Last updated: 2/24/25

Adult Literacy Initiative

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

Page Sections

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

Name	Gardner Pilot Academy Adult Education Program

Address	30 Athol Street, Allston, MA 02134

Contact	Michelle Duval 617-635-8365 m.duval@live.com

Class Information	Focus: ESOL ESOL Level: Basic, Beginner, Advanced Hours per week: 5 Schedule: evening

Name	Jackson/Mann Community Center's Adult Education Program

Address	40 Armington St, Allston, MA 02134

Contact	Carolline Pontoppidan De Paula 617-635-5153 carolline.depaula@jacksonmanncc.org

Class Information	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

Name	Charlestown Adult Education, Workforce, and Reentry

Address	76 Monument Street, Charlestown, MA 02129

Contact	Lori D'Alleva 617-337-5612 cccae@comcast.net

Class Information	Focus: ESOL, ABE Level: All Levels Hours per week: 20 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Chinatown

Name	Address	Contact	Class Information

Name	Asian American Civic Association (AACA)

Address	87 Tyler Street, Boston, MA 02111

Contact	Shinobu Ando 617-426-9492 x223 Shinobuando@aaca-boston.org

Class Information	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.

Name	Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)

Address	38 Ash Street, Boston, MA 02111

Contact	Stephen Hunter 617-249-2995 stephen.hunter@bcnc.net

Class Information	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

Name	BCYF Perkins Adult Learning Program

Address	155 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124

Contact	Papa Diop 617-635-1894 papa.diop@boston.gov

Class Information	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 2-5 Hours per week: 9 Schedule: Evening

Name	Haitian Multi-Service Center

Address	185 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02121

Contact	Phillip Howard 617-508-6600 phillip_howard@ccab.org

Class Information	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 0-12 Hours per week: 6-16 Schedule: Morning/Evening

Name	IFSI-USA Adult Education Program

Address	Various sites are available, including in Dorchester.

Contact	Makendi Henry Alce 617-322-1348 alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org

Class Information	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.

Name	Mujeres Unidas Avanzando

Address	54 Clayton Street, Dorchester, MA 02122

Contact	Johannah Malone 617-282-3500 contact@muaboston.org

Class Information	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.

Name	St. Mark Community Education Program

Address	25 Beach Street, Dorchester, MA 02122

Contact	Mike Oliver 617-288-8515 stmarkesol@gmail.com

Class Information	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

Name	Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Bridge Academy)

Address	47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

Contact	Diana Saintil, Ed.M. 617- 982-7006 dsaintil@bridgeotw.org

Class Information	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.

Name	International Institute of New England Boston

Address	2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116

Contact	Kristan Fitah 617-695-9990 kfitah@iine.org

Class Information	Focus: ESOL Level: All Levels Hours per week: 9 Schedule: Morning/Evening

Name	Jewish Vocational Service, Bridges to College & Careers

Address	75 Federal Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110

Contact	Rachael DeNoncour 617-399-3324 rdenoncour@jvs-boston.org

Class Information	Focus: Pre-College Hours per week: 12 Schedule: Morning/Evening

Name	YMCA International Learning Center

Address	100 Franklin Street, Lower Level, Boston, MA 02110

Contact	Hailan Wang 617-927-8244 lwang@ymcaboston.org

Class Information	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

Name	East Boston Harborside Community School

Address	312 Border Street, Boston, MA 02128

Contact	Carol A. Baglio 617-635-5114 cbaglio@ebhcs.org

Class Information	Focus: ESOL, ABE ABE Grade: 0-12 ESOL Level: 0-7 Hours per week: 6.75 Schedule: Evening

Name	YMCA International Learning Center

Address	215 Bremen Street, Boston, MA 02128

Contact	Hailan Wang 617-927-8244 lwang@ymcaboston.org

Class Information	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

Name	Jewish Vocational Service (Hyde Park)

Address	35 Harvard Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136

Contact	Riva Pearson 617-699-9116 rpearson@jvs-boston.org

Class Information	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

Name	IFSI-USA Adult Education Program

Address	Various sites are available, including in Jamaica Plain.

Contact	Makendi Henry Alce 617-322-1348 alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org

Class Information	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.

Name	Jamaica Plain Community Centers Adult Learning Program

Address	20 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Contact	Amina Hilowle 617-356-7102 info@jpadulted.org

Class Information	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

Name	Action For Boston Community Development

Address	535 River Street, Mattapan, MA 02126

Contact	Cheyenne Deveney 617-298-2045 Cheyenne.deveney@bostonabcd.org

Class Information	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-7 Hours per week: 6 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

Name	IFSI-USA Adult Education Program

Address	1626 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126

Contact	Makendi Henry Alce 617-322-1348 alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org

Class Information	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

Name	Educational Development Group (EDG)

Address	1534 Tremont Street, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120

Contact	Frances Laroche 617-357-5717 frances@edginc.org

Class Information	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

Name	Action For Boston Community Development

Address	19 Corinth Street, Roslindale, MA 02131

Contact	Lisa Garrone 617-327-1152 x204 Lisa.garrone@bostonabcd.org

Class Information	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

Name	Action For Boston Community Development

Address	714 Parker Street, Roxbury, MA 02120

Contact	Amauris Ferreiras 857-399-9144 amauris.ferreiras@bostonabcd.org

Class Information	Focus: ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-7 Hours per week: 6 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

Name	Boston Public School

Address	55 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury, MA 02120

Contact	Kristen D'Avolio 617-635-9300 kdavolio@bostonpublicschools.org

Class Information	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 8-12 Hours per week: 9-10.5 Schedule: Morning

Name	Catholic Charities - El Centro Adult Education

Address	1785 Columbus Avenue, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02119

Contact	Veronica Robson 617-506-6690 elcentro@ccab.org

Class Information	Focus: ESOL Level: Beginner to Advanced & Transition to College Level Hours per week: 12-20 Schedule: Morning

Name	Project Hope

Address	550 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

Contact	Patricia Goulbourne 617-442-1880 x253 pgoulbourne@prohope.org

Class Information	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 4-12 Hours per week: 12 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

Name	X-Cel Education

Address	39 Smith Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

Contact	Don Sands 617-504-6261 x-cel@x-celeducation.org

Class Information	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

Name	Laboure Adult Education Center

Address	275 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

Contact	Rosalba Yanez 617-464-8551 laboure_esol@ccab.org

Class Information	Focus: ESOL Level: 1-5 Hours per week: 16 Schedule: Monday/Evening

Name	Julie's Family Learning Program

Address	133 Dorchester Street, South Boston, MA 02127

Contact	Anna Fernandez-Buehrens Call 617-269-6663 ext. 34, Text 617-297-7828 registration@juliesfamily.org

Class Information	Focus: ABE Level: Grades 0-12 Hours per week: 8-20 Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening