CALP Connections: April 2024

A Message from Tanya Mercredi, Director

Tánsi AyÎkipÎsim (eye-ee-ghee-pee-sim)

AyÎkipÎsim is a Cree word for Frog Moon which is the name for the month of April. 

Although the weather can still be a bit unpredictable, winters grip isn’t as strong and it is an exciting time of year!  Longer days are waking and warming the land, the waters open up and frogs start calling out. Hints of green are everywhere and gathering energy to start their big show!

AyÎkipÎsim is also a time of excitement within the CLN and CALP world with many things happening. I always appreciate attending the Symposium and look forward to all the connections, new insights and memories I will take away. I hope to see you there!

This is also a month that the CLN Board gets to meet in person!

As I reflect back, I was quite apprehensive but very curious about joining the CLN Board. I wondered if I was the right fit.  Did I even know enough to contribute?  Could I join the board and still do my job?  Would my thoughts and opinions matter? The answer was a resounding yes. Becoming part of the team has helped me grow both personally and professionally in many ways and has given me a real sense of satisfaction and belonging. I have a much broader sense of how boards should work, I get great ideas on connecting with stakeholders, and it has given me a better understanding of my own board.  The opportunity to work with this team is always a highlight for me.  If you are curious about the CLN Board, I urge you to reach out to our Chair, Colleen Thiessen, or any other member for more information. We’re always willing to share our experiences.

I hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy even a little bit of what nature has to offer during AyÎkipÎsim. May you find all the happiness, help, health, and healing you need.

Literacy and Learning Symposium 2024

REMINDER: Symposium 2024 Registration Deadline is April 12th!

Community Learning Network invites you to join us at Symposium 2024. It will be another year of extensive and relevant professional development mixed with connecting and networking time, as requested by you on your evaluations from our last Symposium.

Our theme for 2024 is:

The Power of Community

Here’s a quote that fits with our intent:

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

- Margaret J. Wheatley

The dates are:

Tuesday, April 30th to Thursday, May 2nd – In-person at the DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton

If you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s a glimpse of what to expect: CLICK HERE

Registration Reminder:

This year the registration fee is $175 per person and registration will be open until Friday, April 12th, 2024.

To find full details about the Symposium, just click on the "Symposium" tab from the CALP Portal's main navigation menu, or go to https://calp.ca/symposium/home/about-the-symposium.html 

And don’t forget to check out our Symposium Planning Tools and Hotel Booking information (group block held until April 12th) and more on the tabs on the left sidebar.

Attendee Survival Guide 

If you’re already registered to attend, check out our Attendee Survival Guide HERE. 

At-a-Glance Agenda 

For planning your travel logistics, here’s our At-a-Glance Agenda:

*Optional shared workspaces will be available for attendees who arrive early and would like space to work or meet up with other CALP staff prior to lunch.

Introducing our Customized “EventMobi” Event App

One of the many exciting experiences again this year at Symposium is the event app we will be using, which is called EventMobi. Each Symposium attendee will be given access to our EventMobi event app via your email a week prior to the Symposium. You will be provided with information about how to download the EventMobi App from the Apple or Google Play Store through the EventMobi Universal App.

Be on the lookout for more information coming to you via email during the last week of April!

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Register now for these upcoming events!

Required Training

May 22 Introduction to Adult Foundational Learning - Online (5 weeks) (Currently FULL and taking waiting list submissions)

Additional Training

MAY:

Teaching Reading Learn evidence-based strategies for teaching reading to foundational learners.

May 14 Airdrie (In-person)
May 16 Lethbridge (In-person)

Psychological First Aid In this 2-day workshop, develop a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief on others, with emphasis on self-care and personal protection.

May 15-16 Consort (In-person)
May 30-31 Taber (In-person)
May 30-31 Valleyview (In-person)

JUNE:

June 17, 18, 19 Assessing Writing using writeforward This 3-session series is a practical introduction to the writeforward assessment tools for assessing writing skills in adults. 

Communities of Practice

Join your peers in informal online discussions facilitated by CLN staff. Grab a coffee, bring a question, share a success or challenge, and settle in for five minutes or all sixty. 

April 9 Holding Safer Spaces Open Circle – Anatomy of Trust
April 10, June 11 Literacy Practitioners Share, Learn, Grow

Regional Connections Cafes

Joint North & West Region - Apr 15
East Region - Apr 11
West Region -  May 24, Jun 17
Central Region -  Apr 11
South Region - Jun 13

Don't miss out!

Events are periodically added to the CALP Portal Training & Events calendar. Be sure to check the calendar regularly to see what is coming up!

2024 - 2025 CLN Membership Renewal

CLN membership renewal will be sent out by direct email to your organization's primary contact at each CALP beginning April 4th.

Watch your email for the link to complete your CALP's renewal. In the meantime, you can get a head start by reviewing and updating your CALP's information in the Portal's online directory at https://calp.ca/find-a-calp-near-you.html.

To keep your membership in good standing, confirm a few details about your CALP and provide up-to-date contact information for key staff. 

A few things to keep in mind before you receive and fill out the renewal:

• If your organization receives a CALP grant directly from Advanced Education, you are automatically a member of the Community Learning Network
• There are NO membership fees or dues to pay
• Our membership year is aligned to the CALP grant cycle, from July 1st to June 30th

Renewing your CALP's membership helps us ensure our records are current, so we can continue to keep you up to date about training and networking opportunities, new resources and supports, and other CALP news from across the province.

The deadline to complete your membership renewal is Friday, April 26th.

If you have any questions, or if your CALP has not received the Membership Renewal form by April 11th, please contact Ellen Rodgers at office@calp.ca or call the provincial office at (1-877-485-4926) ext. 2

Literacy in Action

Strengthening Literacy Practices 2024-2025

I would like to invite you to be part of a training that will help you develop your own knowledge and skills for delivering adult literacy programming.

CLN is looking for CALP practitioners (literacy coordinators, literacy instructors and staff) who would like to expand their skills for working with adult literacy learners to participate in this 8-month blended learning. 

As a participant in this learning program, you will:

• gain confidence as a literacy practitioner
• expand your professional knowledge and practice to work with literacy learners
• apply your learning to the ways you work with adult literacy learners
• be part of a collaborative and supportive learning environment
• be compensated for your commitment to the learning

"I was able to build skills to increase my confidence, help my volunteer tutors, make me more willing to try new things and open up new avenues of learning that I didn’t know existed!"

- Past Participant

Watch the CALP Portal for more details to come on April 8, 2024.

For information on Strengthening Literacy Practices, contact Rebecca Still at (780) 554-6376 or literacy@calp.ca  

This Month's Spotlight

From April 14th to 20th, National Volunteer Week shines a spotlight on the contributions of the 24 million volunteers across Canada. Volunteers are vital for many nonprofits, as they offer their time, skillsets, and passion to further their organizations vison. Recognizing and celebrating volunteers efforts during National Volunteer Week not only expresses gratitude, but also inspires others to strengthen community efforts.

To read more about National Volunteer Week, click here.