​​Catherine Mitch has been engaged in the adult education field for over 20 years.  Her wide range of involvement includes multiple aspects of teaching, training, advising, mentoring and advocacy.  Catherine has developed, implemented, managed and monitored programs.  She has lived and taught in several countries including USA, Indonesia, Zambia, Japan and Germany.  These experiences have built and shaped her practice.
 
As a NJALL Board Member since 2014, Catherine notably chaired the Communications Committee and aggressively guided NJALL’s social networking efforts.  She led the development of the current NJALL website (www.njall.org) and encouraged the Board to actively enhance the organization’s presence.   Catherine was also actively engaged in other Board activities including advocacy, scholarships, webinars and conferences.

​Catherine’s energetic engagement in a wide range of activities in support of lifelong learning has influenced learners, tutors, teachers and those of us who have worked with her.  Catherine is a shining example of lifelong learner leadership.

Click here to view Catherine's acceptance of this award and the powerful message conveyed.

​Dr. Randy Budros, a retired researcher and University of San Francisco professor, has some admirable qualities, not the least of which is his humanitarianism. He spends many hours as a volunteer in efforts as varied as aiding refugees from West Africa and South America at the International Rescue Committee and Catholic Charities, fighting voter suppression in Georgia, promoting racial justice and LGBTQ rights, and helping literacy students learn to speak English, find essential life resources, and assimilate into their communities. Randy sees these issues as related and always finds a way to weave his zest for civics into his literacy lessons. And his ESOL students appreciate a teaching style that often lures them away from the textbook and into real life scenarios.
 
He has helped adult ESOL students navigate their way through a global pandemic that has disproportionately affected the immigrant community. And he’s helped prepare them for employment, including one student with a medical background now working as a phlebotomist. Extremely helpful is that he never refuses new students; he accepts them into his group and puts them at ease in a place that promotes learning.

 1.  Barry Semple Lifelong Learning Leadership Award
This award is for an outstanding individual or group demonstrating responsibility, influence, courage, motivation, inspiration, direction or guidance, and has made an outstanding contribution to lifelong learning through research, program design and development, publications, effective and innovative use of funds, service to the profession, etc.
 2.  Teacher of the Year Award
This award is presented to an adult educator who has demonstrated professionalism and exemplary performance teaching adults in adult basic skills, ESOL, high school completion or developmental education classes.
​
Click here to download the nomination form. 

Nominations are due by February 28, 2022. 
 
Awards will be presented in May at the NJALL conference, whether it is virtual or in person.  To read about the 2021 winners go to www.njall.org
​

This year the NJALL Annual Conference will take place fully online.

The Conference will begin with the opening plenary session on May 12th, 
ollowed by three days of individual sessions.

Each day will include multiple workshops on a range of topics, including:
Literacy, Numeracy, Technology, ESOL, and insights  from our Learner Writing Contest winners.
 
Registration for the conference is $50 per person. 
 
Registered participants will have access to all of the sessions
and will be provided with professional development certificates
for sessions they attend in real time.
 
Checks and hard copies of purchase orders must be received by May 1st to guarantee registration. 
Any cancellations must take place by May 1st to ensure a refund.
 
Click here for more information and to register for the Conference.
 
Please send any questions to njallmail@gmail.com

Education has always been important to her, but personal and family issues interfered with completing her education during her teenage years. Taking care of family and work became her focus, working 50 hours a week for 20 years.
 
Kristy channeled her love of education by encouraging her 5 children, who all responded with their own fine achievements. With the support of her aunt, Kristy came face to face with the reality that it was time to focus on her own goals. She enrolled in the Bergen County Technical Schools High School Equivalency Program. Encouraged by her teacher, Jane Kelly, she earned her diploma in December 2018,
 
Wasting no time, Kristy immediately enrolled in Bergen County Community College, where her A’s and perseverance soon won her an invitation to the Honor’s Program and membership in Phi Theta Kappa’s national honor society. In December of 2020, Kristy completed her Associate’s Degree with honors and started to consider moving on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree.
 
Thinking practically, she applied to Montclair University, FDU and Berkeley College. However, during the application process, Kristy was surprised to receive a letter from Columbia University, encouraging her to apply.  She assumed it was spam and ignored it, but Columbia was persistent. They knew talent when they saw it and continued pursuing Kristy by email. Having received acceptance from all of the colleges, Kristy intrepidly considered the possibility of attending this Ivy League institution. It was their stance on non-traditional students that was most appealing to her. It not only offered an Ivy League education, but was created for students just like her.
 
