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From YouTube: First Literacy Scholarship Ceremony 2019
Description
Mayor Walsh gave congratulatory remarks to recipients of the First Literacy's Scholarship Awards in the Eagle Room at City Hall. First Literacy provides adults with low literacy or limited English proficiency, with educational opportunities, allowing them to achieve accomplishments that they may not have been able to pursue otherwise. These recipients were honored for their completion of some college and are persevering as they continue their education further.
A
B
Well,
welcome
everyone
glad
to
have
you
here
and
I
wanted
to
introduce
myself.
I
am
Terry
whither
L
I'm,
the
new
executive
director
at
first
literacy
and
I'm
thrilled
to
be
a
part
of
this
event.
I've
heard
from
so
many
people
when
an
inspiring
event
it
is,
and
I
can
already
tell
why
there's
so
much
energy
and
excitement
here.
B
So
we
are
here
today
to
award
college
scholarships
to
20
new
and
continuing
scholars
sharing
in
their
success
are
their
family
members,
teachers
and
advisers,
as
well
as
first
literacy
board
members
and
friends
so
welcome
everyone
and
to
the
scholars,
especially
congratulations.
We
are
so
proud
of
what
you
have
accomplished
already
and
we
can't
wait
to
see
what
you're
able
to
achieve
in
the
future.
We're
grateful
to
have
the
Honorable
Marty
Walsh
here
with
us,
the
mayor
of
city
of
Boston
he's
once
again
hosting
this
event.
Thank
you,
mayor,
Walsh,
for
being
here.
B
First
literacy
awards
scholarships
based
on
a
few
things:
students,
educational
achievement
and
potential
perseverance
in
the
face
of
hardship
and
service
as
role
models
for
their
families,
peers
and
communities.
So
no
wonder
it's
such
an
amazing
event.
Applicants
for
our
continuing
scholarships
also
must
provide
us
with
transcripts
so
that
we
can
see
how
well
they've
done
in
school.
So
I'm
happy
to
report
that
our
ten
continuing
Scholars
who
are
with
us
today
have
a
combined
GPA
of
3.5.
B
These
impressive
grades
were
accomplished,
while
working
and
in
many
cases
raising
a
family
also
we're
awarding
three
special
scholarships
this
afternoon.
The
first
is
the
Mayor
Thomas
Menino
scholarship
and
that's
a
memory
of
Mayor
Menino
and
his
commitment
to
adult
education
in
Boston,
though
William
Berman
scholarship
remembers
mr.
Berman
his
years
of
dedicated
service
to
first
literacy
and
his
love
of
learning
throughout
his
life,
and
this
year
we
have
a
special
scholarship.
B
The
first
Lehrer
C
Board
of
Directors
scholarship,
is
being
given
in
honor
of
my
predecessor,
Skye
Morrison
Kramer,
who
served
as
first
literacies
executive
director
for
nine
years
and
who
impacted
the
lives
of
so
many
people
during
that
time,
and
Skye
is
here
with
us
to
give
that
special
award
at
the
end.
We
would
also
like
to
thank
the
Hamilton
company
and
Eaton
Vance
management
for
their
support
of
our
scholarship
program.
B
As
you
can
see
from
the
program
mayor,
Walsh
will
speak,
followed
by
Kathleen
Cahill
who's,
a
former
first
literacy
scholar
and
Bunker
Hill
Community
College
graduate
and
Kathleen
is
now
a
student
at
Eastern,
Nazarene
College,
studying
social
work
after
Kathleen's
remarks.
First
literacies
staff
associate
Paula
dancer
will
introduce
each
scholar
when
your
name
is
called.
Please
come
to
the
front
right
over
here
to
receive
your
certificate
from
Mayor
Walsh
and
to
have
your
picture
taken
after
their
certificates
are
awarded
we'll
pose
for
a
group
photo
with
our
photographer.
B
We
know
that
many
family
and
friends
are
here
today
taking
pictures
of
this
proud
moment.
So,
if
you
post
any
pictures
on
Facebook
or
Instagram,
please
consider
sharing
your
pictures
with
first
literacy
by
tagging
us
and
we
have
our
tag
out
there.
Also
please
join
us.
You
might
have
noticed,
especially
if
you
were
thirsty,
that
we
have
water
and
lemonade
and
some
refreshments
afterwards.
