First Literacy announced it awarded more than $34,000 in grant funding to eight organizations across Massachusetts to boost adult basic education and English language learning.
The recipients include nonprofits from Haverhill and Framingham, Roxbury and Worcester; half of them are repeat winners awarded a second year of funding to grow successful pilot programs.
“These pilot programs meet essential needs that are often not fundable through other sources,” said Terry Witherell,the organization’s executive director, in a statement.
Organizations receiving funding for a second year include the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center’s AI powered English learning program, Community Action, Inc.’s summer English learning program , Blue Hills Adult Education’s digital literacy intensive, and Salem’s The House of Seven Gables Museum’s career-centered English language learning class.
The organizations were awarded $2,703, $2,449, $3,371, and $2,500, respectively, according to the First Literacy website.
In addition to receiving a second year of funding, The House of the Seven Gables is partnering with Brockton Workers Alliance for its six-week intensive course.
Both organizations received $1,000 through a “Replication Grant” to expand the program and extend its opportunities to varying communities, according to the statement.
The Somali Development Center in Roxbury received the largest grant , totaling $7,140, to support adult immigrant learners, according to First Literacy’s website.
First Literacy said the learners, many of whom are from Afghanistan and Somalia, struggle with reading and writing in English, which limits their ability to succeed in English-language learning classes. The grant will pilot a program to use evidence-based literacy practices, including phonics, in supporting their needs.
Framingham Adult ESL Plus was granted $5,000 to help bridge the gap between the technical skills and English language proficiency of female students working in residential cleaning, according to First Literacy’s website. The seminar will prepare students for topics such as emergency response protocols and navigating client service agreements.
In Worcester, Senior Connection Inc. was awarded $4,500 to pilot a digital literacy and independence workshop for grandparents who serve as their grandchildren’s primary caregivers.
Julie’s Family Learning Program in Boston received $4,800 this year for a two-part pilot program on AI literacy. The pilot will see a mini-launch in summer before a full launch in fall.
“By investing in new approaches to Adult Basic Education, we can help educators address emerging needs, strengthen student outcomes, and remove barriers to learning for more adults,” Witherell said.
In addition to its annual grants, First Literacy provides free professional development workshops for instructors and scholarships for adults.
Madyline Swearing can be reached at madyline.swearing@globe.com.