Nine Boston Residents to be Honored at Scholarship Ceremony Hosted by the City of Boston Worker Empowerment Cabinet

Emani Ruiz, First Literacy Scholar, pictured with Trinh Nguyen, Chief of Worker Empowerment, at the 2025 First Literacy Scholarship Ceremony. Photo Credit: Gregory Ciccarelli.

BOSTON, MA – On Wednesday, September 2, the City of Boston Worker Empowerment Cabinet will host the 2026 First Literacy Scholarship Ceremony in The Great Hall in Boston’s Faneuil Hall. The ceremony will celebrate 20 adult learners who were awarded First Literacy Scholarships for the 2026-2027 school year.

Thanks to a grant from the City of Boston Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT), First Literacy is providing critical financial and academic support to nine adult learners who live in Boston. NJT funding supports local organizations that provide residents with job training and support services that address the needs of Boston’s workforce, enabling them to enter career pathways and obtain higher-paying jobs.

The nine Boston residents who received scholarships are: Kathleen Altidor, Kettie Chery, Geremias Isaac Gomez Gomez, LaToya Graddy, Monique John, Mamadou Lamine Bah, Angelina Reyes, and Emani Ruiz.

Since the Scholarship Program began in 1990, First Literacy has awarded nearly 700 scholarships to adult learners throughout Massachusetts. Awards are given in recognition of educational achievements and potential, community service, and perseverance in the face of hardship. Eligibility is based on a nomination from the student’s Adult Basic Education program, acceptance to a college or training program, and proof of financial need.

For the third consecutive year, Trinh Nguyen will serve as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Nguyen serves as the Chief of Worker Empowerment, and the Director of the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) for the City of Boston. As the OWD Director, she launched initiatives such as the Tuition-Free Community College Program, the Greater Boston American Apprenticeships, and career pathways leading to living wage jobs in the healthcare, clean energy, and construction sectors.

Like First Literacy, OWD plays a vital role in supporting Boston’s Adult Basic Education programs under Chief Nguyen’s leadership. Through its Adult Literacy Initiative (ALI), and in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS), OWD provides essential funding and support for ESOL classes, basic literacy instruction, and high school equivalency preparation. These programs equip learners with the skills needed for further education, workforce training, and meaningful employment.

“First Literacy continues to do excellent work strengthening Boston’s workforce development ecosystem and creating opportunities that improve the economic stability and mobility of Boston residents,” said Trinh Nguyen, Chief of Worker Empowerment. “The City of Boston is proud to invest in this important work and support First Literacy’s continued impact in communities across our city.”

Emani Ruiz, a Boston resident, is a second-year scholar who will continue her studies this fall at Roxbury Community College.

“My goal is to become a teacher,” said Ruiz. “Although my educational goals have not changed much, my determination and confidence in myself have grown tremendously. First Literacy’s support has truly helped me continue pursuing my education with confidence and motivation.”

Emani was raised by her grandmother due to her parents’ struggles with addiction. She experienced severe instability during her adolescence and often lacked necessities like food and transportation, which made it difficult to attend school. Dealing with these struggles at home, she eventually fell behind in her studies. Determined to take control of her life, Emani committed herself to rebuilding her self-esteem and sense of purpose. Through Julie’s Family Learning Program, Emani was able to enroll her son in daycare and obtain her GED. Soon after, she was nominated for a First Literacy scholarship.

“Education changes the trajectory of a person’s life, and that opportunity should be within reach at every stage of adulthood,” said Dr. Johnathan K. Jefferson, President of Roxbury Community College. “We are proud to celebrate Emani and the other scholarship students who will use this award to pursue new skills and opportunities. Their determination is a reminder that when we invest in adult learners, we strengthen the communities we all call home.”

First Literacy has awarded more than a half million dollars in scholarships to adult learners, who have pursued careers in business, accounting, healthcare, education, computer science, and human services, among other fields. All first-year scholarship recipients receive $1,500 to pursue vocational training or higher education, with the opportunity to receive an additional $1,500 for their second semester if they meet First Literacy’s requirements.

“We are deeply grateful to the City of Boston Neighborhood Jobs Trust for its investment in adult learners,” said Terry Witherell, First Literacy Executive Director. “This funding does more than help cover the cost of college; it opens doors to opportunity, allowing students to pursue their dreams, build meaningful careers, and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.”