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Date: 1/15/2024
EASTHAMPTON — The Literacy Project is expanding its services to Easthampton, offering one of their high school equivalency prep classes at the Municipal Building on 50 Payson Ave. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday. Right now, there are four students who are enrolled or have done the enrollment process.
Executive Director Colleen Kucinski said, “We’re trying to reach as many communities within that large geographic region and we were thinking there’s a need out in the Easthampton area for classes.”
Kucinski said the city has been a good partner in providing a space for the program.
“The city has been very generous to provide us that space so that we can begin to serve students who are in that area who might not be able to get to one of our other sites,” she said.
Established in 1984, the Literacy Project is an organization that provides free adult basic education classes to help students build skills in reading, writing, math and digital literacy as well as high school equivalency courses to prepare students to take the HiSet or GED. They usually are working to complete either their HiSet or GED, which are two different high school equivalency tests. Then upon completion, they will go on to study at a community college or go out into the world of work. While with the program, they’re also provided with support around developing career and academic plans.
Over 1,000 students have received GEDs through the program since opening in 1984. They’re the only organization to support adult literacy in Hampshire and Franklin County. The program has five different sites that students can take classes at: Greenfield, North Quabbin, Ware, Northampton and Amherst (for right now only offers online classes).
Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said she was excited to see the project come to the city.
“We have gradually as a city been looking for services like this to bring into our city. The Literacy Project has an excellent reputation. My hope is that the cohort grows and becomes a success,” she said.
Kucinski told Reminder Publishing the Literacy Project has a big focus on making sure that they are reaching the people who need to reach them and creatively figure out ways to do that.
“That’s what Easthampton really is,” Kucinski said. “It’s a creative thought process that began with our teachers. They had this idea, wanted to explore it and the city of Easthampton has been incredibly cooperative and embracing of the opportunity; seeing it as a great opportunity for students in their area.”
Kucinski added that they will continue monitoring how to best reach the people that need the project’s services.
“Over the next year, we’re hoping to continue assessing if we are reaching all the folks who want and need our services in Franklin and Hampshire counties. If we are, that’s great. If we aren’t then we want to continue to think creatively about how we can do that,” she said.
To learn more information, go to www.literacyproject.org, email easthampton@literacyproject.org or call 413-584-6755 ext.5.