So
please
stay
to
say
hello
to
other
people
and
enjoy
the
refreshments.
So
without
further
ado,
I'd
like
to
introduce
mayor
Marty,
Walsh,.
C
Thank
You
Terry,
and
congratulations
on
your
first
class
as
the
executive
director
and
if
this
guy
thank
you
very
much
for
being
here,
I've
loved
this
event.
It's
a
great
event.
It's
my
sixth
time
doing
it
now
as
mayor
and
it's
exciting
because
of
the
graduates
to
all
the
staff,
a
first
literacy.
Thank
you
for
the
great
work
you
do.
This
wouldn't
be
possible
out
here,
great
work
to
Jeff,
Beal
and
members
of
the
board,
as
well
as
our
partners
in
higher
education.
C
Thank
you
very
much
to
the
graduates
who
went
on
to
Bunker
Hill
who's
coming
up
here,
speaking
funky
Hill
when'd,
you
graduate
was
that
a
speaker?
Oh,
do
you
forecast
I
support.
I
spoke
at
one
of
them,
but,
most
importantly,
the
20
scholars
in
the
room.
Congratulations,
you
should
be
proud
of
your
accomplishment.
This
truly
is
a
great
accomplishment.
You
were
in
this
scholarship
with
your
hard
work
with
your
talents
and
certainly
with
your
resilience.
Many
of
you
has
already
been
mentioned,
as
raising
children
and
having
families
and
cooking
dinner
and
doing
that
stuff.
C
So
I
know
it's
complicated
to
do
everything
you
want
to
do
in
that
way.
Some
of
you
have
overcome
hardships
and
trauma,
and
I
know
that
you
know
I
was
talking
to
a
bunch
of
young
people
today
talking
about
their
education
and
the
importance
of
being
successful
and
the
importance
of
not
giving
up
and
also
talked
a
little
bit
about
what
goes
on
in
the
kitchen.
C
C
Investing
in
your
future
is
important
and
being
an
inspiration
to
your
children
and
your
family
and
to
all
of
us,
including
myself,
is
really
great,
so
I
want
to.
Thank
you.
Many
of
you
in
this
room
are
immigrated
immigrants.
Some
of
your
first-generation
immigrants,
Boston,
is
a
city
of
immigrants
for
28%
of
the
people
who
live
in
the
city
of
Boston
were
born
in
another
country.
48%
of
the
people
who
live
in
our
city
of
first-generation
like
I
am
my
parents
were
from
Ireland.
C
They
came
over
here
and
fit
my
father
in
56,
my
mother
and
59.
My
mother
just
got
her
citizenship
in
1995,
so
there
was
a
big
gap
between
the
citizenship
and,
and
you
know,
I'm
a
proud
son
of
immigrants
and
I'm
a
proud
supporter
of
immigrants,
and
it's
important
that
you
know,
immigrants
helped
build,
America
helped
build
Boston
and
they
continue
to
build
Boston
continue
to
go.
C
C
Your
kids
are
the
future
of
our
city
and
it's
going
to
be
a
strong
future
because,
because
of
you,
if
you
look
at
the
history
of
and
the
pattern
of
immigrants
that
came
to
our
country
in
the
next
generation
I'm
one
of
those
American
success
stories,
as
opposed
to
the
American
dream.
But
two
people
came
on
a
plane
from
a
different
land.
They
really
didn't
have
many
people
here.
They
knew
they
had
a
couple
family
members
and
they
had
they
got
married.
They
met
here
got
married.
C
C
My
parents
didn't
go
to
high
school.
They
had
a
fifth
and
sixth
grade
education.
I
was
not
a
great
student
in
high
school.
I
was
not
a
great
student
at
all.
When
I
graduate
high
school
I
didn't
get
into
any
college
that
I
wanted
to
go
to.
I
want
to
go
to
Suffolk
I
didn't
get
in
because
my
grades
were
bad.
C
So
what
I
decided
to
do
is
I
went
to
Quincy
junior
college
for
a
semester
and
I
got
my
good
free
year
and
I
got
my
grades
up
and
when
I
was
in
Quincy
I
transferred
over
to
Suffolk
University
and
I
did
a
year
at
Suffolk,
yes,
semester,
something
University
and
I
thought
at
the
young
age
of
19.
