CALP Connections
CALP Connections: March 2024
A Message from Jana Thomson, Vice Chair
Happy March, everyone! This is my favorite month of the year because it means I get to start planting my seedlings at home, the sun is out noticeably longer each day, and it’s my birthday month!
My name is Jana Thomson, and I am the Vice Chair of the Community Learning Network Board. For those who don’t know me from my previous tenure on the CLN Board, I am the Executive Director at the Rocky Community Learning Council in Rocky Mountain House.
This is my first year back on the CLN Board after serving six years, completed in 2021. I am thrilled to be serving on the Board again, and there are numerous benefits to being a part of the Board that I would love to share with you. My top three are:
Connection: I am thankful for the connections made with CALPs throughout the province, other CLN Board members and staff, as well as our grant managers and funders at Advanced Education. We can often get caught up in the happenings of our communities and forget that there are supports and information to be shared from others who have walked similar paths. Often I find other CALPs are going through the same or similar situations as I am, and it is so nice to be able to reach out and learn how others are overcoming their obstacles or celebrating their achievements.
Contribution: My experience in my CALP and working with learners for over 10 years in my community means that I can contribute to meaningful conversations. Working with the CLN to determine, develop, and provide the professional development needs of CALPs throughout the community, I have seen quite a few changes in the CALP world, which means I can help contribute healthily and positively when we see changes in our field.
Experience: Wow, I have experienced so many learning opportunities because of my time on the CLN Board! Meeting with ministers, chairing the Governance committee, and being a part of the team that makes up the CLN Board has allowed me to experience new things that I would not have had the opportunity to learn from otherwise.
For anyone considering a term on the CLN board, I encourage you to reach out to a current CLN Board member. We would always love to share the benefits of serving on the Board and being a bigger part of the CLN and CALP community.
I hope you all have a wonderful spring and spend plenty of time in your gardens, enjoying your favorite books, or whatever you like to do to bring in the new season.
CALP Connections: February 2024
A Message from Stephanie Brown, Treasurer
During February, I hear people comment about how Valentine’s Day is so commercialized, and how it does not affect them because they are single. Here’s the thing, though - it does affect them. It affects how they view love with themselves, not just with those around them.
One of the many ways to love is to cleanse oneself. Cleansing is for everyone, and wouldn’t you know... the word 'cleanse' is in the word, 'February!'
February comes from the Latin word 'februa,' “to cleanse.” In the Roman calendar, the month of Februarius was named 'Februalia,' a festival of purification and atonement during this period.(www.almanac.com)
Ways to include ‘februa; into your daily lives and classroom settings:
- Smudge your space – this is an ancient practice that is used to cleanse a space or person. You can use sage, cedar, sandalwood, mugwort, or other dried herbs that you may have on hand. Of course, not all spaces will allow for smudging due to allergies or policies not in place. We do it after hours when the space is not being used.
- Ringing of bells/windchimes/bowls – this has been constant in many of my learning spaces with CALP and CLN, and I do find them to be calming. Bringing them into literacy practice can also benefit the learner to become more present in their learning space. The bells help welcome a change in space and energy. The ring itself tells the learner that it’s time to shift into their learning space.
- Open a window – upon opening the window, set the intention for the air to cleanse your space. Visualize the negative and stagnant air leaving and being replaced with love and flow.
As CALP Practitioners, we must ensure we are cleansed and in the right mindset before any help can offered to an adult learner. This is your reminder!
CALP Connections: January 2024
A Message from Monica Sczyrba-Davis, Director
On behalf of the CLN Board, I would like to wish each of you in the CALP community a happy 2024!
My name is Monica Sczyrba-Davis, I’m the Executive Director at Pincher Creek CALP and will be celebrating 14 years in the CALP world this March. A new beginning is often a time to reflect and look back on where we started and how far we have come. In our little corner of south western Alberta and all across the province, CALPs have grown their capacity, complexity, sophistication, leadership, and skills to serve Albertans most in need of guidance to move their lives forward.
As we consider the peaks and valleys of the journey we have been a part of, I would like to invite each of you to take a moment to let go of what no longer serves you and fill the void with what you are each most in need of this year. In Pincher Creek, we are reviewing our services and creating time to work with community partners to continue offering strengthening relationships and resources to our learners, while prioritizing our energy and funds on what our CALP does best: Skills for Learning programming.
Our CALP will be possibility-focused, while nurturing interactions that grow us closer to our organization’s vision of compassionately coaching our 2024 learners towards completion of their self-identified learning, employment and education goals.
In life and in learning, I believe that if we are not at least a little bit scared of the dreams we envision, it’s not a big enough dream! Our CALP community has the most incredible connections to mentors, skills, backup, and resources, as well as answers to questions and opportunities to connect with kind peers. We strive to model what we each hope to offer those we serve.
I look forward to connecting with many of you through the various gatherings and trainings ahead of us, and I wish each of you the bravery and connections you need to accomplish your own vision for 2024!