Windsound Learning 

Judy Murphy and Mary Norton are co-coordinators of Windsound Leaning Society. We
met through our work as coordinators of community based adult literacy programs. We
each have over 25 years experience working in the adult literacy and education fields.

Prior to founding Windsound Learning Society, our research and practice as literacy
educators included the development of a course called Drawing out the self, in which we
facilitated movement, singing and art-making to prompt reflection and discussion about
topics that participants identified. Participants said that they learned more about
themselves and others and felt more able to learn in other settings.

With Jenny Horsman, we co-coordinated the Violence and Learning: Taking Action
project about addressing the impacts of violence on learning, which included explorations
of arts-based approaches (http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/valta/06.htm).

Our own work has included participating in and developing skills in yoga, singing, dance
and art therapy. While developing skills and capacities in these areas, engaging in these
practices have confirmed how they can prompt and support holistic exploration,
reflection and growth. We have been well supported in this work by fellow travelers, our
Board of Directors, and with some grants from federal and local agencies.