What Literacy Means to Us
Contributed by staff of the Community Learning Network
In the world of Community Adult Learning Programs, every day is Literacy Day. And yet, we know all too well that literacy often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Many people are unaware that millions of adults worldwide still lack access to literacy and education.
Every year since 1967, UNESCO has celebrated International Literacy Day on September 8, reminding the world that literacy is a matter of dignity and human rights.
This year, Team CLN wanted to join the celebrations by sharing what literacy means to us — and we invite you to do the same.
Della Massey:
For me, literacy means being able to connect with anyone, regardless of where they live, how they live or when they lived and hear their stories, ideas, thoughts and feelings. It means reflecting on what I am learning, expanding what I know and understanding myself better. It means being able to share my stories, ideas, thoughts and feelings and knowing that my contributions are valued.
Lisa Dickner:
I used to see Literacy as reading and writing, yet it’s far more than that! It’s a key to understanding the world around me, allowing me to express myself, connect with others, and keep learning every day. What I once took for granted, I now know better. It is precious and something to be respected and nurtured every day!
Ellen Rodgers:
Literacy means having the skills to read, write, and think in ways that help you make sense of the world. It’s a powerful tool for those who’ve been left behind, allowing them to speak out, demand fairness, and create change. It’s not just about learning; it's about giving everyone the chance to be part of the conversation.
Rebecca Still:
Literacy is how we use our literacy skills in a social and culture construct throughout our everyday life. It’s about using our literacy skills to get things done such as shopping, paying bills, finding information about health-related concerns, writing a note to a child, sending an email to the boss, and voting. Literacy is more than reading and writing.
Literacy is about empowerment, having the confidence to take action on issues that are important to us, contribute to our community and feel a sense of belonging. Literacy permeates every aspect of our lives from helping a child with homework, volunteering with a local organization or using our voice to strengthen society.
Literacy enables us to fully participate as mentors, leaders, and create change in the world around us.
Emily Robinson Leclair:
Literacy is necessary: the skills that help us navigate everyday life with ease, independence, and confidence.
Literacy is possibility: the foundation that allows us to keep learning, to understand more deeply, and to contribute in meaningful ways.
Laureen Guldbrandsen:
For me, literacy used to mean just being able to read and write, but I’ve come to realize it’s so much more than that. Literacy is how we make sense of the world, share our stories, and connect with one another. It’s also about quality of life in the small, everyday ways I sometimes take for granted: looking up and trying a new recipe, discovering local coffee shops online, or reading product reviews to make smart shopping decisions. Literacy opens up opportunities, big and small, that shape how I live and engage with the world.
Lisa Donald:
It means giving everyone equal opportunity to learn and providing them with the necessary tools to be successful in their everyday lives.
Corrie Rhyasen Erdman:
For me literacy is so essential to everyday life. There is very little we do that doesn’t involve reading or writing. With literacy skills we gain choice and power in the ways we engage in our work, home and community life. I think LeeAnne Ireland from Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) says it well, "Literacy is fundamentally about an individual's capacity to put their skills and knowledge to work in shaping the course of their own life." Indigenous Literacy Assessment (p. 5) https://calgarylearns.com/wp-content/uploads/Indigenous-literacy-assessment-2022.pdf.
Cheryl Lovstrom:
To be honest, literacy is something (even now) I often take for granted. As a child, reading came easy to me, and most of the jobs I’ve had in my life required lots of reading, which kept me in practice. Having to really think about what literacy means to me made me take a step back, again, and appreciate what I have. To me, literacy means being able to navigate my world with ease. It means I have the tools to make informed decisions by looking at a variety of sources. It means I can find answers to life’s daily challenges without having to go from place to place seeking help. Literacy also means an open door to adventure. I can look up new places to explore with my family, or wander new worlds in a good book.
Literacy helps me do my banking, enjoy a great meal from a new recipe, shop from the comfort of my home on a cold winter’s day. In short, literacy means I have the ability to (sometimes wisely) choose my path. And it means freedom to change my mind when the path isn’t quite what I thought it would be.
Tanis Harms:
I view literacy skills as a gateway to many different destinations. Here are few of my favourites:
(1) Functioning in Society (understanding government documents, navigating school websites, understanding or learning more about medications and health conditions, ordering groceries online to save me time and money, or having the skills to complete tasks at work);
(2) Communicating (reading and/or writing texts, emails, letters, or posts on virtual platforms);
(3) Enjoyment (reading a great book, finding and being able to follow a new recipe, researching a new destination to explore or a hobby to try out, reading the rules to know how to play a new game…including important strategies on how to win!).
Now it's your turn!
Please share what literacy means to you in the comments below.