►
From YouTube: First Literacy Scholarship Awards 2017
Description
Next stop...college, for 21 adults who have completed Boston's First Literacy program! Executive Director Skye Morrison and other First Literacy program leaders join Mayor Walsh at Boston City Hall, to award scholarships to adults who have just completed the program and to continuing scholars who have already finished one year of college.
A
A
This
is
our
favorite
event
of
the
year
meeting
and
getting
to
know
the
scholars
and
their
families
reminds
us
why
supporting
adults
who
are
working
very
hard
to
make
a
better
life
for
themselves
and
their
families
is
such
important
work
to
do
joining
us
today
are
21
scholars,
their
families,
teachers
and
advisers,
as
well
as
first
literacy
board.
Members
and
friends.
Welcome
we're
so
happy
that
the
Honorable
Marty
washe
Mayor
of
the
City
of
Boston
is
once
again
hosting
this
event.
A
Thank
You
mayor
Walsh
today
we're
celebrating
the
accomplishments
of
15
individuals
who
have
received
their
high
school
equivalency
or
completed
a
bridge
to
college
program
and
are
starting
college.
We're
also
celebrating
the
success
of
six
students
who
persisted
in
their
first
or
second
year
of
college
and
are
receiving
continuing
scholarships
today,
we're
awarding
two
special
scholarships
in
memory
of
individuals.
Who've
made
a
lasting
difference:
two
first
literacy
and
education
in
the
city
of
Boston,
the
Mayor
Thomas
Menino
scholarship,
honors,
the
late
mayor,
Menino's,
commitment
to
adult
education
in
Boston.
A
The
scholarship
was
established
in
2013
when
first
literacy
celebrated
our
25th
anniversary
and
the
William
Berman
scholarship
recognizes
former
board
member
and
late
mr.
Berman's
years
of
dedicated
service
to
first
literacy
and
his
love
of
learning
throughout
his
life.
We're
also
pleased
to
be
awarding
one
scholarship
sponsored
by
the
eleven
10:02
foundation,
an
organization
based
in
Chicago
that
supports
the
efforts
of
hard-working
students
throughout
the
country.
A
In
addition
to
the
11
1002
Foundation,
our
scholarship
and
mentoring
program
is
supported
by
gifts
of
the
hamilton
company,
Bank
of
New,
York
Mellon
and
Eaton
Vance
management.
As
you
can
see
from
the
program
and
I
hope
everybody
has
a
program.
Mayor
Walsh
will
speak
followed
by
two
times:
scholar
and
Bunker:
Hill
Community,
College
student
Malky,
Sousa
mousies,
the
recipient
of
an
eleven
10:02
scholarship
and
last
year's
William
Berman
scholarship,
Thank,
You
Malcolm
after
mal
Keys
remarks.
First
literacies,
director
programs,
Lenore
Valero,
will
introduce
each
scholar
when
your
name
is
called.
A
Please
come
to
the
front
to
receive
your
certificate
from
Mayor
Walsh
right
in
front
of
the
flags
and
have
your
picture
taken
after
the
certificates
are
awarded,
will
move
the
podium
and
pose
for
a
group
photograph
before
mayor
Walsh
begins
his
remarks.
I
would
like
to
present
him
with
a
token
of
our
esteem
and
admiration.
A
We
recently
mounted
an
exhibit
of
scholar
portraits
in
the
mayor's
neighborhood
gallery
and
I
think
that
you
probably
awarded
the
scholarships
to
all
the
scholars
whose
portraits
are
down
there
and
we
created
a
book
which
is
the
compilation
of
those
photographs
with
quotes
from
each
of
the
scholars
and
the
inscription
in
the
book
says.
This
book
is
presented
to
celebrate
and
acknowledge
mayor
Martin,
J
Walsh's,
unwavering
support
of
adult
learners,
immigrant
and
native
born
in
the
city
of
Boston
Thank
You,
mayor
Walsh,
for
your
outstanding
dedication
and
visionary
leadership.
