Twenty adults from 10 different countries gathered with family and friends at Boston City Hall on Thursday, August 15 to receive a college scholarship from First Literacy.
These adult students, who are from countries like Peru, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and El Salvador, received the awards at a ceremony presided by Mayor Marty Walsh in the Eagle Room.
“You’ve earned this scholarship with your hard work and by following your dreams. You are an inspiration to me, to the people of the City of Boston, and also your families. Your persistence and dedication are remarkable. You also prove that it’s never too late to get an education,” Walsh said.
Each of these First Literacy scholars is an outstanding adult learner, and each has recently obtained high school equivalency or graduated from an Adult Basic Education or English for Speakers of Other Languages program. Scholarships are awarded based on educational achievement and potential, community service, and perseverance in the face of hardships and obstacles. The $1,000 awards will help these committed adult students with their college expenses, including tuition, fees, and books.
First Literacy: Over 30 years changing lives
First Literacy’s connection to City Hall goes back 30 years, when then-Mayor Raymond Flynn approached several Boston business leaders, including Boston Globe publisher William O. Taylor, to obtain their support for a new nonprofit that would raise awareness and funds for adult learners. Originally called the Boston Adult Literacy Fund, the organization has been supporting community-based adult education ever since, through grants, technical assistance and professional development.
Since 1988, First Literacy has awarded nearly half a million dollars in scholarships to close to 500 adults, who have pursued careers in business and accounting, healthcare, education, computer science, and human services, among other fields. Some of these adults had dropped out of school for family or economic reasons; others came to this country with a dream of seizing new opportunities, but with limited English skills. All of them share a belief that education is essential to improving their own and their families’ lives, and so they have already overcome many obstacles to attend classes as adults, usually while working full-time at low wages, to obtain their high school equivalency or English proficiency.
