ResearchImpact as Agents for Change!

Capping off a busy week (October 18-22) for York University’s KMb Unit, Michael Johnny was an exhibitor and presenter at the Ontario Literacy Coalition’s (OLC) recent Spotlight on Learning Conference. With its theme being ‘Agents for Change’, it was fitting that ResearchImpact had a visible presence. The OLC’s prepares Ontario for change by making adult learning opportunities possible. York KMb is brokering opportunities with OLC around governance, workplace literacy and building local research capacity. According to the OLC, “This emerging relationship speaks to the importance of partnership development in knowledge mobilization. The vision of OLC and York University’s KMb Unit align well as we work to gather data and intelligence on literacy issues and put that information into action in our workplaces, institutions and communities”.
The conference drew over 400 participants from all across Canada and included practitioners, bureaucrats, academics and other literacy stakeholders. With almost 40% of Canadians lacking the literacy skills to effectively participate in Canadian society and the knowledge economy, this was an important gathering and demonstrated OLC’s leadership around these issues.
The ResearchImpact booth spoke directly to almost 25% of the participants over the two days exhibiting; almost 100 people! The presentation on university knowledge mobilization brokering community building activity drew an additional 25 people.
Time well spent? Indeed. And like our work to date, the real indicators of the success of this participation are to come through the collaborative opportunities that many participants shared!
Special acknowledgment goes to Joseph Michael Photography (another man with two first names!) for sharing these images from the conference.