I
was
I,
thought
I
wanted
to
make
money,
and
so
I
quit
school,
and
my
intention
was
to
go
back
to
school
and
everyone
people
said
you're,
not
gonna,
go
back
to
school.
C
Once
you
drop
out
of
school
I
said
I'm
gonna
go
back
to
school
and
in
that
leaving
my
college
was
about
it.
Bad
bad,
really,
really
bad
decision.
I
made
and
I
wanted
to
do
well,
not
to
work
for
the
laborers
Union
and
some
other
things
end
up
in
detox,
which
is
part
of
my
story.
Alcoholism,
I,
was
drinking
in
potty,
I
got
sober,
I
made
it
sober.
C
Two
things
I
was
able
to
do
within
a
year
is
run,
run
a
year
and
a
half
one
to
say,
representa
and
represent
my
district
of
Georgia
and
secondly,
go
back
to
college.
That
decision
was
probably
one
of
the
most
important
is
I
ever
made
in
my
life.
Cuz
I
got
my
degree
at
Boston.
College
I
went
to
school
at
night,
I
worked
in
the
day,
I
was
doing
life,
I
wanted
to
quit
school
every
day,
but
I
knew
I
wanted
to
degree.
C
I
quit
millions
of
times,
maybe
thousands
of
times
I'd
be
sitting
in
the
car
going.
I
don't
have
to
go
in
there.
Do
I
really
need
a
college
degree.
I'm
gonna
stay
represented,
I'm,
doing
pretty
well,
and
my
last
class
of
Boston
College
I'll,
never
forget
I
finished.
My
last
class
I
was
walking
out
as
I
was
walking
out.
The
Gannet
call
me
mother.
C
She
was
the
first
person
I
called
and
I
said:
mama
I,
just
finished
college
I'm
a
college
graduate
now
and
she
was
ecstatic
and
then
I
called
two
people
that
challenged
me
15
years
20
years
before
that.
That
said,
I
would
never
go
back
to
school
and
I
called
them
both
and
I
thanked
them.
I
think
that
cuz
for
15
years
they
were
in
my
head
saying:
you're,
not
gonna,
go
back
and
I
want
to
prove
them
wrong
and
some
of
those
times
I
wanted
to
quit,
but
that
that
voice
still
went
in
there.
C
So
it
doesn't
matter
when
you
go
to
school
or
how
you
go
to
school.
What
matters
is
that
you
continue
to
follow
your
education
so
after
today,
and
meant
all
of
you
going
on
to
college
after
this,
when
you're
done
with
that.
Take
the
next
step.
Take
the
next
step
and
continue
to
push
forward.
I
was
40
years
old
when
I
graduate
I
was
42
years
old.
When
I
graduated
college
I
was
it
was
not
a
kid
and
it's
something
I'm
very
proud
of
today.
C
So
I
know
some
of
the
challenges
that
some
of
you
are
going
toe
in
the
room
as
far
as
education
and
deciding
whether
or
not
to
go
to
school,
but
I
guarantee
you
you
will
enjoy
you'll,
be
very
grateful
if
you
do
that,
something!
That's
really
important
when
I
think
about
Boston
and
I
think
about
the
picture
that
I'm
looking
at
right.
C
Now
you
are
the
picture
of
our
city
you're
the
picture
of
resilience
in
the
other
picture
of
who
we
are
and
you're
also
the
picture
that
drives
me
every
day
to
get
up
and
do
this
job
as
mayor
of
the
city
to
continue
to
do
the
job.
So
everyone
in
our
city,
whether
you're,
young
or
old,
whether
you're
middle-aged,
whether
your
skin
is
wide
a
whether
your
skin
is
brown
regardless.
The
call
your
skin,
whether
you're
from
Boston,
whether
you're
from
China,
whether
you're
from
wherever
you
are
Central
America,
wherever
you're
from
Haiti
Cabo
Verde.
C
It
doesn't
matter
to
me
it's
about.
How
do
you
make
sure
that
you
continue
to
move
forward?
This
is
an
incredible
opportunity.
I'm
going
to
stop
talking
a
second
I
just
want
to
say
one
thing
about:
first
literacy,
it's
an
incredible
organization,
and
it's
a
credible
organization
that
that
that
allows
incredible
opportunities
for
so
many
people
to
be
successful
and
be
that
success
story
of
search.
First
literacy.
