May 22nd
3:00 – 4:30 
President’s Welcome
Awards
Scholarship Announcements
​
Plenary
Approaching Digital Literacy Instruction with a Focus on Equity
Jan Vanek, Director of Digital Learning and Research, World Education

May 23rd
10:00 – 11:00 Instructional Practices to Support Equity in Digital Literacy Instruction (Jan Vanek)
11:30 - 12:30 Helping ESOL Students Identify Their Transferable Skills for Employment
(Cynthia Peters) 1:00 - 2:00 Instructional Routines for Numeracy Instruction (Eric Appleton, Dee Crescitelli, Sarah Lonberg-Lew)
2:30 - 3:30 Strategies for Recruiting Adult Learners: Lesson from Florida (Greg Smith)
4:00 - 5:00 New Jersey Adult Education Advocacy - Open Forum /Moderated Discussion

​May 24th
10:00 – 11:00 Vocabulary Development and Story Telling (Nora Devine)
11:30 – 12:30 Unleash Your Creativity By Writing Memoirs (Staff from the University of Orange)
1:00 – 2:00 An Update on Immigration Policy (Ariel Gould and Lauren Herman)
2:30 – 3:30 Adult Education at a Union Training Fund (Adam Nathanson)
4:00 – 5:00 Networking and Advocacy: Lessons From San Diego (Jose Cruz)
.
May 25th
10:00 - 11:15 Adult Learner Writing Contest Winners Read Their Work
11:15 - 12:15 Getting Started With Writing Prompts (Erik Jacobson)

Three NJALL Awards were presented at the Annual Conference on May 24, 2023 recognizing outstanding contributions in the field.
 
Barbara Hathaway - Literacy NJ
Teacher of the Year Award
 
This award is presented to an adult educator who has demonstrated professionalism and exemplary performance teaching adults in basic skills. ESOL, high school completion or developmental education classes.
 
Ghazala Nomani
​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.
 
Judy Kesin Faherty
​NJALL President’s Award

This award celebrates special contributions to adult learning and to the adult learners served.

THE 2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE WAS HELD ONLINE VIA ZOOM

Wednesday, May 24th
3:00  PM – 4:30 PM 
Welcome
President’s Comments
​Plenary Address: Paul Jurmo
Awards
Scholarship Update
 
Thursday, May 25th 
10:00 – 11:00 An Update on Immigration Issues     
                 (Lauren Herman and Ariel Gold) 
11:30 – 12:30   Learners as Leaders for Stronger Communities: Renewing
Participatory Learning, Learner Leadership, and U.S. Adult
Foundational Education        (Paul Jurmo) 
1:00 – 2:00      Data Literacy I (Sherry Ruff) 
2:30 – 3:30      Data Literacy II (Bonnie Taylor) 
4:00 – 5:00      Design and Implementation of HyFlex Models in Adult
Foundational Education. (David Rosen)
  
Friday, May 26th 
10:00 – 11:00  Instructional Routines for Teaching Numeracy
                  (Patricia Helmuth) 
11:30 – 12:30  Reading Comprehension and Response: Digital Resources
to Add to Your Toolbox (Tamar Samuel-Siegel) 
1:00 – 2:00      Teaching Listening Skills    (Carol Cochi) 
2:30 – 3:30      Learning in Adulthood        (Darnelle Richardson) 
4:00 – 5:00     An Introduction to Graphic Novels  (Erik Jacobson) 
 
Saturday, May 27th 
10:00 – 11:00   Student Perspectives (Students) 
11:30 – 12:30   Learner Writer Winners 
1:00 – 2:00      Writing Projects That Matter (Erik Jacobson) 
 

May 24 - 27, 2023  
​REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 
   Conference Overview​

Wednesday May 24th 
President’s Welcome 
Opening Plenary 1:00 – 3:00
Awards Presentation 
Scholarship Program Update

Thursday May 25th 
Five one-hour workshops between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM
 
Friday May 26th 
Five one-hour workshops between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM
 
Saturday May 27th 
Three one-hour workshops between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
 
Final Schedule Will Be Announced Soon

Topics Will Include
Student Perspectives on Their Programs
Supporting Student Writing
Listening and Speaking Exercises for ESOL 
Numeracy 
Digital Literacy 
Information Literacy
IET Programs
Assessment and Evaluation
 Immigration Policy Updates 
Connecting Students to Vital Resources (e.g., utility assistance)

Registration Information
The registration fee of $50 provides
access to the opening meeting and all workshops. 
Zoom links for each workshop will be sent via email. 
​
Click Here to Register

For Organizations That Would Like to Pay Via Purchase Order 
Please email [email protected]
with attendees names and email addresses

​

 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 [email protected]

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 [email protected].
 
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 [email protected]

Even though NJALL was not able to hold an in-person conference this year, we still wanted to honor the hard work of members of our adult education community. To that end, NJALL is pleased to highlight the work of two outstanding individuals.

