NJALL's Annual Conference will follow the same structure as last year -
four days of activities in a fully online format.

The first day will feature a plenary talk, the presentation of awards, and an update about the NJALL Scholarship Program.  We will then offer four workshops per day for the next three days (a total of 12).

If you would like to facilitate a workshop, please complete and submit the proposal form.  You can download it here in a PDF form.  All presenters will have their registration fees waived.

If you have any questions, please contact us at: njallmail@gmail.com
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​Thank you.

NJALL annually awards two scholarships to worthy graduates of New Jersey's adult literacy programs to support their goals in higher education and to help them be better prepared workers, parents and citizens, better prepared workers, parents and citizens.

Our scholarships provide $1,000 a semester for full-time students and are entirely supported by individual donations. NJALL pays all administrative costs for this program, so all contributions go directly to our scholarship
recipients. Many of the students also work full time jobs, support families, and face economic challenges in their struggle to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

This year we are excited to announce that we are expanding our scholarship program to include $500 Book Grants. Students can use these one-time grants for books, technology, or other costs to support their transition to college. We are hoping to award 5 Book Grants in 2023 in
addition to 2 full scholarship awards.

We are proud to provide this financial support to adult literacy program graduates, who face so many barriers to attaining their college degrees. But beyond the financial support, our amazing scholarship committee provides advice, encouragement, and mentorship to the award recipients
throughout their college careers. Year after year as we celebrate our new recipients, past scholarship winners come back to speak about how much it meant to them to know that this committee, NJALL, and our donors believed in them.

If you are able to give, please visit our PayPal link for online donations or you can send a check to:

NJALL Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 125
Allenhurst, NJ 07711-0125

NJALL is holding its ninth 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 2023. Selected winners will be invited to read their work during the NJALL Conference in May 2023. Winners will receive printed copies of the magazine, award certificates and prize checks.

Guidelines
* Eligibility: Adult learners in - adult literacy programs, adult high schools or HS equivilency programs, developmental education programs, English language classes and citizenship classes.  If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact us at njallmail@gmail.com

* 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 17, 2023 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 14, 2023.

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.

In an effort to recognize outstanding contributions in the field, NJALL is again asking for nominations from our network of professionals and participating organizations for the following:

Barry Semple Lifelong Learning and 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.

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.

This past May, NJALL President Linda Roma gave a unique award.  She conferred the 2022 NJALL President's Award "in honor of the dedicated teaching and learning of all New Jersey instructors, tutors, students and administrators who persevered through a pandemic to make lifelong learning a reality for so many."  In 2022 neither the Barry Semple Lifelong Learning Leadership Award nor the Teacher of the Year Award were given since the President's Award honored all those in New Jersey adult education.  To read about the 2021 winners, go to www.njall.org.

* Do you have a student or graduate who could benefit from up to $8,000 for higher education expenses? (See eligibility requirements below)

* NOW is the time to encourage and recommend this
student to apply for a 2023 NJALL scholarship!

NJALL will award two scholarships in 2023

Scholarship winners can receive up to $1000 per semester
for full-time enrollment in higher education (pro-rated for part/time),
To a maximum of $8000,  
Plus a Bonus for completing a 2-year or 4-year degree.

Scholarship applications are open to anyone,  
Regardless of gender, race, color, religion, age, or disabling condition.
For more information and details on eligibility, go to:  www.njall.org

New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning
Annual Conference May 18th – 21st, 2022 (Online)
 
Due to the continuing pandemic, NJALL’s Annual Conference for 2022 will take place fully online. We will begin with an opening plenary session on May 18th , 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 and will open soon. 
 
Conference Page: Schedule and Registration

Submissions Deadline: March 18th, 2022
Click Here to Download Flyer

The New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning (NJALL) is holding its sixth annual adult learner writing contest.  This year we will award cash prizes in five categories - fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry and photography.  Several winners will be invited to read their work and receive their awards at the annual NJALL conference in May, 2022.  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 2022. Winners and their teachers/tutors will receive printed copies of the magazine.  

Categories
Fiction        Non-fiction        Memoir           Poetry      Photography
 
Prizes
1st Place - $100         2nd Place - $50           3rd Place - $25
 
Guidelines
 
* Eligibility: Adult learners in - adult literacy programs, adult high schools or HS equivalency programs, developmental education programs, English language classes and citizenship classes. 
* 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 18th, 2022 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 15th, 2022.
 
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.
 
 
Download Previous Years’ Magazines
2015       2016    2017     2018    2019     2020    2021

​​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
​