"Fighting for a better education and the future of our community."

CEP MISSION

The Community Education Project works towards social and economic justice by contributing to the development of a capable, informed, and self-determining Latino Community in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

CEP's work is carried ot through adult literacy and language education programs as well as through grassroots organizing and action intitiatives. We encourage our students and others to:

• Respect human dignity with its rights and responsibilities
• Live in solidarity with others, aware of our independence
• Seek the well-being of all
• Value all forms of work and creativity
• Increase awareness about social and economic inequalities 

Adult Basic Education Classes

CEP provides a variety of adult and family educational opportunties in the diverse Holyoke community. We began in 1991 as an ESL program based in the Latino community. Today our educational programming includes:

• Native Language Literacy in Spanish
• Pre-GED in Spanish
• Two levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
• A Pre-GED/Family Literacy program at the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) family drop-in center in Holyoke
• An Adult Basic Education (ABE)-to-College Transition class at Holyoke Community College

Advocacy and Referrals

CEP seeks to implement education projects on issues relevant to community members, such as bilingual education, health, and economic disparity. We offer educational counseling and referral services, as well as legal, medical, housing, and personal advocacy for our students. CEP sponsors community workshops (charlas) organized by our staff and volunteers in consultation with parents of Latino children in Holyoke Public Schools. CEP also sponsors Kimbombó Community Theater.

Kimbomó Community Theater

Comprised of CEP students and staff and other members of the Latino community, Kimbombó Community Theater produces plays that address issues of importance to the Latino Community such as domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and other social and health related issues. Kimbombó productions are presented to the public for free or small donation based on ability to pay. They are also aired on public access television channels throughout Hampshire and Hamden counties.

For more information about our programs, visit: http://www.cepholyoke.org