“They made me believe I could do it, and showed me how”
Literature for Life recently received a glowing testimonial from the Women Moving Forward Program at the Jane/Finch Community Family Centre. The entire letter is here. An excerpt is below:
‘Each LFL facilitator we have worked with comes to the program with a belief that each woman is both capable and deserving of education. Our participants feel this, and thrive under the unwavering support offered. The impact of the work LFL has on the lives of our participants continues long after they have graduated from WMF. One woman, who recently completed the York University Women’s Studies Bridging Program, came back to share her final essay with WMF staff. She received a B+ on her essay, but was even prouder of the professor’s comments, which spoke of her ability to weave her thoughts and argument seamlessly throughout her essay. The woman asked that I pass the comments on to Jo, because, as she stated, “without [LFL], I wouldn’t be where I am today. [They] made me believe that I could do it, and showed me how.” This sentiment is one that all of our graduates share.
The most profound outcome of the LFL program, however, is the impact that LFL’s work has on the families of our participants. As women become more confident in their ability to read, they begin to share this with their children. Women who had never been to the library with their families before LFL are now going regularly, and have started a routine of reading with their children. As the mothers in our program return to school, they become even stronger role models for their children. They are able to help with homework, and many share that they now sit at the kitchen table with their children, doing homework side-by-side. As a result, their children are also beginning to see a different future. As one woman shared, her nine-year-old daughter is now planning to go to university like her mother, “and she won’t accept any grade lower than a B+”.’
"It made me hungry for more and taught me that I deserved it."
Our Executive Director and Founder Jo Altilia was recently in touch with a former participant of one of Literature for Life reading circles. She shared the following testimonial to commemorate our organization’s tenth anniversary.
Danielle’s Story:
In 2001 I was what most mothers don’t want for their daughters: 18, pregnant and on welfare without a high school diploma, plans for my future or a place to call my own. After leaving a violent relationship and moving from one squalid apartment to another, I figured I owed it to this little person I was carrying to start moving forward (or at least find a place without cockroaches to bring him home to). So I packed up my things, which didn’t amount to much, and moved to Massey Centre, a supportive housing program for young moms. I didn’t know where I was going in life but I knew I didn’t want to stay where I was.
One night, a few other girls at Massey invited me down to a book group and to be honest, I went because I heard that there were cookies and free books and I didn’t really have anything better to do. To this day, I am so happy I did. At the book circle I met Jo and she didn’t treat me like another stupid girl who got herself knocked up by some loser. Jo treated all of us like young women who were on our way to something big and exciting and like being there was the first step to something incredible, and she was right – it was.
I attended book circles at Massey Centre regularly and when Literature for Life secured its first office space on Parliament Street, it became like a second home to me. I participated in book circles where we read books about phenomenal women and circumstances that we could relate to; these books showed us more of the world so that we could dream bigger! What I loved most was the writing we did; through poetry, journaling and other writing activities, Jo challenged us to use our voices. After years of having to be silent and keeping secrets because of shame, guilt and fear, it is nothing short amazing when you find your voice and to have an opportunity to use it and feel safe.
Some of the best memories during the first years of my son’s life are experiences that took place because of Literature for Life. We read together all the time and he built a collection of books before he could read himself. I learned that reading to your child is so much more that just words, it’s holding them and taking a trip away from the challenges that mothers face every day and escaping to a place where you can imagine a better life.
Literature for Life helped me break the cycle. It made me hungry for more and taught me that I deserved it. I went back to school and then continued on with post-secondary education, moved into a career helping students be successful in their studies and recently bought my first home. My son turned 9 this week and included on his birthday wishlist was a Gift Card to Chapters; this inspired me to reconnect with Literature for Life and let them know how important the work they do has been for my family.
Congratulations on 10 years of making lives better!
“It made me hungry for more and taught me that I deserved it.”
Our Executive Director and Founder Jo Altilia was recently in touch with a former participant of one of Literature for Life reading circles. She shared the following testimonial to commemorate our organization’s tenth anniversary.
Danielle’s Story:
In 2001 I was what most mothers don’t want for their daughters: 18, pregnant and on welfare without a high school diploma, plans for my future or a place to call my own. After leaving a violent relationship and moving from one squalid apartment to another, I figured I owed it to this little person I was carrying to start moving forward (or at least find a place without cockroaches to bring him home to). So I packed up my things, which didn’t amount to much, and moved to Massey Centre, a supportive housing program for young moms. I didn’t know where I was going in life but I knew I didn’t want to stay where I was.
One night, a few other girls at Massey invited me down to a book group and to be honest, I went because I heard that there were cookies and free books and I didn’t really have anything better to do. To this day, I am so happy I did. At the book circle I met Jo and she didn’t treat me like another stupid girl who got herself knocked up by some loser. Jo treated all of us like young women who were on our way to something big and exciting and like being there was the first step to something incredible, and she was right – it was.
I attended book circles at Massey Centre regularly and when Literature for Life secured its first office space on Parliament Street, it became like a second home to me. I participated in book circles where we read books about phenomenal women and circumstances that we could relate to; these books showed us more of the world so that we could dream bigger! What I loved most was the writing we did; through poetry, journaling and other writing activities, Jo challenged us to use our voices. After years of having to be silent and keeping secrets because of shame, guilt and fear, it is nothing short amazing when you find your voice and to have an opportunity to use it and feel safe.
Some of the best memories during the first years of my son’s life are experiences that took place because of Literature for Life. We read together all the time and he built a collection of books before he could read himself. I learned that reading to your child is so much more that just words, it’s holding them and taking a trip away from the challenges that mothers face every day and escaping to a place where you can imagine a better life.
Literature for Life helped me break the cycle. It made me hungry for more and taught me that I deserved it. I went back to school and then continued on with post-secondary education, moved into a career helping students be successful in their studies and recently bought my first home. My son turned 9 this week and included on his birthday wishlist was a Gift Card to Chapters; this inspired me to reconnect with Literature for Life and let them know how important the work they do has been for my family.
Congratulations on 10 years of making lives better!