We are storytellers. We believe in the power of
stories to explore, inform, challenge, inspire, and above all, reveal the
inherent dignity of the human person and the complex reality of our experience. - PEN Canada1
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| Action Read learners represent many cultures and ethnicities |
Literacy
and numeracy are often considered issues of childhood. Adult literacy generally takes a back seat
and is forgotten, despite the fact that a large number of people in our community
struggle day in and out with the challenge of navigating life with low literacy.
It may be easy to forget how important literacy is in our daily lives. What would you do if you didn't know how much change you were supposed to receive? What if you couldn't read the dosage on a medicine bottle that your baby needed? What would life be like if you couldn't write an email? These are common challenges that people in our community face every day, which many of us take for granted. Over 785 million adults worldwide suffer from low literacy skills. While some may not realize that it's a common problem in Canada, in fact the International Literacy Survey alone found that 1 in 4 or 24% of adults in Waterloo-Wellington 16 years and older fall in the lowest levels of literacy.*
September
8th, International Literacy Day, is a day to recognize and celebrate
literacy as a foundation for lifelong learning, as well as an essential ingredient
to transform lives. At Action Read, we see first-hand the power of literacy to
improve lives through such things as better employment and health, greater
civic involvement and ability to communicate with others.
To mark this important day,
Action Read invites you to attend our first-ever International Literacy Day
celebration on Thursday September 8th 2016, from 7-9 pm, at Studio 404, located
at 404 York Road in Guelph. We aim to raise awareness of our important work in
the community, while building excitement and greater understanding of critical
literacy-related issues facing the world today. This free licensed event
is open to learners, volunteers, donors and the public. We are eternally grateful
for the support of numerous sponsors and volunteers including Akal Vision, The
Bookshelf, Janus Books, Joanne Poluch, Nancy Bailey, PEN Canada, Print Solutions, and Studio
404, to name a few!
Action Read invites you to
celebrate with us the importance of literacy as a vehicle for freedom of expression. Guelph educator Michael Noonan will explore the
impact Action Read has had in our community for almost 30 years. Learner Laurie Johnson will share his
powerful story about how literacy and education helped transform his life from one
of substance abuse and prison, to one of education and giving back to the community.
Next poet and ethics professor Dr. Karen
Houle will explore issues affecting freedom of speech in Canada today. Dr. Houle will then introduce our guests of
honour from PEN Canada.
PEN Canada is a
nonpartisan organization of writers that works with others to defend freedom of
expression as a basic human right, at home and abroad. PEN Canada promotes
literature, fights censorship, helps free persecuted writers from prison, and
assists writers living in exile in Canada. Our conversation will include a
representative of PEN Canada, speaking with a writer in exile. The powerful
testimony of a writer who has faced pervasive oppression and violence in his country of origin will
leave no shadow of doubt about the importance of literacy as a means for
freedom of expression.
We
look forward to seeing you on September 8th! Feel free to contact Action Read if you would
like more information about this exciting event.
Sources
1
PEN Canada Annual Report 2015-2016
* http://www.projectread.ca/literacy-2/facts
"Literacy Statistics." Literacy Statistics Canada. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 27 July 2016. Retrieved from http://www.literacy.ca/literacy/literacy-sub/
"Global Illiteracy & Global Literacy Statistics." Global
Illiteracy & Global Literacy Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2016.
Retrieved from http://www.speakingbooks.com/impact/overview.html
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