The Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation has received a $5,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to hold a new English as a Second Language (ESL) class, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” an experiential English language learning program for new Lehigh Valley residents.

The project will serve 20 ESL students who are recent immigrants to the area.

Participants will learn about the area and how to navigate challenges. Following lessons in the classroom, students will learn to use their newly acquired language skills out in the community, such as at the library or the mall.

Program activities are designed to build confidence and help new immigrants access critical resources they need in their everyday lives.

Classes will run in fall 2022 and spring 2023.

The grant is part of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s recent $10.5 million donation to support summer, family and adult literacy programs. The foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, funds are awarded to nonprofit organizations, schools and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer and youth literacy programs.

Information on the program: Allison Ludlow, assistant director of literacy, aludlow@lccc.edu