city_hall

Official websites use .boston.gov

A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.

lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Last updated:

Adult Literacy Initiative

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

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
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
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
Grades: 4-12 
Level: 1-6
Hours per week: 6, 9
Schedule: Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages
ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
BHA Charlestown Adult Education 76 Monument Street,
Charlestown, MA
02129
Lori D'Alleva
617-635-5221
cccae@comcast.net
Focus: ABE
Level: Grades 4-12
Hours per week: 5.25
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Asian American Civic Association 87 Tyler Street,
Boston, MA
02111
Shinobu Ando
617-426-9492
x222
Shinobuando@aaca-boston.org

Focus: ESOL
Level: Student Performance Level 3 - 6
Hours per week: 8-9
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center 38 Ash Street,
Boston, MA
02111
Shirley Doan
617-635-5129
shirley.doan@bcnc.net
Focus: ESOL
Level: Student Performance Level 0-7
Hours per week: 9
Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

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
Mujeres Unidas Avanzando 54 Clayton Street, 
Dorchester, MA
02122
Johannah Malone
617-282-3500
johannahmalone@gmail.com
Focus: ABE
Level: Grades 0-12
Hours per week: 8-10
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
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

Name Address Contact Class Information
Irish International Immigrant Center 1 State Street,
Suite 800,
Boston, MA
02129
Erin Chubb
617-542-7654
echubb@iiicenter.org
Focus: ESOL
Level: N/A
Hours per week: N/A
Schedule: Morning/Evening
International Institute of New England 2 Boylston Street, 
3rd Floor,
Boston, MA
02116
Alexandra Weber
617-695-9990
aweber@iine.org
Focus: ESOL
Level: Student Performance Level 0-6
Hours per week: 9
Schedule: Evening 
Jewish Vocational Service 75 Federal Street,
3rd Floor,
Boston, MA
02110
Martin O'Brien
617-399-3131
MO'Brien@jvs-boston.org
Focus: ABE
Level: Grades 4-12
Hours per week: 9
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
YMCA International Learning Center 100 Franklin Street,
Lower Level,
Boston, MA
02110
Sarah Poole 
617-927-8244
international@ymcaboston.org
Focus: ESOL
Level: Student Performance Level 0-6
Hours per week: 9
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

ABE: Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
East Boston Harborside Community Center 312 Border Street,
Boston, MA
02128
Carol A. Baglio
617-635-5114
cbaglio@ebhcs.org
Focus: ABE
Level: Grades 1-3
Hours per week: 6.75
Schedule: Evening

ABE = Adult Basic Learning

Name Address Contact Class Information
Jewish Vocational Service 35 Harvard Ave,
Hyde Park, MA
02136
Riva Pearson
617-699-9116
rpearson@jvs-boston.org
Focus: ESOL
Level: Student Performance Level 1-3
Hours per week: 9 
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

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
Jamaica Plain Community Center (English High School) 144 McBride Street,
Room 117,
Jamaica Plain, MA
02130
Joyce Henderson
617-635-5201
jehenderson.jpcc@gmail.com
Focus: ABE
Level: Grade 4-12
Hours per week: 9-12
Schedule: Evening 
X-Cel Education 7 Glenvale Terrace,
Jamaica Plain, MA
02130
Don Sands
617-522-2590
dsands@xceleducation.org

Focus: ABE
Level: Grade 4-12
Hours per week: N/A
Schedule: Morning/Evening 

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

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: 10.5-12
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Name Address Contact Class Information
ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway 714 Parker Street,
Boston, MA
02120
Alyssa Bacon
617-445-6000
Alyssa.bacon@bostonabcd.org
Focus: ESOL
Level: Student Performance Level 1-3
Hours per week: 6
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

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

Name Address Contact Class Information
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

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Laboure Center Adult Education 275 West Broadway,
South Boston, MA
02127
Veronica Robson
617-464-8551
Veronica_robson@ccab.org
Focus: ESOL
Level: N/A
Hours per week: N/A
Schedule: Monday/Evening
NDEC, Julie's Family Literacy 133 Dorchester Street,
South Boston, MA
02127

Anna Fernandez-Buehrens
617-269-6663
X34
afernandez-buehrens@juliesfamily.org

Focus: ABE
Level: Grades 1-3
Hours per week: 14
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of others languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Educational Development Group 434 Massachusetts Ave,
Boston, MA
02118
Frances Laroche
617-357-5717
frances@edginc.org
Focus: ESOL
Level: Student Performance Level 0-3
Hours per week: 25
Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Program Map

Volunteer

ALI member organizations are frequently looking for volunteers. You can contact program directors directly to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

Back to top