About Us

Image from a Spoken Word Workshop facilitated by Andrea Thompson, February 2020

Parkdale Project Read (PPR) is a non-profit, community-based literacy program that operates an adult learning centre in the Parkdale community in Toronto, Canada.

A Collective Staff Management team is responsible for daily operations and share in the decision-making process. Program staff and trained volunteers provide support to learners.

We offer free Literacy and Basic Skills Education and Academic Upgrading programs for English-speaking adults who want to learn to read and write, use basic math and/or computer skills, in order to gain more confidence and become more active in their communities.

Parkdale Project Read regards literacy as a fundamental human right, essential to personal and community development. We are dedicated to creating a safe, supportive and accessible learning environment where students can bring their whole selves to learning - mind, body, spirit, and emotions.

PPR learners come from diverse cultural backgrounds, many are marginalized in low-income housing, and are coping with the physical and mental health consequences of violence, racism, discrimination and chronic poverty.  Our programs are learner-based, meaning students decide how and what they learn.

We recognize that for adult literacy learners, progress is measured in many ways including the ability to voice their opinions, take part in social activities, care for their families, and take on leadership roles in their communities.

We facilitate not only the acquisition of basic skills, we also support real-life literacy, such as how to complete an effective job search, how to analyze news reports for facts vs. bias, and how to engage in democratic elections and the National Census.

Our trained Volunteer Tutors support individual learners and co-facilitate some learning groups.

Please watch this video to learn more about our work: