First Literacy, Inc.

We are hiring for a part-time Administrative Assistant. This position will provide support to all staff members by assisting with projects, creating and printing thank-you letters, and helping with in-person events. View the full job description and apply here: https://firstliteracy.org/career-opportunities/

Congratulations to Nicolás who graduated last month from Berkshire Community College with a certificate in Advanced Manufacturing Technician.

Nicolás came to the United States with a dream: to build a better future and become an engineer. But when he arrived, he knew only a handful of English words. Every aspect of daily life—from navigating an unfamiliar education system to finding work and supporting his family—became a challenge. Despite the language barrier and the demands of starting over in a new country, Nicolás remained determined to pursue his goals and create new opportunities for himself and
his family.

He started taking ESOL classes at the Berkshire Community College Adult Basic Education Program to improve his English skills and soon after completing his
classes he was nominated for a First Literacy Scholarship. The scholarship made it possible for Nicolás to further his education.

If we don’t plan backward from our objectives, how do we plan? What do we plan?

Check out our latest blog post from Rob Sheppard, First Literacy Workshop Presenter and Founder of Ginseng English.

My answer: interaction. At the center of my classroom planning is always the interaction that I want to unfold between learners, and I believe the primary task of the language teacher is to plan and orchestrate high-quality, meaning-focused interactions from which learning will emerge. I tend to think of language lessons as cycles of engagement, interaction, and reinforcement. And this is what guides my lesson planning.

Read the full post here:

Interaction-First Lesson Planning | First Literacy Blog Tools & resources for educators to plan & orchestrate high-quality, meaning-focused interactions where learning can emerge for adult learners.

First Literacy is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. Spectrum’s Community Impact Committee (CIC) aims to give back to other community-based organizations that provide services to the same people that are treated in Spectrum’s inpatient and outpatient programs.

“Limited literacy skills can create barriers to employment, healthcare, financial stability, and educational advancement,” said Terry Witherell, Executive Director of First Literacy. “This generous grant from Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. will help us expand opportunities for adult learners and support the educators who work every day to ensure literacy is not a barrier to success.”

First Literacy Awarded $10,000 Grant | First Literacy Blog First Literacy awarded $10K from Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. The grant will support First Literacy’s work to make education accessible.

Congratulations to Deborah Jean who graduated this past May with a certificate in Biotechnology from Quincy College!

Deborah Jean is a First Literacy Scholar who moved to the United States from Haiti in 2023. When she arrived, she faced language barriers and struggled to adjust to new systems in a new country. With a strong belief in the power of education, she was determined to build a meaningful career in the field of biotechnology.

After taking English classes and attending the JVS Boston Bridges to College Program, Deborah Jean was nominated for a First Literacy scholarship. A scholarship from First Literacy made it possible for her to attend college.

Invest in Educators.
Invest in Adult Learners.
Change Lives.

Adult educators across Massachusetts provide essential learning opportunities, yet many Adult Basic Education programs lack funding for professional development. With your help, our goal is to raise $30,000 by June 30, 2026. Your gift makes it possible for First Literacy to continue to support educators like Doris who are making an impact in the lives of adult learners across Massachusetts. Every dollar you give provides essential resources, encouragement, and opportunity. Give Now! https://nb.firstliteracy.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1

Last week 10 volunteers from Deloitte joined us at the First Literacy office for Deloitte's Impact Day. Deloitte volunteers paired up with First Literacy scholars to provide professional and career coaching. This is the second year that we've partnered with Deloitte for this day of impact!

Congratulations to K and Bismillah who recently graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College and UMass Boston! Both K and Bismillah are First Literacy scholars.