The New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning (NJALL) is holding its tenth annual adult learner writing contest. This year we will award cash prizes in six categories - fiction, non- fiction, memoir, poetry, photography and art. Several winners will be invited to read their work as part of the annual NJALL Conference in May 2024. 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 2024. Winners will receive printed copies of the magazine, award certificates and prize checks.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MORE INFORMATION

NJALL Conference - May 22 - 25, 2024

​While we welcome all proposals that deal with adult education,
we are especially interested in the following topics:
 
ESOL Teaching Strategies            Adult Literacy           Numeracy              
 
Supporting Students with Special Learning Needs        Working with Technology
 
Student-Led Projects     Student Advising and Counseling      College Transitions       
 
             Health Literacy            Financial Literacy                 Career Pathways
 
Community Partnerships        Union-based Programs     Correctional Education  
                                   
 
Please submit proposals or questions via email to: [email protected]
 
Workshop proposals must be received by NJALL no later than February 12th, 2024.
 
We will provide a response to each applicant by February 26th, 2024.
 
The registration fee will be waived for anyone making a presentation.
​
 Please Note: Workshops Run for 60 Minutes

Workshop Information 
Workshop Title:
 
Workshop Description:
 
Presenter Information
Name:
 
Email:
 
Experience in Adult Education:
 
Experience in Presenting:

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.

The 2023 Scholarships were awarded to:

Danilo C. Attending County College of Morris
Studied for his HS Diploma at the Morris Co. Vocational Schools Adult Ed. Program

Diaine W. Attending Montclair State University
Studied for her HS Diploma at the Essex County College Adult Learning Center

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.

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) 
 

Kristi Khan, 2019 awardee, and Martha Enriquez, 2021 awardee, encourage eligible adult students to apply for the NJALL Scholarship.

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.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicant must be a resident of NJ
• Have earned a NJ High School Diploma through a NJ adult education program by preparing for a High School Equivalency exam, or by completing Adult HS requirements.
• Have been accepted to (or currently attending) an accredited post-secondary institution.

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

DEADLINE EXTENDED  -  MARCH 31st  
​
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 [email protected]

* 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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]   

Acting as a Reviewer
If you are interested in serving as a reviewer, please send an email to [email protected]
We are particularly interested in having learners serve on the review committee.