Help adults in Lincoln learn English language and job skills

Lincoln Literacy is a multi-award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We provide a continuum of services rooted in language and literacy skills.

Imagine arriving in Lincoln from another country. You don't speak English, and no one understands you. You have skills from your home country, but it's hard to find a good-paying job when you can't communicate with your boss or team. And even if you could study English, who will watch your children while you're in class? How will you even get to class?

That's how Lincoln Literacy helps. Our services change lives and give people the freedom to thrive in our community. We help our newest neighbors communicate in English and provide in-demand preparation for careers in healthcare, transportation, and education. We meet people where they are to register and assess students and also ask about their dreams. We even provide childcare and transportation so our students can attend classes.

Lincoln Literacy is serving a record number of students — over 3,000 adult learners in 2025. In response, we increased our classes — now 125+ per week, 6 days per week at multiple locations across Lincoln — increased van routes, and added staff to our team.

We maintain a high level of quality, with most students increasing at least one level on our English assessment after 6 months of classes, including about third of students who say we helped them find a job.

We operate thanks to the dedication of our staff (who speak 13 different languages, including Ukrainian, Dari, and Pashto) and 200+ volunteers who teach our English language and job-related classes. But we need your help to continue meeting our community's growing needs. Our workforce needs skilled workers, and our students want to work.

Lincoln Literacy is dedicated to helping people achieve their dreams by building on their skills. Our students are refugees, immigrants, and Americans who've struggled with literacy. They study with us and go on to further their formal education, start businesses, or improve their lives by enhancing their English proficiency.

We offer:

• 125+ English classes per week from beginner to advanced levels
• 1:1 tutoring matches
• Drively Safely in the USA
• Citizenship classes
• Commercial Drivers License (CDL) exam preparation class
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam and licensure preparation class
• Healthcare Career Pathways class
• School jobs prep class - resume and interview assistance for all LPS jobs
• Individual career navigation to help all achieve a career pathway
• Assistance to degreed and credentialed new Americans to help them return to their career
• Teaching English to current manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare organization employees to improve safety, English, and upward mobility.

Thank you for supporting our English and workforce development classes.