A
B
Thank
you
very
much
guy
and
I'm
honored
to
be
here
today.
This
is
that
this
is
one
of
my
favorite
events
this
event
here
tonight,
because
every
year
it
seems
like
this
falls
the
day
after
I
do
the
scholarships
to
the
students
at
the
Boston
Public
Schools
that
go
on
to
college
and
it's
amazing,
because
both
of
both
sets
of
UI
learning
they're
coming
from
high
school
going
into
college
and
many
of
you
after
high
school.
But
some
of
you
didn't
go
to
high
school.
B
You
have
you
had
some
time
off
and
you
go
back
to
school
as
adults,
and
it
means
so
much
more
and
I'll.
Tell
you
why
in
a
minute,
but
I
want
to
thank
you
Skype
for
for
being
here
for
what
you
do
every
single
year.
I
want
to
thank
Malky
I
want
to
congratulate
you.
Look
forward
to
hearing
you
in
a
little
bit.
I
want
to
thank
first
literacy
and
the
staff.
The
tremendous
work
that
the
staff
does.
The
first
literacy
I
want
to
congratulate
all
21
of
you
recipients.
B
I
want
to
thank
your
families
as
well,
because
I
know
it's
a
proud
moment
for
not
just
you,
but
your
families
as
well.
Your
hard
work
and
dedication
certainly
doesn't
go
unnoticed.
You've
overcome
incredible
obstacles
and
you're
working
to
make
a
better
life
for
yourself
and
for
your
families.
You
truly
are
admirable,
and
somebody
who
I
look
up
to
that
keeps
me
moving
every
single
day.
These
scholarships
that
you're
receiving
show
that
it's
never
too
late
to
get
an
education.
You
drive
to
success.
B
B
For
a
long
while
and
I
had
I'm
a
son
of
immigrants,
my
parents
come
from
Ireland
and
I
wanted
to
be
that
first
person
in
my
family
to
get
a
college
degree.
I
want
to
be
that
first
person
in
my
family
to
go
to
college
I
want
to
be
able
to
prove
everyone.
I
can
go
to
college
and
be
smart
and
do
all
the
things
supposed
to
do,
but
but
worksites
at
me,
I
thought,
making
money
was
more
important.
I
wasn't
married,
didn't
any
kids
and
I
thought.
B
Making
money
was
more
important
to
me
than
going
to
college
and
my
file
I'll
never
feel
my
father.
He
said
to
me:
I,
don't
want
you
that
I
don't
want
you
to
quit
school
I
want
you
to
go
to
school,
because
if
you
quit
school,
you'll
never
go
back
to
school
and
I
said
no,
that
I'll
go
back
to
school
and-
and
he
was
right
in
the
way,
because
because
I
work
for
construction
and
I
went
to
work
in
the
Union
in
the
office
of
the
student
kind,
every
day
and
I
was
completely
miserable.
B
I
was
making
decent
money.
It
was
their
car.
They
were
paying
for
my
gas
they're
paying
for
the
insurance,
but
it
wasn't
what
I
wanted
to
do.
I
wanted
to
be
in
politics:
I
wanted
to
be
a
state
representative
and,
and
the
bunch
of
things
happen
in
my
life,
where
I
end
up
getting
sober,
I,
went
to
detox
and
got
sober
and
when
I
got
sober
a
year
and
a
half
and
to
me
being
in
recovery.
B
In
my
degree,
I
was
taking
one
class
at
night
and
I
became
a
state
representative
and
I
got
a
chance
to
work
at
the
State
House
for
two
17
years
and
I
went
back
to
college
and
I
got
my
degree
at
Boston
College
at
night,
the
age
of
43
years
old,
when
I
got
my
degree
and
I
think
I
quit
school
every
day,
I'd
be
driving
to
school,
going
I'm
not
doing
this.
I
don't
need
this
in
my
head.
