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April is Arab Americans Heritage Month. Vermont Adult Learning is proud to represent learners who come to us from around the globe. 4.56% of current VAL students hail from Arab countries including Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen!
April is Autism Acceptance Month. Many learners and staff members at Vermont Adult Learning identify as autistic. Vermont Adult Learning understands that being autistic is more than a diagnosis–it’s an identity. During Autism Acceptance Month, we celebrate learners with neurodiverse brains with the knowledge that diverse perspectives in the classroom make learning environments stronger.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Vermont Adult Learning is proud to partner with agencies that support learners with developmental disabilities. Howard Center and Hireability are two organizations that Vermont Adult Learning works with to ensure diverse learners’ needs are met not only in the classroom, but also within the workplace and the community. To learn more about Hireability, visit their website here: https://www.hireabilityvt.com/ To learn more about Howard Center, visit their website here: https://howardcenter.org/
Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility. At Vermont Adult Learning, creating an inclusive environment for our learners is at the core of our mission. We welcome both learners and educators of all gender identities. We continuously strive to improve our knowledge and understanding of the specific needs of the LGBTQIA+ community through compassionate conversations with students and staff members who identify as LGBTQIA+ within our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, as well as through trainings such as the one provided by Outright VT (https://outrightvt.org/) in which Vermont Adult Learning staff have participated.
Happy Women’s History Month! Celebrate this month by reading about strong women through American history. Here are some titles suggested by our staff: Women Have Always Worked: A Concise History by Alice Kessler-Harris We the Women by Norah O’Donnell and Kate Andersen Brower A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us from Missiles to the Moon to Mars by Nathalia Holt The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss Code Girls: The True Story of the American Women Who Secretly Broke Codes in World War II by Liza Mundy
Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. Here at Vermont Adult Learning, students have the opportunity to engage in Civics courses, where they learn about historical advancements, including women’s progress throughout U.S. history. Check out some of these achievements on the timeline below!
This month, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Vermont Adult Learning is proud to have learners from all over the world, including the following Asian and Pacific Islander countries: China, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Kiribati, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka!
Get your Pride on! This month, Vermont Adult Learning celebrates our LGBTQIA+ learners, staff, and community. Check out some upcoming Pride events around the state: Pride Weekend, June 4-6, Woodstock: https://www.prideofwoodstockvt.org/ Pride Prom, June 5, White River Junction: https://uvjam.org/event/pride-prom-2026/ Rutland County Pride Festival, June 20, Rutland: https://www.rcpride.org/pridefestival Ongoing LGBTQIA+ Support and Meetups, Burlington: https://outrightvt.org/events-calendar/
National Volunteer Month This National Volunteer Month, Vermont Adult Learning would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers. This month, we interviewed our Volunteer Coordinator, Forrest Gardner about the volunteer programs at Vermont Adult Learning. Check out his interview below! QUESTION 1: In what ways can someone volunteer with VAL? ANSWER: All kinds of ways! Currently, we’re mostly seeking tutors and teachers, especially teachers who work one-on-one with students. Many of our students are in need of English Language instruction and GED tutoring in reading, writing, and math. QUESTION 2: What backgrounds do our volunteers have in education or academic subject matter? ANSWER: We have a mix of retired educators, retired education support staff, retired professionals, and college and graduate students often studying TESOL and linguistics. QUESTION 3: How have you seen VAL learners benefit from working with a volunteer? ANSWER: When students work with volunteers, they’re able to meet their academic goals. Several GED students have made progress and gone on to pass tests after working with a volunteer. English Language Learning students are able to communicate more effectively at work and school. Digital Literacy students who come to us not knowing how to turn on a computer leave our program knowing the basic functions of computer operation. QUESTION 4: How can volunteers benefit from working with VAL? ANSWER: Volunteers not only gain the ability to feel like a part of their communities, but also gain valuable experience in working with students should volunteers be pursuing education as a career or pivoting to working with a different demographic of students, such as adults or English Language Learners. Volunteers can also access professional development trainings with us. QUESTION 5: What is your favorite part about working with volunteers? ANSWER: I most enjoy meeting the volunteers who come on board, hearing their stories, and doing the creative problem-solving work of matching a volunteer with a student. To apply to become a volunteer with Vermont Adult Learning, contact Forrest Gardner with your resume at fgardner@vtadultlearning.org.
On Juneteenth, we celebrate freedom. June 19th, 1865 marked the day that slavery ended in the United States. Interested in learning about African American history? We recommend visiting the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh, VT where you can learn about the history of the Underground Railroad and the Antislavery Movement. Visit their website here: https://rokeby.org/.
July is Disability Pride Month! Vermont Adult Learning is committed to providing an accessible education for all our learners. 29% of VAL learners identify as having a disability. VAL supports learners with disabilities by providing multiple learning modalities including in-person and online class offerings, physically accessible learning spaces, and personalized testing and classroom accommodations. If you are a VAL student in need of accommodations, reach out to your advisor today to talk about ways we can best support you in your educational journey.