Inside the Picknelly Center

Located on the third and fourth floors of the new Holyoke Transportation Center, the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center was established by members of the Juntos Collaborative, Holyoke Public Schools, and Holyoke Community College (HCC) to provide Holyoke residents with adult basic education and related services in an easily accessible location.

SABES (System for Adult Basic Education Support)

A collaboration between HCC and the Community Education Project (CEP), ABE Transition to College & Careers (ABE TCC) is a free, non-credit program offered both day and evenings that helps students 18+ prepare for college and identify a career path. Includes intensive academic preparation in English reading and writing, math, study strategies and computers in a college context in a supportive learning community environment. Bilingual student support, career counseling, tutoring and mentoring are integral parts of our program.

 

Adult Learning Center

The HCC Adult Learning Center (HCC ALC) is a free, intensive, evening GED Preparation program that offers basic literacy, adult basic education, pre-GED preparation, and GED preparation classes along with a host of companion services including technology training, career development, field trips to local colleges for classes and demonstrations and academic counseling. Located at the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center in downtown Holyoke, programming is offered September through June.

 

Community Education Project

CEP offers educational counseling and referral services, as well as legal, medical, housing, and personal advocacy for our students. CEP Classes held at PAFEC include two levels of English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) and an evening ABE Transition to College and Careers class. CEP is a member of the JUNTOS Collaborative.

 

Gill Community Technology Center

A center to promote technology literacy and support the education and workforce programming of the PAFEC, the technology center offers free and low cost basic computer and software classes in English and Spanish. It also provides free open sessions for the general public, lab space for adult basic education (ABE) and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes, GED preparation, Accuplacer (college placement) prep courses, as well as a career readiness certificate pilot program and Basic Essentials Skill Training for the Workplace (BEST) program.

 

Holyoke Adult Learning Opportunities (HALO) Center

The HALO Center provides beginning literacy, ABE, pre-GED, and GED services in English, as well as beginning and intermediate ESOL classes. HALO is funded by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Holyoke Public Schools. HALO is a member of the JUNTOS Collaborative.

 

Holyoke Community College Courses

Workforce Development Classes, non-credit offerings, English writing and composition, introduction to healthcare careers, GED Testing and MCAS preparation, as well as career counseling, admissions, enrollment, financial aid, and other student support services.

 

Holyoke Tutor Mentor Program

The Holyoke Tutor/Mentor Program recruits, trains, and supports a pool of tutors who work with learners already studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or Adult Basic Education (ABE).

 

Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative (LPVEC)

A collaborative of seven Hampden county school districts, LPCVEC’s services at the PAFEC are focused on special education and vocational-technical education programs for young adults making the transition to jobs and education.

 

New England Farm Workers Council (NEFWC)

New England Farm Workers' Council (NEFWC), an affiliate of Partners for Community, began as an Employment and Training provider to New England's agricultural workforce in 1975. NEFWC has since grown into a multi-service provider, offering classes at PAFEC in Pre-GED and GED in Spanish.

 

PAFEC non-credit registration

Check out all the workforce and training options at PAFEC. Located on the third and fourth floors of the new Holyoke Transportation Center at 206 Maple Street, the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center was established by members of the Juntos Collaborative, Holyoke Public Schools, and Holyoke Community College (HCC).

 

Pathways to Family Success

A family literacy initiative, Pathways to Family Success advocates for and implements collaborations that create family literacy programs throughout the City of Holyoke. Agencies meet monthly at the Holyoke Family Literacy Coalition to coordinate services for adults and children which support their goals for education, economic self-sufficiency and family well-being.

 

SABES (System for Adult Basic Education Support)

Established in 1990 by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, SABES provides comprehensive training and technical assistance for ABE (Adult Basic Education) educators and programs throughout the state. The SABES western regional office at PAFEC provides teacher training in math, English, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and writing curriculum.