From 2000 to 2001, I coordinated the Women's Journeys in Self-Discovery project, hosted jointly by the Edmonton John Howard Society and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton. This project invited women who were either involved with the correctional system or at risk of being involved into an integrated literacy and life-skills program. It offered a variety of learner-directed approaches for personal exploration and growth. Mary was the project's evaluator, and we had ample opportunity to discuss the project, our work with women, participatory approaches to learning, issues of violence (named but not explored in the project) and wholistic activities. Our early morning runs created both place and space to weave ideas, dream dreams of ideal programs and share our respective interests in music and art.

As the Women's Journeys in Self-Discovery project was winding down, Mary and I were ready to facilitate Drawing out the Self, a research in practice project that invited women into learning through art, movement and music. Through Drawing out the Self, I was excited to learn more about aspects of art and movement that held fascination for me, in particular how to invite people to come into "voice" through non-verbal, creative activities. Women shared their experiences of participating in art-making and movement. Art and movement encouraged women to open up and express their feelings. It helped them to access their inner knowledge and at times brought unconscious thought to the surface. Women commented on the art: (It) helped me to think and see things a little better. It helps me open up to people. They said that movement relaxes the body. It gets you in the mood to try to get to the next step. As with the Women's Journeys project, issues of violence were felt or heard but were not a focus of the project.

With hindsight, I understand now that the work at ALP, Women's Journeys, Drawing out the Self, exploring wholistic approaches to learning, Jenny's research in violence and learning, Mary's research at The Learning Centre with music, women and learning, and my own passions about art and movement in learning were like pieces of a collage. As separate images, they all had value and meaning. Drawn together as they were in VALTA, they created a more comprehensive and expanded picture and offered new levels of understanding.