Adult Education and Family Literacy Celebration

On September 20, 2023, the EdAdvance Adult Education program hosted Mayor Elinor Carbone, State Representative Michelle Cook, and State Senator Lisa Seminara at the Vogel-Wetmore Library Media Center to celebrate national Adult Education and Family Literacy Week held September 18-22.

Mayor Carbone issued a proclamation from the City of Torrington to acknowledge September 18-22 as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and “to encourage all residents to support, participate and promote this initiative to the benefit of the students and the community.”

The event was attended by Dr. Susan Domanico, Adult Education Director, Mary Melaragno and Regina Benson, Vogel-Wetmore evening program site coordinators, staff, and approximately 100 adult English Language Learners. ESL teacher Luis Carlos Vargas provided Spanish translation of the remarks by the distinguished guests.

Each of the speakers recognized the importance of immigrants to the vitality of the community and region and praised their efforts to acquire English language skills that promote their connection to the community, their children’s schools, and the workforce.

Dr. Domanico commented, “We are proud to share the success of the English as a Second Language, our high school diploma completion, adult basic skills, and citizenship classes that are free to adult learners in the seventeen school districts that we service. EdAdvance Adult Education does not want to be the best kept secret in Northwest Connecticut. In addition to all of the academic skills learners acquire, we help them to develop exit plans to connect with career training, employment, and post-secondary enrollment.” For information about the Adult Education program email adulted@edadvance.org, or call 860.567.0863.