B
This
isn't
it
I,
don't
need
this,
then
I
go
to
class
and
a
break
I'd
finished
the
class
and
I
felt
great
that
I
want
to
class
I.
Thank
God
I
want
the
class
that
day
and
I
wake
up
the
next
day
and
I'm
like
I.
Don't
want
do
my
homework
and
I
want
to
write
a
paper.
I,
don't
want
to
read
this
book,
but
in
mice
inside
of
me,
I
had
to
drive
that
I
knew
that
I
needed
my
degree.
Cuz
I
want
to
do
other
things,
so,
unfortunately,
I
stayed
in
school.
B
I
got
my
degree
from
Boston.
College
is
very
proud.
My
last
class
I'll
never
forget,
made
three
phone
calls
one
phone
call
to
my
mother
to
tell
her
I
graduated
college.
The
second
phone
call
is
to
a
person.
A
gentleman
that
told
me
I
would
never
go
back
to
college.
He
was
challenging
me
and
he
said
you'll
never
go
back
to
college
he's
going
to
drop
out.
You
know
waste
yourself,
waste,
your
life,
blah
blah
blah
and
a
friend
of
mine,
a
woman
did
the
same
thing.
B
I
called
my
boat
and
I
said
I
graduated
college.
Tonight-
and
it
was
then
in
my
head
for
16
years,
basically
I
heard
I'd
hear
their
voice.
Is
he
gonna
quit
you,
no
good
he's
going
to
quit
and
they
kept
me
going.
So
my
thing
to
you
is:
don't
quit
keep
push?
Okay,
you
did
great,
you
can
get
it
done
any.
What
we
can
all
get
it
done.
You
know
you
might
say
well
from
another
I'm
another
country,
I
have
a
language
barrier.
You
know,
Donald
Trump
was
giving
me
a
bad
day.
B
B
Run
Ron's
role
is
we
have
a
Superintendent
of
Schools
that
handles
the
boss,
Public
Schools,
and
then
we
have
the
edge
chief
of
Education
handles
all
the
other
education
in
the
city
who
works
very
closely
with
different
organizations.
Universities,
colleges,
schools,
charter,
schools,
public
schools,
private
schools,
Catholic
schools
and
lined
up
some
incredible
stuff
to
see.
So
thank
you,
Ron
for
being
with
us.
First
literacy
is
awarded
over
four
hundred
and
seventy-five
scholarships
today.
B
You
were
all
members
of
first
literacies
growing
family
each
one
of
you
is
making
an
impact
on
boxes,
impact,
Boston's
landscape,
and
you
do
make
a
huge
impact
on
landscape,
because
the
more
ability
to
have
to
earn
money
and
have
a
better
job
and
raise
and
make
more
money.
You
can
obviously
do
better
to
your
family,
but
you
also
add
to
the
economy
that
money
comes
back
into
the
economy
and
goes
filters
around
and
goes
right
around.
So
as
your
family
life
improves.
You
also
help
the
economy
of
the
city
in
the
state
improve.
B
So
it's
important
for
the
degrees
in
the
education.
This
program
is
changing
lives.
Obviously
every
single
every
single
year,
and
now
all
of
you
are
changing.
Changing
lives.
I
want
to
just
thank
first
literacy
for
the
opportunity,
as
I
said,
I
love
this
event,
because
when
I
look
out
and
I
see
the
faces
of
the
graduates
or
the
scholarship
winners,
I
see
me
when
I
was
in
college
at
Boston
College
Bloodshy
years
ago,
I
see
me
I,
see
see
you
know,
I
can
see
struggles
on
what
you're
trying
to
raise
a
family.
B
You
know
pay
your
bills,
you
know
deal
with
personal
stuff.
Still
your
lifestyle
still
relationships
deal
with
anything
you're
dealing
with,
but
all
you
keep
do
is
keep
pumping
ahead
one
day
at
a
time,
one
step
at
a
time.
