On this episode of Finding Your Bliss, we meet a remarkable woman who teaches people with low levels of literacy, how to read. Robyn Keystone is a remedial literacy teacher and linguistic specialist, who has taught inmates in jails and detention centres, along with children and teens from various marginalized communities and backgrounds, how to read and write. She is on the program to talk about her initiative "Literal Change".

"Literal Change" is all about providing a positive academic setting for people who have struggled in the mainstream classroom. They work specifically to improve the literacy levels of communities and populations who have experienced limited access to educational support and alternative learning strategies. Their team is made up of individuals from various walks of life and backgrounds, all of whom have an understanding of the barriers that are being faced in vulnerable Toronto communities.

Their philosophy is that everyone has a right to access education, and that with effective strategies and supports, individuals will be able to reach their career and academic potential.

Robyn Keystone is a literacy specialist who has been working in the field of literacy, education and learning disabilities for the last decade. She has an MSc from the University of Edinburgh, a BA from Dalhousie University, and a TESOL certificate from the University of Toronto. She obtained her Orton-Gillingham certification through the Canadian Dyslexia Society with Evelyn Reiss, and she is a registered member of the International Dyslexia Association – Ontario Branch.

She currently co-runs a private school and Canadian charity that are both in the business of supporting members of the community who are struggling with low-literacy levels and learning disabilities. She believes that literacy proficiency is a fundamental stepping-stone in helping individuals positively connect with their community and navigate a society that is overwhelmingly dominated by print and text.

Also on the program, we have Seth Zosky, who is a multidisciplinary artist from Toronto. He is a singer, songwriter, musician and actor with 12 years of performing for audiences -- big and small, under his belt. A graduate of Sheridan’s Music Theatre Performance degree, Seth has extensive training and a strong passion for everything artistic. He is part of CZN; a trio Pop/RnB/Rap singing group. They have released music on all platforms and hope to share it with audiences worldwide!

Seth is back on the program with an original song that he wrote and performed as part of the Mental Health Empowerment Day (MHED) 2021 conference in Toronto.

Check out Seth Zosky's original song "Just Breathe" at the link below: https://soundcloud.com/user-201921535-658441499/seth-zosky-just-breathe?si=4f85870edebc410782118f5b06acff3a

Karen Shopsowitz is an award-winning producer, director, editor and cameraperson, whose work has been screened nationally and internationally. She has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University, a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Video from York University, and a Certificate in Feature Film Writing from UCLA’s on-line writer’s studio. She served as producer, director, writer and editor of the award-winning “My Grandparents Had a Hotel”. Her National Film Board documentary “My Father’s Camera” was honoured with the prestigious Peabody Award. In addition to editing all of her own films, Karen has also edited a number of other productions for other directors. Karen joins Judy to tell us more about her latest’s documentary Magic Shadows, Elwy Yost: A Life in Movies, which airs on TVOntario on November 27th, 2021.

Check out the documentary trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiaZj9d_KmA

Join us this Saturday at 1 PM on Finding Your Bliss. For more information on our show, you can follow us @theblissminute on Instagram and Facebook. Also be sure to visit our online magazine at www.findingyourbliss.com