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partners
The MLF collaborates with leading businesses, educational institutions and organizations to develop and deliver literacy education initiatives that support the goals of the Commonwealth. We salute our partners in literacy.
- Herald Media
- Verizon Foundation
- Nellie Mae Education Foundation
- The Immigrant Learning Center
- Massachusetts Department of Education
- The Boston Foundation
- Got Books?
- UMass Boston
- The Renewable Energy Trust
- Houghton Mifflin
- The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
To become an MLF partner
To discover how to a partnership with the MLF could benefit your organization, please contact Carol Anne Conroy. cconroy@bostonherald.com, 617.619.6223.
partner news & events
Verizon announces finalists in 2010 Verizon ESL Technology Awards
Congratulations to the 14 finalist winners and to the Massachusetts Literacy Champions who programs were recognized at the event.
The Verizon Foundation will help thousands of adult learners across Massachusetts and Rhode Island improve their literacy skills through innovative, technology-based literacy programs. At an awards ceremony today at the Worcester Public Library, officials announced that the Verizon Foundation has awarded a total of $125,000 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations that offer English as a Second Language (ESL) literacy programs throughout the two states. The grants will enable these organizations to expand their reach into diverse communities through the use of broadband and video technologies.
"Verizon is committed to helping people in the communities we serve gain the literacy skills needed to participate in and contribute to our economy more effectively,” said Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president of New England. “Literacy is a critical component to helping people succeed in the 21st century. We are proud to support organizations that provide immigrant learners with the necessary tools to lead happy and productive lives right here in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.”
Laurie D’Amico, director of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester, said, “Every year hundreds of immigrants and refugees come to the Worcester Public Library seeking English language classes that will provide them with a life line to new opportunities. Verizon is a national beacon in the advancement of literacy and a very generous supporter of our organization. The entire Worcester community is enriched by Verizon’s commitment.”
The 2010 ESL Technology Grant winners are:
Massachusetts Finalists:
Asian American Civic Association (Boston); Adult ESOL Project
The Asian American Civic Association will expand its Adult ESOL project capacity by adding an intermediate-level class. The purpose of adding an intermediate level is in response to the need of the students to bridge the gap between numerous lower-level ESOL classes in Chinatown and higher educational next steps - community colleges, job training, and alternative high school diploma programs such as EDP and GED as well as higher level of employment. The project will enable students to use technology to enrich their learning experience. Students will be oriented to use respected web-based learning tools to develop work and job readiness skills.
Center for New Americans (Northampton); English through Conversation and Technology
Center for New Americans (CNA) offers a spectrum of classes in Amherst, Greenfield, and Northampton. CNA relies on a vibrant and participatory learning model that actively involves students in designing curricula that is meaningful and responsive to individual and group needs. CNA's language classes, technology classes, employment counseling, and other services are all designed to meet learners where they are and give them the skills as well as the cultural understanding to participate fully in the economic and civic life of their new communities.
College Bound Dorchester (Dorchester); ESOL Technology Integration Project
College Bound Dorchester will integrate a new technology model in its ESOL programs. A dual instructional model will give more adult English language learners access to high level instruction in technology. In an increasingly technological world, basic computer literacy is a necessity for students as they apply their language skills toward their personal goals of finding jobs, supporting their children or becoming citizens. Students will learn skills that will improve their employability and quality of life. Further integration of technology into the traditional language courses will increase students comfort in using computers which instructors believe will also allow students to take advantage of advanced language software.
English at Large (Medford); Learner and Volunteer Networks – Using Technology to Build an English at Large Community
English at Large expand their regional volunteer networks designed to provide in-service trainings, and places for tutors to share ideas. Creating online communities for students will provide opportunities to expand their language skills, share successes, learn more about American culture and meet other learners. Separate volunteer and learner networks will be useful for members to communicate effectively with other members in their respective groups. Topical forums such as reading, pronunciation, TOEFL, and citizenship using instructional resources from Verizon Thinkfinity.org will help motivate and enable learners and volunteers to improve their skills in an independent environment.
Friends of West Springfield Public Library (West Springfield)l; West Springfield Public Library ESOL Program
The ESOL program at the West Springfield Public Library addresses several social issues from economic and employment issues to socialization and participation in the community. The program is designed to benefit persons of low to moderate income in West Springfield and the community at large. Students are typically adults who are in the workforce and under-employed or older members of larger families who often have few opportunities to learn English in a formal setting. Verizon Thinkfinity.org resources will be used to train volunteers to work one-on-one with students who would like more intensive practice.
