New Menu of Services at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow
On February 4th, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT), one of New York City’s leading employment and training organizations, will launch a new round of GED, Pre-GED, and English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes. These classes will serve over 180 adults at OBT’s Bushwick and Sunset Park locations.
The new adult literacy classes will more than double the number of classes OBT is offering to the community. “Our students recognize that being able to speak English well and having a high school diploma are critical stepping stones towards self-sufficiency. These new classes are a critical part of our strategy to eliminate poverty and create opportunity in the communities that we serve,” said Randolph Peers, Executive Director.
The program’s expansion was due in part to additional funding provided by Councilmember Sara Gonzalez’s city-wide Adult Literacy Initiative. Councilmember Gonzalez said, "I fought very hard for the 1.5 million dollars secured through my Adult Literacy Initiative and now I'm very pleased that some of that money is being utilized to provide crucial services by OBT, a premier organization headquartered in my district." Additional funding was also secured through the Immigrant Opportunities Initiative and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.
A recent study by the Fiscal Policy Institute shows that one in eight Americans is a foreign-born immigrant, the highest level in 80 years. Almost one-third of these immigrants have not received a GED.
“Students cannot wait until they have mastered English and have a GED to deal with life’s challenges,” said Emily May, Special Projects Coordinator. “To help support student’s work inside the classroom, OBT’s bilingual staff helps students secure employment, health care, child care, benefits, and affordable housing.”
Classes will be offered at OBT’s Sunset Park and Bushwick locations, with each location having a different menu of services. In Sunset Park (783 4th Avenue), OBT will offer a beginning ESOL class Monday through Thursday, 9 – 11 a.m. and an intermediate ESOL class Monday through Thursday, 1 – 3. In Bushwick (25 Thornton Street), OBT will offer beginning ESOL Monday through Friday 4 – 6 and Monday through Thursday 6 – 8:30 p.m. OBT will also offer Pre-GED classes Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 – 8:30 and GED classes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 – 8:30.
In addition to the ESOL classes, OBT is now registering for the youth GED & employment training program, young adult internship program, as well as for the adult employment services.
Interested in signing up for classes at our Bushwick location call 718-387-1600, for the Sunset Park location call 718-369-0303. For more information visit our website: www.obtjobs.org