In making the final decision Kristy began to think, “I don’t want to limit myself, I do deserve this.” With the support and encouragement of her husband and family, along with a merit scholarship from the University, she is now proudly attending her first semester as a Columbia University student and looking forward to completing her Bachelor’s degree.
 
At first she worried about withstanding the pressures of an Ivy League institution, but soon realized that she was not alone and started networking with classmates. Although classes are challenging, her advisors suggested, “You need to think like a scholar”. This has helped Kristy adjust to the rigors of the Ivy League world. Mrs. Khan is now considering a major in psychology or anthropology, with hopes of having a career in Human Resources in the future.
 
More than anything else, Kristy is inspired by her children. “I want them to do better than me.” The feedback she receives from her children, shows that her return to school and achievements have inspired all of the family to value education and pursue their own dreams to the highest levels.
 
When asked if the NJALL Scholarship played a role in her journey, Kristy responded: “The scholarship was so reaffirming and gave me courage, knowing that NJALL had faith in me and was willing to help me reach my goals.”
 
NJALL is so proud of Kristy Khan and all she has achieved. We know that the sky’s the limit for this Superstar!

“Congratulations on achieving one of your goals! It was a tremendous moment in my life as well, but trust me when I say, it only gets better from here. Whether you are considering applying for college or have already done so, remember you have an army of support behind you. NJALL provided me with much more than just financial support, it gave me a supportive community and that is worth so much more. They believed in me and had my back every step of the way, so, I know you will not be alone throughout this process. 
College might be daunting for us nontraditional students, but as my favorite author said "fear is a poison produced by the mind, and courage is the antidote stored always in the soul" - Dean Koontz. So, always remember the power you hold because it will get you to the finish line. See you there!”

The 2021 Application is Available:  HERE
 
Be sure to encourage your students/graduates to apply!

The Adult Learning Writing Contest Magazine

 We are pleased to announce that the Insight 2020 magazine is available.
 
You can download it at this link. 
 
Thank you to all of the the learners, tutors, teachers and program directors who make this contest possible.

We hope you consider participating in the 2021 Learner Writing Contest.
 
Thank you. 
 
NJALL
njallmail@gmail.com

Annual Conference May 12 – 15, 2021 (Online)
Due to the continuing pandemic, NJALL’s Annual Conference for 2021 will take place fully online.  We will begin with an opening plenary session on May 12th, to be followed by three days of individual sessions.

Each day will include multiple workshops on a range of topics.
 
Registration for the conference is $50.00 per person. 
 
Registered participants will have access to all of the sessions
and will receive professional development certificates for all sessions they attend in real time.
 
If you are being covered by an organization, please make sure your name and email is on the purchase order the organization submits. An electronic copy should be mailed to njallmail@gmail.com.
 
Individual registrations and purchase orders must be received by May 1st to guarantee registration. Any cancellations must take place by May 1st to ensure a refund.
 
Please send any questions to njallmail@gmail.com

​NJALL is holding its seventh annual adult learner writing contest. This year we will award cash prizes in five categories - fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry and photography. All of the winners and selected other submissions will be published in a free magazine that will be available from our website in the summer of 2021. Winners and their teachers/tutors will receive printed copies of the magazine (when possible).
  
Categories
 
Fiction    Non-fiction    Memoir        Poetry          Photography
 
Prizes
 
1st Place - $100       2nd Place - $50         3rd Place - $25
 
Guidelines
 
* All adult learners are eligible, including students in adult literacy programs, those in adult high schools or equivalency programs, those in developmental education programs, those enrolled in English language classes and students studying for citizenship. 
 
* Learners can submit one piece per category, except for poetry. Learners can submit up to five poems for consideration. Learners can send in submissions for multiple categories.
  
* All submissions must be original and represent the work of the learner - not the work of their teacher or tutor. Teachers/tutors may help with spelling and grammar, but it should be limited in nature. We are using the honor system with regards to this. 
 
* English language learners can get help with translation, but the work should remain their own.
 
Submitting
           
Submissions need to be received by March 26th, 2021 at njallmail@gmail.com
 
The email should identify the category of the submission.
 
Submissions should include the learner's name and contact information and the name of the program or school they attend. The submission should also include a two or three sentence self-description of the learner. If the learner wishes to remain anonymous or use a pen-name, this information should be provided when the work is submitted. By entering the contest, the learner agrees to have their piece published in the magazine if it is selected.
 
All those submitting work will be notified of the decisions by April 16th, 2021.
 
You can download a copy of the call for submissions and guidelines here.
 
Please send any questions to njallmail@gmail.com
 

Acting as a Reviewer
 
If you are interested in serving as a reviewer, please send an email to njallmail@gmail.com 
We are particularly interested in having learners serve on the review committee.