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester (Worcester); Rosetta Stone Training
Rosetta Stone Literacy Training provides critical instruction in English literacy to the Worcester and Central Massachusetts' population. Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester, in partnership with the Worcester Public Library will provide adult, non-English speakers with the opportunity to better adapt economically and culturally in our community through improved English communication skills. The program provides a "jumpstart" experience for those who are awaiting one-on-one ESOL tutoring, thus decreasing their overall need for personal tutoring in ESOL instruction.
Ludlow Area Adult Learning Center
The Ludlow Area Adult Learning Center will increase the technological literacy of adult learners by integrating the use of technology in a more comprehensive, regular, and imaginative way to support basic ESOL instruction. The goal is to help students transition to better jobs, job training, higher education, and be more engaged family and civic life. The center also will use Verizon Thinkfinity.org as a resource to supplement the curriculum, and develop best classroom practices for the integration of technology directly into the ESOL classroom.
North Shore Community College Foundation (Danvers); North Shore ESL Community Partnership
North Shore Community College Foundation’s goal is to link community based ESL to College credit programming through the implementation of a component that integrates technology-based resources for teaching ESL into the curriculum of the partner organizations. A more unified system of ESL instruction will lead to postsecondary education for residents of the service region. As a result of the project, trained staff at the community sites will be able to use a variety of high impact technology rich strategies to reach and serve adult and young adult English Language Learners in their communities and help them advance educationally as well as prepare for fulfilling careers.
Operation Bootstrap (Lynn); Operation Bootstrap Online English
Operation Bootstrap’s Distance Learning Program – Online English will be expanded to include more sophisticated programs to facilitate interaction between students such as a common web portal for all students, and a social networking-type program to allow greater interaction between students and tutors. It will also be used to develop a more effective web-based tutor training component, namely the Thinkfinity Literacy Network's free online courses to train the program manager, and volunteers in the best literacy instruction and lifelong learning habits. These enhancements are aimed at increasing achievement by a greater percentage online students as well as greater retention.
Quincy Asian Resources (Quincy); Adult Education Program
Quincy Asian Resources (QARI) will be expanding their current ESOL program to provide providing student support and citizenship instruction through the use of technology. QARI's current core adult ESOL program consists of 6 classes per semester of listening, speaking, reading, and writing instruction, following an established curriculum. Technology improvements will greatly expand the ESOL program capacity and impact, in addition to providing more learning time these improvements will alleviate the cultural and linguistic barriers students face as new immigrants. Through QARI’s bi-lingual outreach specialist students will articulate goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely, and take into account the particular learner's level and abilities.
Top Floor Learning (Palmer); ESL for the Future
Top Floor Learning is the only organization in the Quaboag Hills region that offers a comprehensive range of ESL services. ESL learners need to improve their English language skills as quickly as possible to have access to better-paying employment opportunities and move out of the low- to moderate-income bracket. Volunteers will be using web resources, practice tests, practice interviews and Thinkfinity.org resources to deliver ESL & citizenship instruction. This program also will address the “digital divide” ESL learners face when learning technology skills; computer classes will be designed specifically for ESL learners and offered weekly.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Foundation (Dartmouth); ESOL Technology Solutions Classes
ESOL Technology Solutions classes offered by UMass Dartmouth Foundation increases the language and literacy levels of our adult learners through phonics software tutorials, and the use Thinkfinity.org as a learning resource. By targeting students who need either intensive phonics intervention and/or additional work in the four modalities of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing UMass will be able to drastically improve reading levels of the participants. ESOL Technology Solutions classes will be focused on removing barriers those with limited literacy skills face, such as communicating with health care providers, children's school and care providers, and civic engagement.
Rhode Island Finalists:
Community College of Rhode Island Foundation (Lincoln); ESL World of Work
Community College of Rhode Island’s (CCRI) ESL World of Work programs provide a systemic framework for reconfiguring education programs to meet the current and future needs of employed and unemployed learners, employers and industry sectors. Though personalized hands-on instruction, ESOL students will acquire the competence and confidence to use web-based technology so they can function as independent learners and utilize the range of distance learning opportunities offered by CCRI and other educational entities for academic purposes, such as taking online courses in pursuit of a certificate, credential or degree.
Progresso Latino (Central Falls); Progresso Latino Self Learning Expansion Project
Progresso Latino will expand its innovative self learning project that will be integrated and piloted in two adult secondary education (ASE) classrooms. The teachers also will acquire Thinkfinity certification as a tool for lesson planning. Students will be connected to and guided in the usage of the appropriate self learning materials and tools that they will be using outside of class in-conjunction to their classroom textbooks and workbooks. Students will become proficient at self-learning strategies and how to build strong study tactics.
Each of the winning programs will use Verizon’s online education portal, Thinkfinity.org, as a resource to reinforce students’ literacy skills.
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