Community Education Project Inc

CEP’s mission is to promote equal access to education, jobs and health care for low-income members of the new-comer Puerto Rican and immigrant communities of greater Holyoke and Springfield.  CEP has provided Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes, referral and advocacy services in the Latino community in Holyoke for over 21 years.

In 1995 CEP was a founding partner of the Juntos Collaborative:  a coalition of six ABE and workforce development service provider agencies in Holyoke funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  As a member of Juntos, CEP has been instrumental in the evolution of adult and family education programming in Holyoke and provided leadership for the development of the new Picknelly Adult & Family Education Center in downtown Holyoke.

CEP provides a full range of adult and family educational opportunities.  The DESE/Juntos grant to CEP funds programming that includes Pre-ESOL Literacy in Spanish (GLE 3-5 and GLE 6-9) and two levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL Low-High Intermediate); partnering with Holyoke Community College for over 10 years, CEP has developed a nationally recognized transition to college program for non-traditional and first generation college candidates. CEP also collaborates with Hampden and Hampshire county employers to provide classes for employees preparing to take the GED exam and those wishing to improve their English language proficiency.

As the lead agency on the “Models to Transition Adult Learners to Community College” grant from DESE and Commonwealth Corporation, CEP has collaborated with ABE programs from Hampshire and Hampden Counties and the Massachusetts State Community College System to develop a pipeline from the Adult Basic Education system to post-secondary education.

CEP offers a work environment based on a high degree of collaboration and collegiality both within the agency and as part of the Juntos Collaborative.  We offer competitive pay rates, paid personal and sick days, paid holidays, and the opportunity to participate in an employer subsidized group health insurance program.

Please visit us at: www.cepholyoke.org to learn more about our programs and our community.