Greetings!
The summer months go by so quickly! I hope you have been able to enjoy some time with family and friends.

In June, we were looking forward to the fall, and a return to in-person programs. However, the persistence of COVID-19 and rise of the DELTA variant across our service area made us re-think our plans.

For the health and safety of our volunteers and learners, all English At Large Programs will remain online through December 2021.

Our Fall Conversation Groups will meet virtually, utilizing the Zoom meeting platform. Registration information can be found later in this newsletter.

Beginning in late September, learners from our waitlist will be matched with English At Large volunteers, to begin tutoring online.

This is disappointing for so many reasons. First, it means that we still are not able to serve those learners who cannot join online programs. They remain our highest priority and will be enrolled for in-person instruction when completely safe to do so.

This decision also changes our plans to train new volunteer tutors this fall. We hope to offer new volunteers the opportunity to train as English At Large tutors in 2022.

An announcement on our spring programs, as well as any planned volunteer trainings, will be made before the end of the year.

While COVID has tested our patience, we remain grateful for the resilience and commitment of our volunteers, who continue to share their talents and energy with their learners. Together with our supporters, you are helping our immigrant neighbors and friends gain knowledge and understanding as they achieve their life goals.

We are proud to be part of this caring community. Thank you for helping to make a difference, through your continued support of English At Large.

Best regards,
Maureen

Maureen Willis, Executive Director
ed@englishatlarge.org
Fall Program Update
Registration is Now Open for our Fall Conversation Groups
This 12-week virtual program is for learners at an intermediate or higher level of English who want to practice speaking and listening in a supportive setting.
We are offering 14 groups this semester, meeting in the
morning, afternoon and evening.

Groups meet weekly from late September through mid-December
on the Zoom online meeting platform.
FY 2021 Impact Report
Notes on our FY2021 Program Data:
Our learners come from 48 different countries and speak 33 different languages
46% have an household income under $30k per year
31% of our tutoring learners are beginners, with very limited English skills

Impact of COVID-19
30% of EAL learners enrolled in March of 2020 left our programs, due to challenges
with scheduling and/or online instruction
12 learners continue to wait for a return to in-person tutoring

90% of learners who participated in online instruction reported that our programs
helped them feel more connected during the pandemic

Coming in September: Our FY2021 Annual Report
Cummings Foundation Sustaining Grant
Our 10-year grant from the Cummings Foundation, awarded in 2019, provides long-term, sustaining support for ongoing operations and empowers our plans for future growth.

Our Cummings Properties Account Manager, Jeff Pelletier, personally delivered this year's $20,000 installment to EAL offices. Joining Jeff in a photo op is NAIP AmeriCorps member Eric Wellers, and EAL ED Maureen Willis.
Fall Office Hours
EAL staff will continue to work a hybrid schedule through the end of 2021.

Effective September 7th, Office hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 5pm.

EAL offices remain closed to
drop-in visitors.
To connect with our staff, please email us or call during office hours
at 781-395-2374.