This episode of Nonprofit Report features leaders working across the U.S. to champion adult education and experiential learning as tools for workforce development, intergenerational advancement, and social equity.
Guests:
Carey Harris, CEO, Literacy Pittsburgh
Earl Buford, President, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)
Anthony Tassi, CEO, Literacy Partners (New York City)
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Key Points:
- Adult learners are critical to community health and the future of the U.S. workforce.
- Programs meet learners where they are—honoring lived experience and nontraditional paths.
- English language learners and low-literacy adults bring resilience, intelligence, and ambition.
- Literacy and skills training improve employment, family outcomes, and civic participation.
- Employers play a vital role in upskilling workers and creating access to sustainable jobs.
- Trauma-informed education builds confidence and re-engages those left behind by systems.
- Local programs benefit from national networks that share best practices and innovation.
- Adult education is an equity strategy addressing generational poverty and systemic barriers.
Other Points on Adult Education:
Across the country, millions of adults are off the education grid—but they’re not lacking in talent. From GED programs to workforce literacy, adult education organizations are equipping people with the skills they need to thrive in life and work.
Adult learners include immigrants, parents, returning citizens, and workers seeking advancement. Programs like CAEL, Literacy Pittsburgh, and Literacy Partners build pathways that recognize prior learning and remove entry barriers to opportunity.
The approach is student-centered and culturally affirming. Language and literacy instruction is paired with real-world applications, be it job readiness, family engagement, or personal growth.
Adult education doesn’t just prepare people for better jobs; it fuels intergenerational change. When adults learn, their children succeed. And when we invest in adult learners, entire communities rise