Last updated: 3/8/24

Adult Literacy Initiative

A consortium of adult literacy programs throughout the City of Boston.

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The Boston Adult Literacy Initiative (ALI) is a collection of adult literacy programs. Programs provide adult learners with a wide range of services, including:

basic literacy skills classes
high school equivalency exam preparation
distance learning
job skills training
college preparation, and
English language classes for non-native speakers.

Find a Program in Your Neighborhood

Find a Program

Allston-Brighton

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Gardner Pilot Academy Adult Education Program	30 Athol Street, Allston, MA 02134	Michelle Duval 617-635-8365 m.duval@live.com	Focus: ESOL ESOL Level: Basic, Beginner, Advanced Hours per week: 5 Schedule: evening
Jackson Mann Community School	500 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02134	Carolline Pontoppidan De Paula 617-635-5153 carolline.depaula@jacksonmanncc.org	Focus: ABE, ESOL ABE Grades: 9-12 ESOL Level: 1-6 Hours per week: ABE 6, ESOL 9 Schedule: Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Charlestown

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Charlestown Adult Education, Workforce, and Reentry	76 Monument Street, Charlestown, MA 02129	Lori D'Alleva 617-337-5612 cccae@comcast.net	Focus: ESOL, ABE Level: All Levels Hours per week: 20 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Chinatown

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Asian American Civic Association (AACA)	87 Tyler Street, Boston, MA 02111	Shinobu Ando 617-426-9492 x223 Shinobuando@aaca-boston.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-7 Hours per week: 5-8 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon Note: Daytime ESOL synchronous classes as well as asynchronous ESOL class available.
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)	38 Ash Street, Boston, MA 02111	Stephen Hunter 617-249-2995 stephen.hunter@bcnc.net	Focus: ESOL, Customer Service Skills Training Level: Student Performance Level 0-4 Hours per week: 10 Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Dorchester

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
BCYF Perkins Adult Learning Program	155 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124	Papa Diop 617-635-1894 papa.diop@boston.gov	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 2-5 Hours per week: 9 Schedule: Evening
Haitian Multi-Service Center	185 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02121	Phillip Howard 617-508-6600 phillip_howard@ccab.org	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 0-12 Hours per week: 6-16 Schedule: Morning/Evening
IFSI-USA Adult Education Program	Various sites are available, including in Dorchester.	Makendi Henry Alce 617-322-1348 alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org	Focus: ESOL Level: 1-4 Hours per week: 5 Schedule: Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening Note: Interested students should visit the Mattapan main office to register or visit the website.
Mujeres Unidas Avanzando	54 Clayton Street, Dorchester, MA 02122	Johannah Malone 617-282-3500 contact@muaboston.org	Focus: ESOL, ABE ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-6 ABE Grades: 5-12 Hours per week: 8-9 Schedule: Morning/Evening Note: The ABE program is in Spanish only.
St. Mark Community Education Program	25 Beach Street, Dorchester, MA 02122	Mike Oliver 617-288-8515 stmarkesol@gmail.com	Focus: ESOL, Citizenship Level: Basic level, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 Hours per week: 5 Schedule: Evening/Weekend

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Downtown

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Bridge Academy)	47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111	Diana Saintil, Ed.M. 617- 982-7006 dsaintil@bridgeotw.org	Focus: ABE Level: All Levels Hours per week: 20 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon Note: Bridge Academy is committed to mobilizing resources for students through education and career development to facilitate self-sufficiency.
International Institute of New England Boston	2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116	Kristan Fitah 617-695-9990 kfitah@iine.org	Focus: ESOL Level: All Levels Hours per week: 9 Schedule: Morning/Evening
Jewish Vocational Service, Bridges to College & Careers	75 Federal Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110	Rachael DeNoncour 617-399-3324 rdenoncour@jvs-boston.org	Focus: Pre-College Hours per week: 12 Schedule: Morning/Evening
The Rian Immigrant Center	1 State Street, Boston, MA 02109	Joseph Valle 617-542-7654 jvalle@riancenter.org	Focus: ESOL, Citizenship, Career Advising, Computer Classes ESOL Level: 1-3 Hours per week: ESOL 4 Schedule: Morning/Evening
YMCA International Learning Center	100 Franklin Street, Lower Level, Boston, MA 02110	Hailan Wang 617-927-8244 lwang@ymcaboston.org	Focus: ESOL Level: 1-5 Hours per week: 7.5 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

