First Literacy, Inc.

06/01/2026

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

05/29/2026

Congratulations to Pa Modou who graduated earlier this month with his associate's degree from Bunker Hill Community College! Pa Modou is a First Literacy Scholar from a small town in West Africa where educational opportunities are limited and often undervalued. He made the decision to move the U.S. determined to pursue higher education while building a better future for himself.

When he arrived in the U.S., he worked full-time as a security officer to cover living expenses and school costs. Balancing work responsibilities with academics often left him with little time and energy to focus on his studies.

Support from the Bridge to College program at the Cambridge Community Learning Center and a scholarship from First Literacy helped him continue his education and stay on track toward graduation. He plans to pursue a career in the technology field while continuing his studies toward a bachelor’s degree.

05/28/2026

This month our Program Director visited Cambridge Community Learning Center during their Haitian Flag Day celebration. The program was led by one of the students in the Students Are Leaders program that is funded by First Literacy. This grant funded program provides students with an opportunity to develop transferable leadership skills and strengthen their sense of community and belonging.

05/26/2026

Congratulations to Maria on her graduation from Franklin Cummings Tech! María is a First Literacy scholar who came to the U.S. from Venezuela, where political and economic instability made everyday life increasingly difficult. Although the transition to life in the U.S. came with language barriers, cultural adjustments, and the challenge of navigating a new education system, María remained focused on transforming her life through education.

In 2023, María enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program at Catholic Charities Boston, where she strengthened her English skills and discovered a passion for technology. Two years later María was nominated for a First Literacy Scholarship. The scholarship provided her with the funds necessary to pursue a career in the field of cybersecurity.

05/22/2026

Mujeres Unidas Avanzando received a First Literacy grant to pilot their new program called ¡Sí, Se Puede! (Yes, You Can!). Funds from the grant were used to create a program to support adult students who required one more exam to attain their high school equivalency diploma. Your gift makes it possible for First Literacy to fund innovative programs that are often not fundable through other sources. With your help, our goal is to raise $30,000 by June 30, 2026. Every dollar you give provides essential resources, encouragement, and opportunity. Give today: https://firstliteracy.org/donate/

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Luis on achieving a major milestone! On May 14, Luis graduated from Bridgewater State University! Luis is the first in his family to graduate from college.

Luis immigrated from Nicaragua to the U.S. in 2018 after the Nicaraguan government started targeting university students. Fleeing danger in Nicaragua, Luis embarked on a treacherous journey to the U.S., surviving against all odds. Once settled in Massachusetts, he rapidly progressed through his English courses at MLCS - Maverick Landing Community Services, completed a cybersecurity bootcamp, and secured an IT internship with Catholic Charities Boston. It was through these programs that he learned about First Literacy, which allowed him to help fund his education.

“The First Literacy scholarship made it possible for me to proudly say that I went to college,” said Luis.

05/18/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is an important aspect of any person’s wellbeing and potential future growth. Learning to recognize the signs of anxiety and emotional stress disorders is paramount to helping adult learners succeed in their goals. Check out our blog post for tips and resources to help adult learners who may be in crisis.

Mental health first aid certification for educators. Learn how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses.

05/15/2026

Christele, one of our scholarship recipients, shared her story at our annual Spelling Bee on March 26. Everyone was visibly moved as they heard Christele’s story. Christele did not come to the U.S. for a better life; at 23, she came with her younger sister to stay alive. Christele shared how hard everything was at first. She knew no English when she arrived and she cried every day. A scholarship from First Literacy made it possible for Christele to continue her studies at Bunker Hill Community College. Listen to Christele's story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S64l97IAXk Make a gift today and help adult learners like Christele grow toward the futures they deserve! https://firstliteracy.org/donate/

First Literacy Scholar, Christele, shared her inspiring story at the First Literacy 36th Annual Spelling Bee. Christele did not come to the U.S. for a better...

05/14/2026

The 2026 First Literacy Spelling Bee trophy made it's way to Akamai Technologies yesterday, where it will remain with the championship team until next year. Congrats to Vika Zafrin, Emily Baum, and Denis Moskowitz on their 2026 win! 🏆🐝

05/12/2026

In recent years, remote learning has become a much more common way to deliver education, especially for adult learners. This shift has made learning more accessible in some ways, since students can join from home or other convenient locations. At the same time, it's also created new challenges, especially for students who aren’t familiar with the technology needed to participate in online classes. Our latest blog post offers tips for educators to help support adult learners in remote learning environments.

Challenges and advantages of remote learning for adult learners. Tips for educators to support adult learners in remote settings.