​About thirty years ago, Mariam Merced, Director of Community Health Promotions at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, reached out to the New Brunswick Public Schools Adult Learning Center (NBALC), offering a Health Fair for students at the Center. Her vision included bringing volunteer physicians and other medical personnel to provide free health screenings. These included such medical concerns as blood pressure, diabetes, breast cancer, cervical cancer, HIV/AIDS and dental screening.
NBALC’s initial reaction to this offer was very cautious, when considering all the possible logistical issues and ramifications. Mariam, however, had such a clear and passionate vision, and gave the gentle reassurance, “Don’t worry, we know how to do this.” After a thorough discussion of concerns, NBALC nervously agreed to be partners.
At the first Health Fair in the early 90’s, Mariam’s team quickly set up the NBALC classrooms to resemble a health clinic. Cautiously, our students arrived and were escorted by volunteers to various screenings. Mariam’s team identified a large number of students with untreated, life threatening symptoms, who were followed up for immediate treatment. NBALC was hooked on what an incredibly important addition this was to its adult education program.
That was the beginning. NBALC continues to hold annual Health Fairs, that last one in February 2020. It has been ongoing and expanding for thirty years due to the incredible vision of Mariam Merced.
Currently, there are over 40 partners who collaborate to bring these services to the Center. In fact, screenings have, at times, been extended to the parents of children in the school district. Services include providing flu shots, cholesterol and glucose screening, blood pressure screening, dental screening, dermatology screening, HIV/AIDS testing, audiology screening, vision screening and even an opportunity to learn critical stress relieving relaxation techniques. Students who participate are provided a “Passport to a Healthy Life”, which they bring with them to each of the health screening locations to have signed by the medical personnel after the consultation. The Fair provides a safe space for providers to meet with those in the community who are in need of health care. Due to the high volume of new immigrant students at the NBALC, the Fair also serves as a bridge to connect them to the health care and social services system in the county.
Another benefit of this huge undertaking is that high school students are recruited to gain valuable volunteer experience by assisting as escorts, registrars and translators. They are provided with certificates of appreciation for their volunteer time at the conclusion.
Mariam Merced is more than worthy of this lifelong leadership award. Her compassion, knowledge, expertise, tenacity, passion and warmth have served her so well in bringing over 40 agencies to the table to collaborate in these efforts. She has effectively addressed one of the most important challenges which so many of our students face.
It is hoped that by shining a light on the outstanding leadership efforts of Mariam Merced, others in our state will be inspired to investigate similar collaborations to benefit the students we serve.

Susan Pristas has served many roles as a volunteer teacher at Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County (LVSC), the most significant being the development of a Beginner ESL Program for under-served adults. Susan's tremendous dedication of time, energy, and whole-hearted commitment to creating a program, teaching students, and training fellow volunteers has been unparalleled. A program which began as a small pilot has expanded to include 120 students in two communities and is supported by 15 volunteers.
Susan is a retired teacher with a graduate degree and a long career teaching ESL, German and Spanish. LVSC does not have the budget to hire and retain someone of Susan's caliber and was thrilled that she offered her services without pay.
In 2016, LVSC came to the conclusion that its traditional tutoring program was not meeting the needs of a growing population of Spanish speaking adults in the less affluent towns of our community. Susan identified, reviewed and created a beginning curriculum to suit the students' needs. She researched available classroom resources and then purchased (and donated) materials for the class. She then created outreach materials, and assisted with student assessment and enrollment. Finally, she piloted the first 10-week class. Eventually, she even mentored other tutors to take the materials and teach classes in other communities.
During the pilot, Susan met with students every Saturday morning in the fall of 2017. The following Monday, she would come to the LVSC office (with coffee for the staff!) to reflect on the program and the lesson. What worked? What didn't? What adjustments needed to be made? She kept detailed record and copious notes, working with the utmost in professionalism and always keeping the students' best interests in mind. At the end of the ten weeks, Susan created a full curriculum and class rules so that the course could be repeated.
Susan led two more classes in 2018 and two in 2019. She also figured out how to do at least some of the class via Zoom in the midst of the COVID lock-down. The program met with such success that a neighboring town requested a similar program. Four tutors who Susan trained were able to take Susan's curriculum to this new town.
The number of beginner-level students LVSC is reaching in under-served communities has expanded exponentially. When Susan started, 35% of LVSC's students came from these communities. Today the percentage has grown to 50%.
Student feedback also demonstrates Susan's effectiveness as a teacher. Here is some feedback from students: "She was really friendly and had patience with us." "I liked being here on Saturdays because I learned many new things." "Thank you for helping us to continue learning." 
Susan embodies the qualities of Teacher of the Year: she is a skilled teacher, kind mentor, treasured volunteer, and ideal role model who is generous with her time and talent.

College attainment plays a significant role in providing economic mobility and combating poverty. Community College Opportunity Grants, which provide eligible individuals free tuition and required fees to attend community college, are now being offered by the State of New Jersey. In addition, the state’s community colleges have committed to VISION 2028, a statewide strategic framework to increase the number of New Jerseyans who have earned a post-secondary credential or degree so that the state can meet its ambitious goal of 65% post-secondary attainment by the year 2025 (“65 by 25”). However, with nearly 40% of the state’s residents considered low-income or “working poor,” attending college or completing a degree can be difficult. This webinar will address some of the challenges, opportunities, and solutions to helping adults complete a degree program which can, in turn, lead to economic mobility.

Presenters: Renee Koubiadis, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey and 
                     Jake Farbman, New Jersey Council of Community Colleges
Time: 3:00-4:00 ET
Registration: Community College Opportunity Grants

Recordings of this an all other Mini-Conference Webinars
​can be found on the NJALL Youtube Channel

All webinars in the NJALL Virtual Mini-Conference are free!