testimonials of these trained speakers. A corporate sponsor has been approached to underwrite the ongoing costs of the training, booking, supervision and promotion of the Bureau. This is one success story that makes our job in adult literacy more enjoyable and visible; we encourage other coalitions and programs to invest in a similar venture.