Scholar Stories
First Literacy Scholars are united by their commitment to relentlessly pursuing their goals and creating opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our scholars come from around the world, from Massachusetts to Sierra Leone, and each of them has overcome significant obstacles to get to where they are today. We are proud to support these scholars as they work to change the narrative of what adult literacy looks like. The scholars listed below have been generous enough to share their stories with us. If you are looking for a full list of all recent scholars, please visit our Scholar Page.
First Literacy 2026-2027 Scholars
Kernsly
When Kernsly arrived in the United States from Haiti, he carried determination and hope of building a brighter future for himself and his family....
Damitu
When Damitu first set out to return to school, she felt that it was impossible. Her family is low-income, and as a mother to three young daughters...
Deborah
Deborah has always understood the power of education to improve people’s lives and create opportunities. Since moving to the United States, Deborah...
Jean Carrel
From his childhood in Haiti, Jean Carrel recalls his parents instilling in him the values of integrity, responsibility, and education. As a farmer,...
Monique
Monique was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and has always been driven by a deep curiosity about science, technology, and how things work....
Mamadou
Mamadou was born in a small town in central Guinea called Gongore. It was difficult for his father to financially support his family, so Mamadou...
LaToya
LaToya is a single mother of four who worked in leadership roles within nonprofit and clinical housing organizations for over fifteen years. As a...
Kettie
A proud member of the Haitian community, Kettie graduated from Boston Public Schools Department of Adult Education with dreams of being the first...
Geremias
When Geremias arrived in the United States from Guatemala in March 2022, he carried little more than a suitcase, a dream, and the determination to...
Sindi
Sindi grew up in the Dominican Republic, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education and worked as an elementary school teacher. In her early...
Priscilla
Priscilla is a devoted mother to a 14-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. Originally from Brazil, she studied Human Resources before relocating...
Nicolas
When Nicolás arrived in the United States, he was determined to build a better life for himself and his family. He knew very little English, but...
Karen
Karen was born in the Cape Verde Islands and grew up dreaming of studying law in the United States. Despite her determination, the high cost of...
Emani
Emani grew up with a deep love for learning. Raised by her grandmother due to her parents’ struggles with addiction, Emani experienced severe...
Enrique
Enrique is from El Salvador. After finishing high school, he joined a Roman Catholic seminary for four years before seeking a new path in pursuit...
Bintou
Bintou is from a small town in Africa’s Ivory Coast. For girls in her family going to school was unheard of. Her father believed school was designed...