2) What issues or problems would you like FLWN to work on?

We can summarize the participants' comments under the following headings: training literacy workers, education, working conditions, FLWN as a site for action and reflection, strengthening the network, financing, increasing public awareness, political action, studies and research, priorities and choices.

"I want our focus to be feminist and to keep the initial talk mandate uppermost."

"Working conditions - literacy work tends to be undervalued women's work and we need to address the economic and political issues."

"Strengthening the feminist analysis bond - I worked for years in literacy then in the women's movement, finally, as a result of the Vancouver conference, I have begun to make some sense of my frustrations."

"Self-care - in every session I heard women speak of isolation, of very difficult work in hostile environments, of frustration, of fatigue."

"I was disappointed to find women at the conference who still wanted to shy away from the word. We need to bring home the idea that feminist is as feminist does"

"Let's make feminism a good common everyday word - ie not scary"

"Promote understanding of feminism general population - among women in particular. ''

"Women returning to school and the issues they need to overcome in order to be successful and remain in the educational system"

"Racism toward Native women who live in the city."

"Continue the dialogue and keep the network going - this is an important voice."

"Continue the discussion about what feminism means- not that we have to agree - just so we don't become afraid to debate it. "

"There is a need to foster a better understanding of women's issues within the context of literacy. Access is the key - Access to other women as well as literacy programs and resources. We can learn from each other and together move resources. We can learn from each other and together move toward change."

"Women's writing and research"

"Make connections within my area"

Training Literacy Workers

Concern ourselves with the training
of literacy workers; address the following issues:

  • job security

  • the "market value" of women, both paid workers and volunteers

  • training and certification for paid workers and volunteers

  • the establishment of Canadian standards for the quality of literacy work

  • the development of a feminist studies program

  • sexist language

  • training in literacy management

  • training in counselling, developing skills to cope with an "emotional emergency" (counselling includes giving advice or information to learners on any subject of a personal, administrative, academic or family nature).

  • additional training for working with adults experiencing learning difficulties

  • the need to include creative activities in the planning of our own conferences.

  • Place greater importance on centrist issues, like the links between child-care programs and literacy programs, violence against women in literacy programs, psychological counselling which literacy group coordinators mayor may not take responsibility for.

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