Center for New Americans
Education and Resources for Immigrants and Refugees in Western Massachusetts.
Center for New Americans (CNA) is a non-profit organization that offers resources to learn English to the undocumented, documented, and refugee migrants of Massachusetts Pioneer Valley.
“CNA welcome immigrants of all races, religions, and national origins.” (CNA)., because they believe in inclusiveness and the variety of traditions and skills that make CNA a multicultural center.
In addition to offering free English classes, CNA helps prepare Green Card residents for their Citizenship test and provides free legal support for various immigration services.
CNA is a community center that prepares adults in English as a Second Language (ESL) for their General Education Development Test (GED) and College Education. As well as to obtain the tools necessary to become involved in the community to maintain their independent stability.
Presential classes are offered in Amherst and Greenfield, MA., in the mornings.
Online classes are offered in the Northampton, MA., location.
For more details about placement tests, English levels, and schedules, visit their website https://cnam.org/about/ or call their respective locations at the following addresses.
Amherst, MA 01002 150 Fearing Street Amherst, MA 0100
phone number: (413) 239-9550.
Northampton: At the James House, 42 Ghotic Street, Northampton, MA 01060.
Phone number: 413 587 0084
Greenfield: 278 Main Street, Suite 411 Greenfield, MA 0130
Phone number: 413 772 0005.
Dr. Lindy Whiton, Jim Vaughan, and Phil Rabinowitz founded “The Literacy Project” in 1984, located in Amherst, MA., Greenfield, MA., Northampton, MA., and Orange, MA., and Ware, MA.
In 1987, The Literacy Project (TLP) was honored by “the Association for Community-Based Education as one of the BEST ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY” (TLP).
Greenfield Community Colleges hired Dr. Whiton, a trained reading specialist, to administrate a grant for a short-term program to teach adults to read. Mr.Vaughan volunteers in this program.
They were determined to continue the excellent work, even when the funding ended, because they realized how this program changes people’s lives in the community. Mr. Phil Rabinowitz liked the good deeds of this program and decided to join the work. The three established The Community Based Education as an independent non-profit agency called The Literacy Project.
Thanks to donations and the support of staff and volunteers, The Literacy Project has expanded to five locations with little funding but a passion for teaching adults English to enhance their social and economic opportunities.
Currently, the Literacy Project offers free classes in its five locations Amherst, MA., Greenfield, MA., Northampton, MA., Orange, MA., and Ware, MA. The following programs:
Amherst, MA 01002
413-259-1663 https://www.literacyproject.org/amherst-classroom
- Basic Literacy from 9:15 AM to 12:00 noon
- High school equivalency from 9:15 AM to 12:00 noon
- Colleges qualifications from 9:15 AM to 12:00 noon
- Job training
- Online classes
For more information on enrollment at a specific location, visit their website at https://www.literacyproject.org/classes-at-the-literacy-project. Or call at 413-774-3934 INFO@LITERACYPROJECT.ORG
Northampton, MA.
413- 584- 6755 At James House Community Center
42 Gothic Street, Northampton, MA 01060
website https://www.literacyproject.org/northampton-classroom
Schedules
• Basic Skills
Tuesday & Friday, in person from 9:30 AM. to 12:15. PM
• High School Equivalency classes in the morning are taught on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in person, from 9:30 AM. to 12:15. PM.
• High School Equivalency classes in the Afternoon are taught on Tuesday & Friday__Online from 11:00 AM to 1:145 PM.
Greenfield, MA
15 Bank Row, Suite D. Greenfield, MA 01301 413-774-3935
Website https://www.literacyproject.org/greenfield-classroom
• Intermediate level I
Monday & Wednesday in-person & online from 9:30 AM to 12:15 PM
• Intermediate level II
Monday & Friday in person from 9:30 AM to 12:15 PM
• High School Equivalency I
Monday & Wednesday in person from 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM
• Online Classes
On Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 2:PM
• High School Equivalency II
Tuesday & Thursday in person from 2:00 to 4:30 PM
Orange, MA.
131 West Main Street, Suite 100
Orange, MA 01364
978-544-8917 Website information https://www.literacyproject.org/orange-classroom
Ware
23 West Main Street, Suite 3
Ware, MA 01082
413-967-9902
Website Information https://www.literacyproject.org/ware-classroom
The Literacy Project. Class Information. (n.d.). The Literacy Project. https://www.literacyproject.org/classes-at-the-literacy-project
Chicopee, MA.
Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) began in 1965. VOC is one of the Communities in Action that emerged thanks to Democrat President Lyndon B. Johnson, who declared war on Poverty. VOC is one of Massachusetts’s 23 Communities Action Agencies borne out of response to President Johnson’s pledge to fight poverty.
Initially, VOC was a community outreach named The Opportunity and Regional Program. Currently, it supplies 30 programs that including
• Adult Basic Education
• childcare
• Food and Nutrition
• Energy Assistance
• Youth and Adult Programs
• Community Outreach
Adult Basic Education
Programs:
• Preparation for the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) or GED test.
• This preparation includes reading, writing, math, and digital literacy.
• There are lower levels of classes for beginners.
- Students of all income levels are welcome
Classes include:
- One-on-one tutoring support offered by volunteers
- Technology education is incorporated into all classes
- Advising and one-on-one assistance in résumé development, interviewing, and online job searching
- Advising to remove barriers to retention and to assist with the transition to college, training, or employment
- Referral to community resources
To register, call 413-612-0206 on the first Monday of the month.
Or visit their website at https://www.valleyopp.com/adult-programs/adult-basic-education
This website includes more than 100 languages!
Address:
Valley Opportunity Council. Adult Basic Education. (n.d.). https://www.valleyopp.com/adult-programs/adult-basic-education