You
know,
as
you
look
at
little
kids,
you
can't
little
kids
don't
get
up
and
run
across
the
room,
they
crawl
across
the
room
and
if
that's,
what
you
have
to
do
to
a
degree
crawl
across
that
room,
because
the
end
the
day,
trust
me
it's
worth
it.
Thank
you.
C
And
I'm
a
little
bit
nervous
too
after
hearing
two
great
speakers,
I
feel
a
little
bit
humble,
but
I
am
honored
and
grateful
for
the
opportunity
to
be
standing
here
today
to
talk
about
my
very
very
own
experience
as
a
first
literacy
scholarship
recipient
I've
always
been
passionate
about
teaching.
Education
is
very
important
to
me.
It
is
rewarding
to
be
part
of
the
growing
of
another
person's
life.
After
getting
an
education
certificate,
I
thought
Elementary
School
in
Brazil.
It
was
something
I
chose
to
do,
because
I
always
wanted
to
help
others.
C
By
passing
on
what
I
know.
I
was
working
with
elementary
school
children,
bio,
but
I
wanted
to
teach
high
school
even
be
a
professor
at
the
University.
My
plans
changed
in
2003
when
my
husband
decided
to
come
to
the
United
States,
because
he
wanted
to
give
me
in
our
daughter
a
better
life
leaving
Brazil.
C
Even
though
both
of
us
worked,
we
could
not
afford
for
me
to
go
to
college
I
thought
it
was
not
going
to
be
possible
for
me
to
continue
my
education
here
in
the
United
States
and
since
I
first
came
in
2004
I've
been
studying.
English
as
a
second
language
in
different
programs,
I
got
to
know
lots
of
people
and
I
learned
about
the
Welcome
project.
This
nonprofit
organization
helps
adults
and
families
advocate
for
themselves.
C
It
was
in
2011
that
I
saw
an
opportunity
to
do
what
I
love
and
help
others
with
the
same
challenges
that
I
had
faith
years
ago.
Learn
English
working
at
the
welcome
project
has
made
me
growing.
We
mainly
search
as
an
individual,
improving
my
English
skills
and
as
a
professional,
helping
others,
but
most
important
I
improve
a
lot.
The
way
I
teach
because
I've
been
attending
many
of
the
development
of
workshop.
The
first
literacy,
one
of
the
sponsors
of
the
Welcome
project,
provides
to
teachers
in
the
Boston
area.
I
am
really
thankful
for
that.
C
Remember
that
I
have
people
believing
in
me
and
giving
me
financial
support,
which
is
very
important
and
I'm
talking
about
first
literacy
having
the
support
of
organizations
such
first
literacy,
it's
the
biggest
support
we
all
can
have
so
I
just
want
to
say
good
luck
to
you
all
in
this
journey.
Thank
you.
D
E
E
E
Most
of
them
go
zigzag
and
it's
okay
and
I
found
that
when
I
was
faced
with
challenges,
it
was
helpful
to
reach
out
for
support,
make
sure
you
have
a
plan
B
and
and
keep
going,
and
so,
as
everyone
else
has
already
so
eloquently
said,
and
I
would
really
like
you
all
to
please
take
care
of
yourselves
as
lovingly
as
you
care
for
so
many
other
people
in
your
lives
as
you
as
you
move
forward.
Thank
you
and
now
I'm
going
to
read
the
name.
E
E
E
A
D
B
D
C
B
E
A
You
all
very
much
for
coming
I
now
invite
you
to
our
reception
out
in
the
hall,
but
if
you
want
to
take
some
photographs
of
the
scholarship
recipients
with
your
teachers
and
your
family
feel
free,
you
can
say:
oh
right
right.
Thank
you
so
much
for
the
reminder,
mayor,
Walsh,
okay,
so
we're
going
to
move
the
podium
and
I'm
going
to
ask
all
the
scholarship
recipients
to
come
up
and
you'll.
Take
a
group
photo.