Be
that
sorry
to
be
able
to
go
back
and
talk
about
you
know,
story
a
path.
C
Nobody
nobody's
the
story
and
nobody's
story
is
a
straight
line
to
success.
There's
a
crooked
line
this
it
there's
this
leaps,
there's
valleys,
there's
peaks
and
valleys,
there's
all
kinds
of
stuff
that
goes
and
they
minded
too.
But
at
the
end
of
the
day,
you
have
an
opportunity
to
control
your
own
destiny,
I'm,
making
sure
you
get
the
education
that
you
deserve
and
your
family
deserves,
and
so
you
can
feel
very
proud
of
yourself.
D
Hello,
everyone,
my
name,
is
Kathleen
Cahill
I
want
to
congratulate
all
the
scholars
who
are
present
for
your
achievements
that
brought
you
here
today.
Just
a
few
years
ago,
I
was
sitting
exactly
where
you
were
and
I
started.
Beginning
a
new
chapter
in
my
life.
I
am
honored
to
be
here
and
to
be
speaking
today,
thanks
to
the
support
of
first
literacy
and
the
staff
at
Julie's,
Family
Learning
Program,
who
recommended
me
for
the
scholarship
I,
am
halfway
to
earning
my
master's
degree
in
social
work
at
Eastern,
Nazarene,
College,
I,.
D
Began
my
college
career
at
Bunker
Hill
Community
College,
where
I
first
completed
my
associates
degree.
Well,
it
may
sound,
like
my
life,
is
all
planned
out
today.
It
hasn't
always
been
that
way.
If
you
saw
me
in
high
school,
you
would
have
looked
at
me
and
said
wow
that
girl
got
it
going
on.
Even
though
I
looked
all
together
in
high
school
inside
I
was
filled
with
fear.
Doubt,
insecurity
I
always
felt
different.
I,
never
thought
I
was
capable
and
didn't
think
much
of
myself.
D
I
was
a
type
of
person
that
I
could
see
good
in
everybody
else,
except
for
myself.
I
had
college
looking
looking
at
me
for
a
political
shift,
because
I
was
a
really
good
soccer
player
and
I
most
likely
would
have
received
a
full
ride
somewhere.
But
that
wasn't
my
journey
and
that's
not
my
story.
The
way
it
went
for
me
was
after
high
school.
My
problems
got
progressively
worse.
I
ended
up
using
drugs,
breaking
my
family's
heart
and
falling
into
homelessness.
D
In
2007,
when
I
was
still
homeless,
I
became
pregnant
with
my
daughter
in
2008
I'm.
Sorry
I
gave
birth
to
this
little
girl
that
I
named
Gracie
Frances.
She
was
my
saving
grace
shortly
after
her
birth
I
found
out
about
Julie's
family
Learning
Program,
and
at
that
point
in
my
life,
I
didn't
realize.
I
was
about
to
hit
a
gold
mine
Julie's
restored
me
to
the
core
in
a
way
that
was
absolutely
amazing.
Julie's
was
the
changing
point.
D
D
You
have
to
work
really
hard
for
what
you
want,
but
you
also
have
to
have
balance
in
your
life
at
Julie's,
I
discovered
that
I
am
a
good
student,
incapable
of
success
even
in
college
that
I
never
thought
I
could
do
walking
through
my
challenges
and
fears
have
brought
me
to
a
place
of
success
and
confidence
in
a
belief
that
there
is
hope
on
the
other
side,
to
all
the
scholars.
Whatever
you
go
through
in
life,
there
will
be
trials
and
tribulations.
D
Don't
give
up
on
yourself,
as
you
see
firsthand
from
my
experience,
you
have
the
ability
to
overcome
obstacles
and
achieve
the
life
you
want.
I
want
to
commend
you
for
all
your
amazing
achievements.
I
wish
you
a
wonderful
future.
As
you
begin
a
new
journey
and
I
know.
If
I
can
do
it,
anybody
can
so
god
bless.
E
So
welcome
and
congratulations.
Everyone
first,
we'll
start
with
the
new
scholars,
the
new
members
and
the
new,
the
new
members
of
the
first
literacy
community.
If
you,
if
the
member
isn't
here
I
will,
if
the
scholars
in
here
just
to
ask
if
there's
someone
who
would
accept
in
their
behalf,
first
person
is
Stefan.
Augustine.