This year BALF is pleased to award $200,000 in major grants to seventeen Greater Boston literacy programs that have demonstrated a commitment to helping adults learn. Despite the many programs we are able to fund, the need continues to grow. Twenty-nine programs applied for funding totaling $494,500. With more support, BALF would be able to help more adults who need basic education skills.

ABCD Downtown Learning Program
BALF's grant supports two classes: an EDP class and a class for adults learning to read and write at the most basic level. ABCD offers a small class size as well as supplemental tutoring to adults who have limited basic reading and writing skills. There is a crucial need for this level class because few programs offer basic literacy level. BALF is pleased to continue helping ABCD make the basic level class and EDP class an integral part of its educational programming.

Association of Haitian Women (AFAB)
AFAB was founded in 1988 to provide Haitian women with the tools needed for self-empowerment and self-advocacy. AFAB provides educational workshops on health care, domestic violence, legal, and parenting issues. BALF's grant supports ESOL development which provides learners with skills for employment, higher education, and self-sufficiency.

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Association (BCNC)
BCNC offers ESOL classes and general support services to Chinese adults. BALF supports BCNC's Take-and-Give program, a tutor training program designed to alleviate the long wait list for ESOL classes. Take-and-Give has the added advantage of giving graduates an opportunity to practice their English. Recent graduates train to become tutors and then tutor adults from the waiting list.

Chinese Progressive Association (CPA)
CPA received a grant for beginning level ESOL classes for adults in Chinatown. The classes provide "survival" English to help these adults become more active participants in the Boston community. Using common themes such as going to the post office or situations at work, adult students learn grammar and the vocabulary they need in a meaningful context. CPA also offers citizenship classes and workshops on immigration and workers' rights.

DEAF, Inc.
The adults in this Allston-based program are conversant in American Sign Language but need to learn to read and write in English. By offering classes and tutoring to Deaf adults, DEAF, Inc. enables many adults to communicate with the hearing world and lead more independent lives. BALF helps fund ESOL classes for DEAF adults.

East Boston Ecumenical Community Council (EBECC)
BALF's grant to EBECC supports their ESOL teacher, childcare workers and space costs. Classes for mothers or expecting mothers teach English by using materials that focus on health and parenting issues.

Hyde Square Task Force
The Hyde Square Task Force began offering ESOL classes in response to requests from parents in this Jamaica Plain neighborhood. With long waiting lists elsewhere, the Task Force realized the need for more classes. Common themes of the class include helping parents advocate for their children and participate in their community. BALF funds part of the ESOL teacher's salary.

International Institute of Boston (IIB)
BALF supports IIB's basic ESOL literacy class for refugees who had little or no formal education in their native countries. With more newcomers lacking a secondary education or even basic literacy in their native language, demand for this class continues to increase. The IIB also provides counseling, legal assistance, and employment services to complement its educational program.

Jamaica Plain Adult Learning Program
BALF's grant funds the counselor at the Adult Learning Program. The counselor works with students in ABE, ESOL, EDP, and GED classes and organizes workshops on issues ranging from finding a job to violence prevention. Having on-site counseling available has increased attendance and retention rates.

Jewish Vocational Services (JVS)
JVS offers ESOL and EDP classes to immigrants and refugees with limited formal education in their native countries. BALF's grant supports a math class for students enrolled in ESOL classes, allowing them to develop their math skills in relation to daily life situations. BALF also helps fund literacy students who will be peer tutors in the computer lab.

Julie's Family Learning Program (Julie's)
Located in South Boston, Julie's supports the educational and emotional development of women and children from local housing developments. Julie's offers ABE and GED classes, support for further education or training, and childcare and Montessori classes. BALF funds a Career Counselor who helps women achieve the goals that they have set for themselves and their families.

Mujeres Unidas en Accion (MUA)
Located in Dorchester, MUA provides services to low-income Latina women and their families. MUA offers ESOL, Native Language Literacy, Pre-GED in Spanish, GED in Spanish and English, computer classes and citizenship classes. MUA also provides weekly health workshops and job readiness workshops. BALF supports operating expenses for the program.

Anthony D. Perkins Community Center
Anthony D. Perkins Community Center offers ABE, ESOL and EDP classes in Dorchester. BALF's grant supports a computer literacy class taught by former literacy students to meet the expanding needs of adult learners.

Project Hope
BALF's grant to Project Hope supports the Assistant Director and the health teacher. Project Hope specializes in serving women who are homeless, formerly homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Serving North Dorchester and Roxbury, Project Hope offers ABE and GED classes and complements them with support services and collaborations designed to help the women find employment or educational opportunities.

WAITT House
BALF supports the counselor/outreach position and the tutor/teacher position, both held by WAITT House graduates. WAITT House offers ABE and EDP classes to adults in the Dudley Square area and utilizes a variety of community resources to supplement class offerings with workshops and excursions.

Watertown Free Public Library - Project Literacy
Project Literacy is the only program offering adult literacy courses in Watertown. They offer a full spectrum of services, including ABE, ESOL, citizenship and computer classes. BALF's grant will support two ESOL courses and childcare during classtime.

The Welcome Project
Located in Somerville's Mystic Housing Development. The Welcome Project is a diverse coalition of residents who want to improve their lives through education and community activism. It began offering adult education classes in 1996. BALF's grant supports The Welcome Project's development as it works to strengthen its ESOL classes.

In addition to financial assistance, the programs that receive BALF grants are also eligible for technical assistance and the opportunity to network with other literacy programs. BALF matches programs that are facing similar issues to reduce isolation and to help serve adults more effectively. BALF is proud to have the chance to work with these outstanding programs.