National Adult Literacy Database

April 6, 2009

This week, we have 7 stories written by learners from Toronto, Ontario. The students – Barb, Donna, Christopher, Justin, Gilson, Lindon and Estera - are all presently enrolled in the Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) program at the Centre for Community Learning and Development in Toronto.

Investing Time for Community Safety

by Barb Jilek

I started advocating for security in July 2008. I started a petition to hire more on-site security. I have invested my time, my energy, and my money for increased security for the buildings in my St. Jamestown complex.

I have put hours and hours as well as money towards buying a digital camera for the purpose of taking pictures of door breaches and other security obstacles we face. We do have serious problems with guns, gangs, violence and drugs. The sale of drugs is a lucrative business and is not going to be stopped anytime soon.

We are inundated by strangers who wish to buy or use drugs. Drugs are readily available for sale making our building unsafe. Increased security would make our lives much more tolerable in this unban jungle.

We are now investing time to find a legal remedy to our security problems and we are hoping for success. That would be a positive return on our investment.