ABE: Adult Basic Education

East Boston

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
East Boston Harborside Community School	312 Border Street, Boston, MA 02128	Carol A. Baglio 617-635-5114 cbaglio@ebhcs.org	Focus: ESOL, ABE ABE Grade: 0-12 ESOL Level: 0-7 Hours per week: 6.75 Schedule: Evening
YMCA International Learning Center	215 Bremen Street, Boston, MA 02128	Hailan Wang 617-927-8244 lwang@ymcaboston.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 1-5 Hours per week: 7.5 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening Note: Interested students should visit the Downtown main office to register or visit the website.

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Learning

Hyde Park

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Jewish Vocational Service (Hyde Park)	35 Harvard Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136	Riva Pearson 617-699-9116 rpearson@jvs-boston.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Pre-beginner-4 Hours per week: 9 Schedule: Morning

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Jamaica Plain

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
El Centro de Cardenal Cushing Center	19 St. Joseph Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Lydia Spataru 617-552-4040 lydia_spataru@ccab.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-7 Hours per week: 20 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
IFSI-USA Adult Education Program	Various sites are available, including in Jamaica Plain.	Makendi Henry Alce 617-322-1348 alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org	Focus: ESOL Level: 1-4 Hours per week: 5 Schedule: Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening Note: Interested students should visit the Mattapan main office to register or visit the website.
Jamaica Plain Community Centers Adult Learning Program	20 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Amina Hilowle 617-356-7102 info@jpadulted.org	Focus: ESOL, ABE, CNA Training ESOL Level: Basic Literacy to Level 5 ABE Grade: 1 & 2 Hours per week: 9-12 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/ Evening Note: Classes are in-person, virtual and hybrid.

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Mattapan

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Action For Boston Community Development	535 River Street, Mattapan, MA 02126	Cheyenne Deveney 617-298-2045 Cheyenne.deveney@bostonabcd.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-7 Hours per week: 6 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
IFSI-USA Adult Education Program	1626 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126	Makendi Henry Alce 617-322-1348 alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org	Focus: ESOL Level: 1-4 Hours per week: 5 Schedule: Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening Note: Interested students should visit the Mattapan main office to register or visit the website.

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Mission Hill

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Educational Development Group (EDG)	1534 Tremont Street, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120	Frances Laroche 617-357-5717 frances@edginc.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Low Beginner, High Beginner & Intermediate Hours per week: 12-16 Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Roslindale

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Action For Boston Community Development	19 Corinth Street, Roslindale, MA 02131	Lisa Garrone 617-327-1152 x204 Lisa.garrone@bostonabcd.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-7 Hours per week: 6 Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

Roxbury

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Action For Boston Community Development	714 Parker Street, Roxbury, MA 02120	Amauris Ferreiras 857-399-9144 amauris.ferreiras@bostonabcd.org	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-7 Hours per week: 6 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening
Boston Public School	55 Malcom X Blvd, Roxbury, MA 02120	Kristen D'Avolio 617-635-9300 kdavolio@bostonpublicschools.org	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 8-12 Hours per week: 9-10.5 Schedule: Morning
Project Hope	550 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119	Patricia Goulbourne 617-442-1880 x253 pgoulbourne@prohope.org	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 4-12 Hours per week: 12 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
X-Cel Education	39 Smith Street, Roxbury, MA 02119	Don Sands 617-504-6261 x-cel@x-celeducation.org	Focus: ABE, Post-secondary Support Level: Grade 4-12 Hours per week: N/A Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

South Boston

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information
Laboure Adult Education Center	275 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127	Rosalba Yanez 617-464-8551 laboure_esol@ccab.org	Focus: ESOL Level: 1-5 Hours per week: 16 Schedule: Monday/Evening
Julie's Family Learning Program	133 Dorchester Street, South Boston, MA 02127	Anna Fernandez-Buehrens Call 617-269-6663 ext. 34, Text 617-297-7828 registration@juliesfamily.org	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 0-12 Hours per week: 8-20 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening