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 log 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 deeds 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 20018 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!

Explore a new, free, online guide to blended learning published by New Readers Press; as well as resources from the World Education Ed Tech Center. We will also hear from from the LINCS Integrating Technology group. These resources will help instructors and learners as they move into online learning classes and tutorials during the pandemic.

Instructors: David Rosen (Newsome Associates) and Jen Vanek (Worlld Ed)
Time: May 14, 3:00-4:15 ET
Registration: Blended and Distanced Learning

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

Dive in for a closer look at the definition of Digital Literacy and its importance for our programs and students. We will discover how programs and students can take advantage of national developments in digital literacy and access, including recent OCTAE FAQs. We will explore helpful resources, websites, and tools that will help build digital skills, enhance instruction, and increase our connection with our learners during these unprecedented times.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
· Define digital literacy and describe why it is important.
· Describe digital literacy challenges faced by our programs and our learners.
· Describe and evaluate national initiatives, resources, and tools to enhance digital literacy programming and services
· Select a resource or tool to implement with your learners, and draft a plan for next step steps

Instructor: Mary Gaston, LINCS
​Time: May 12, 3:00-4:15 ET
​Registration: Reboot Your Digital Strategy

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

This training will begin with a discussion of some of the factors that affect the development of English vocabulary for English language learners (ELL) including: English speaking and listening ability; native language literacy; and the amount of English language reading learners engage in. In addition, the relevance of the Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills/Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency distinction for ELL vocabulary instruction will be covered.
Instructor: Susan Finn Miller, LINCS
Time: May 7, 3:00-4:00 ET
Registration: Vocabulary Instruction for ELLs

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

​Although the NJALL Annual Conference has been cancelled, the Adult Learner Writing Contest is still taking place. 
 
We are in the process of reviewing all of the submissions and we should be able to announce the winners sometime in April.
 
We will still send awards out and produce a magazine. Due to circumstances, the magazine will initially be distributed in PDF format, rather than printed. Once it is possible to safely create and distribute a paper version of the magazine we will make those available.

NJALL is pleased to announce that its 2020 Conference: Problem Posing, Problem Solving will be held on May 15, 2020, at Brookdale Community College. Registration is now open! The agenda features a plenary presentation led by Cynthia Bell, Numeracy and Workforce Specialist from the Literacy Assistance Center in New York, twenty-one different workshops, and time for networking with colleagues and meeting with vendors. The registration fee covers lunch and coffee.

Workshops include:
Formative Assessments for Literacy Instruction
Learning Math Through Problem Posing and Collaboration
Vocabulary For ESOL
ELL's Who are Emergent Readers
Teaching Listening Skills
Google Bootcamp
Digital Literacy and Problem Solving
Accessing Web Resources
Students in Their Own Words
Adult Education and Anti-Poverty Advocacy
Immigration Policy Update

Adult Learner Writing Contest:
Selected winners will read from their work and
discuss how to support students as writers.

Registration:
​Registration for this conference is limited to 250 people.
We cannot accept any on-site registrations.

​Learners can submit their work to the NJALL Learner Writing Contest until February 28, 2020. This year, cash prizes will be awarded 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 on May 15. Winners' and other selected submissions will be published in a free magazine that will be available in the summer of 2020.

​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.
* There are no page or word limits.

​Submitting:
* Submissions need to be received by February 28, 2020 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 March 16, 2020.
* Please send any questions to njallmail@gmail.com.

​Reviewers are also needed!
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.