IMPACT
Adult Literacy Empowers
Literacy likely affects every part of your life, though you may not notice. For the 43 million adults in the U.S. with low literacy skills, it’s impossible to ignore.
Adults with less than a high school diploma earn three times less than those with higher education. Adult literacy yields better economic outcomes and can improve job opportunities, family relationships, children’s education, health issues, and general quality of life.
At First Literacy, we are committed to helping adults in Massachusetts improve their literacy skills so they can succeed in every aspect of their lives. That means helping adult learners continue their education and championing the incredible teachers who are on the front lines of the fight for adult literacy. With help from you and many others, our impact is significant and life changing.
Our Impact 2023-2024
10,788
ADULT LEARNERS
benefited from First Literacy programs
321
ADULT LEARNERS
benefited from First Literacy Grant projects
39
CITIES
Cities and towns reached in Massachusetts
253
EDUCATORS
attended First Literacy workshops
1,127
HOURS
of free training helped adult educators in their classrooms
43
ADULT LEARNERS
received First Literacy scholarships to start or continue college
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
When you support First Literacy, you don’t just support the incredible students and teachers that are impacted by our work. It is estimated that bringing all adults to a sixth grade reading level would generate $2.2 trillion for the U.S. economy.
Adults with low literacy want to better their lives and contribute to the economy. Your donation can help make that possible.
FIRST LITERACY GRANTS
Since the introduction of the First Literacy Grants initiative in 2014, we have supported the development of innovative literacy programs across Massachusetts with unique hands-on technical support and field-wide sharing of project results.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FIRST LITERACY SCHOLARSHIPS
Since 1990, we have awarded over 600 scholarships to recent graduates of Massachusetts Adult Basic Education (ABE) or English (ESOL) language programs who are continuing to vocational training (including certificate programs) or higher education.
SCHOLAR STORIES
Nancary
In 2019, Nancary and her family came to the United States from the Dominican Republic to make a better life for themselves. Growing up...
Ana
Ana was born in Medellin, Colombia and faced financial hardship growing up after her family went bankrupt. They struggled with basic needs...
Bismillah
Bismillah grew up in Afghanistan where ongoing conflict made it extremely challenging to excel in school. He faced numerous challenges and...
Luis
Luis is from Nicaragua. In 2018, his life took a drastic turn. He was studying industrial engineering at the Engineering University of...