Diversity Magazine Womens Month Special in Toronto [Video]

Empowering Adult Learners: A Conversation with Alison Howard

By Laura Sunjoh (March 13, 2024)

In an exclusive interview, Alison Howard, Executive Director of ABC Life Literacy Canada, shed light on the organization’s groundbreaking initiatives. “A shockingly large number of Canadian adults barely have literacy skills equivalent to a high school education, or above. This not only makes it hard for workers to enter the job market in several fields or to obtain promotion, but also makes it difficult for employers to find the skill set required for the jobs they might have,” Howard states, emphasizing the pivotal role literacy plays in career advancement and personal development.

ABC Life Literacy’s “Upskills for Work” program, tailored to diverse learners, has impacted over 34,000 individuals across Canada in just 18 months of its existence.

Howard discusses the program’s adaptability, offering free online resources and partnering with over 200 organizations and workplaces to host workshops.

Reflecting on Women’s History Month, Howard underscores the program’s significance in empowering women. …