Summary of Accomplishments in 2024 (January-September):
LitNet has served 317 individuals so far in 2024, with 184 current active learners. 29 people remain on the waitlist.
Life Achievements:
- 23 learners passed a test or received licensure/certification including the HiSET exam, an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, a Massachusetts driver’s license, specialized driving licenses for trucking, ServSafe food handling certification, and medical assistant certification.
- 6 LitNet learners have become new citizens. They are from Dominican Republic, Peru, Colombia, Pakistan, and Brazil. Five of them were recipients of a LitNet-Keator Scholarship.
- 9 learners have become involved in the community, including leading an event, speaking at a professional conference or event, becoming a volunteer at Volunteers in Medicine, assisting with English instruction at a church, and participating in a LitNet storytelling event.
- 2 have received Green Cards.
- 2 bought new homes.
Employment:
- 24 got new jobs (some of those individuals have gotten multiple new jobs): 6 in restaurants, 4 in nursing/caregiving, and others in banking, grocery, ground maintenance, apparel, esthetics, and direct care in a residential facility.
- 11 were promoted, advanced in their careers, or received a raise.
- 4 started their own businesses in gardening, cleaning, and opening a Zumba studio.
Education:
- 127 learners were reported as demonstrating distinct improvements in the areas of English speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing as well as in civics for citizenship preparation and towards the GED exam.
- 12 learners enrolled in educational or professional training, including the ServeSafe food handling course, a medical assistant job training program, driver’s ed, a landscape management class, and business, hospitality, work training, or general classes at Berkshire Community College.
Summary of Accomplishments in 2023:
LitNet served 330 individuals in its 1:1 tutoring programs and 30 people in its First-Gen College Project community workshops. On average, LitNet hosted 184 active learners each month.
Life Achievements:
- 13 learners—originating from South Korea, Ireland, Dominican Republic, Poland, Brazil, the Philippines, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Ivory Coast, and Spain—became new citizens in 2023. All were recipients of the Keator Family Scholarship for New Americans.
- 11 learners passed a test or achieved licensure, such as a driver’s license.
- 6 learners became involved in the community, such as participating in a performance, joining an organization, or becoming a volunteer.
Employment:
- 18 learners got new jobs.
- 5 were promoted or advanced in their careers.
- 2 started their own business.
Education:
- 4 learners enrolled in new educational programs or professional training.
- 3 learners received a scholarship, grant, or special honor.
- 95 tutors reported their learners having improved their English speaking, comprehension, reading, and/or writing skills.
Summary of Accomplishments in 2022
(LitNet served 287 learners in 2022!)
Life Achievements
- Nine learners—originating from Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Mexico, Moldova, and Pakistan—have become U.S. citizens.
- Eleven learners, recipients of the LitNet Keator Family Scholarship for New Americans, are working with a tutor to prepare for citizenship and are hopeful to receive interviews in 2022.
- Colombian learner obtained her green card.
- Three LitNet learner couples bought Berkshire area homes.
Employment
- Brazilian learner opened a new restaurant in West Stockbridge (Amici’s!).
- Ecuadorian learner is working towards obtaining her real estate license.
- Cambodian learner was offered his first job in the United States.
- Peruvian learner is waiting to hear about acceptance into Southern New Hampshire University.
- Colombian learner was hired for a new job after doing role-playing interview exercises with his tutor.
Educational Goals
- Two illiterate adults, one American, and one Ghanaian, are now on their journey to learn to read.
- Ghanaian who is beginning to read successfully finished a storybook accompanying her primary phonics workbook.
- Colombian learner entered her second and final semester for her mental health worker certificate at Berkshire Community College.
- Latin American learner formed a club in her high school aimed at welcoming and including Latino peers in fun local activities.
- Dominican learner was accepted into a Ph.D. program at Cornell University.
- Latin American learner formed a club in her high school aimed at welcoming and including Latino peers in fun local activities.
- Dominican learner was accepted into a Ph.D. program at Cornell University.
- Colombian learner passed an intensive step in a scholarship application and was invited to proceed with the next step.
- Mexican learner achieved her GED.
Summary of Accomplishments in 2021
- 100 +/- learners improved their English Language Skills
- 16 Matthew and Hannah Keator Scholarships for New Americans were awarded to prospective U.S. citizens
- Five learners received a Diane Laurin Memorial Fund Scholarship, helping them to buy books or supplies to further their learning
- Four learners became U.S. citizens
- Two learners bought a home
- Two learners reconnected with reading, one reading her first book ever, another reading her first novel in over 20 years
- Learner who was a complete beginner English in early 2021 is now enrolled in a regular college program at BCC
- At least one learner earned a driver’s license
- At least one learner opened a library card
