Literacy Network welcomes Leesly Collins as bilingual learner liason at its new Pittsfield center

LitNet has hired Leesly Collins as a bilingual learner liaison for its newly opened LitNet Learning Center in the Crawford Mall at 137 North St. in Pittsfield. Collins, who is originally from Colombia and has been learning English with LitNet since 2022, joined the team on Aug. 21 and works part time as a point of contact for the organization’s 235 learners, more than 95 percent of whom are Spanish-speaking immigrants working with volunteer tutors. She brings a background in community advocacy, health education, and quality assurance, along with a degree in food engineering from La Salle University in Bogota and a Community Health Worker certification from Berkshire Community College. The new center, which opened Sept. 1, hosts tutoring sessions, workshops, meetings, and group classes while giving learners a place to study, read, and connect. Open house events are planned for November, and LitNet will continue operating out of its Lee office at 32 Park St.