CAMA is proud to introduce you to five champions of municipal workplace learning and five learners. Our champions are municipal managers who inspired their staff as well as Council members to take up the challenge of supporting adult learning. The learners are municipal workers whose accomplishments have helped others to return to learning. These five workers now serve on CAMA's national Learners' Council for workplace learning and literacy.
Champions carry the banner and light the way for new initiatives. They are the driving force that ignites others and ensures that the seeds of knowledge and skills development will take root and grow. Our champions saw educational opportunities for workers that would open up new worlds for each one in their personal and work lives, and in their communities. They offered the organizational support that is so needed if a town or city is to ensure a program's success. They worked hard to set up joint committees, to provide time and resources for committee work, and, in the end, to recognize all who were involved. As leaders, they took on the challenge of getting the program accepted so it could benefit the municipal workplace and all its employees.
Municipal staff and union executives transform a vision into an operating program. Their joint commitment and the work they do together make workplace learning a reality for workers. Their dedication takes them through weeks of planning for needs assessments, of making sure people know about the program, and of making courses happen on time, as promised. Their ongoing attention to the needs and goals of employees maintains the momentum of workplace education programs.
Our learners have done more than achieve their own educational goals. They have helped to develop workplace learning and they have inspired co-workers to get involved in learning. Each one has their own story of finding the courage to overcome obstacles. They all share the pure joy of reaching personal learning goals and they all continue to pursue new opportunities for work and education. As members of the Learners' Council, these five men and women will work nationally to raise the profile of adult learning in municipal workplaces and to promote and encourage workers across the country to rediscover themselves through learning.
CAMA invites you to get to know our champions and learners. You will be inspired!