When Ayan Mohamed arrived in Roxbury, she could not read or write in English. Today, the Somali immigrant is part of a growing community of adult learners in Massachusetts whose journeys just got a little easier, thanks to a new wave of funding for literacy programs across the state.
First Literacy, a Massachusetts nonprofit dedicated to adult education, announced it awarded more than $34,000 in grants to eight organizations across the state this year. The funding aims to boost adult basic education and English language learning — areas that often go underfunded despite their profound impact on people's lives.
"These pilot programs meet essential needs that are often not fundable through other sources," said Terry Witherell, First Literacy's executive director.
Among the recipients, the Somali Development Center in Roxbury received the largest grant — $7,140 — to support adult immigrants like Ayan. Many of these learners come from Afghanistan and Somalia and struggle with the basics of reading and writing in English, which limits their ability to succeed in higher-level language classes. The grant will fund a new program using evidence-based literacy practices, including phonics instruction, to help fill that gap.
In Framingham, a program is tackling a more specific challenge. Framingham Adult ESL Plus was granted $5,000 to help female students working in residential cleaning bridge the gap between their technical skills and their English language proficiency. The seminar will prepare students for real-world situations like emergency response protocols and navigating client service agreements.
Meanwhile, in Worcester, Senior Connection Inc. received $4,500 to pilot a digital literacy workshop designed especially for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The program aims to help older caregivers navigate today's technology-heavy world with more confidence.
Four organizations received second-year funding to grow programs that showed promise. The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center received $2,703 for its AI-powered English learning program, while Community Action, Inc. got $2,449 for its summer English learning initiative. Blue Hills Adult Education received $3,371 for a digital literacy intensive, and Salem's The House of Seven Gables Museum received $2,500 for its career-centered English language class. That last program is now partnering with the Brockton Workers Alliance and received an additional $1,000 replication grant to expand and reach more communities.
Julie's Family Learning Program in Boston received $4,800 for a two-part pilot on AI literacy, with a mini-launch planned for this summer and a full rollout in the fall.
Witherell said the goal is simple: remove barriers to learning for more adults. "By investing in new approaches to Adult Basic Education, we can help educators address emerging needs, strengthen student outcomes, and remove barriers to learning for more adults," she said.
Beyond these grants, First Literacy also offers free professional development workshops for instructors and scholarships for adult learners. For people like Ayan, that support can change everything.