Coalition on Adult Basic Education

?? BIG NEWS: The COABE Google Scholars Program Continues to Grow! ?? ?? Apply today and spread the word! https://lnkd.in/gnQKaaXT We’re thrilled to announce that COABE, Google’s Top Performing Partner, has received confirmation from Grow with Google for a third year of scholarships for COABE members, including teachers, administrators and adult learners! ?? This means even more opportunities for adult learners and educators to access Google Career Certificates—completely FREE (a value of $49/month for 6-12 months per learner)! ? New This Year: ?? AI Essentials – Stay ahead with foundational AI skills Lately, I’ve seen so many posts with questions about AI—how to use it, how it impacts education, and how we can prepare our learners for an AI-driven world. This is the perfect opportunity to dive in, explore AI firsthand, and gain skills that are shaping the future of work! These certificates equip learners with in-demand digital skills that lead to high-growth careers—at NO cost, thanks to our incredible partnership with Google. Some of what is also included: ?? Advanced Google Career Certificates – Take your career to the next level ?? Cybersecurity ?? Data Analytics ??IT Support ?? Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Let’s continue empowering adult learners, increasing our professional development and expanding opportunities in the field of adult education!?? Check out what else is included in the link above. #GrowWithGoogle #COABE #AdultEd #WorkforceDevelopment #COABEScholars #DigitalSkills #AI #FutureOfWork Sharon Bonney

?? Conference Hotel Discount Deadlines Approaching! ?? ?? Book Your Hotel Now & Secure Discounted Rates! ?? Visit the COABE Hotel & Travel page to reserve your room today: https://lnkd.in/gXhJ7Q6R If you're attending in person and haven’t booked your hotel yet, act fast to lock in discounted rates before the deadlines: ?? Sheraton Dallas Hotel – Book by March 10 ?? Westin Dallas Downtown – Book by March 7 ?? Omni Dallas Hotel – Book by March 7 COABE is providing morning and evening shuttles to overflow hotels, with schedules coming soon! The COABE 2025 National Conference is set to be the world’s largest adult education gathering, bringing together thousands of educators, administrators, learners, and vendors at the Hyatt Regency (rooms sold out) in Dallas, Texas, from March 30 - April 2, 2025! If you haven’t registered yet, don’t miss this opportunity to gain best practices, targeted training from national speakers, and insights from 400+ breakout sessions across 17 specialized strands. #COABE2025 #AdultEducationMatters #ProfessionalDevelopment #ConferenceTravel #BookYourRoom Sharon Bonney

?? The National Conference Platform is Available on Any Device NOW! Access content for the 2025 National Conference from multiple platforms! If you're attending live in Dallas, download the Whova App to any device. Virtual attendees can access the event and interact with others on a desktop or laptop via the Whova web portal. Get on the app: https://lnkd.in/efaGns57 Once registered, you can begin using the conference app to: ?? See session details ??? Personalize your agenda ?? View speaker and attendee profiles ?? Network with your peers ?? Get event announcements & notifications Get familiar with the Whova app before the National Conference. Once registered, you'll have access to the app or web platform. This tutorial covers how to sign in to Whova, find the event, join sessions, and start networking with others. Download the free Whova application from your mobile device on the App Store or Google Play. Sign up using the email address you used during registration. If you've used Whova before, sign in with your existing account. For virtual attendees, Whova recommends using the Google Chrome web browser for the best experience. We are grateful to Aztec Software for generously sponsoring the conference app. Their support enhances our event experience, enabling seamless access to all conference features. Don't miss out—get on the app and enhance your conference experience! #AdultEducationMatters #GetTheApp #COABE2025 Sharon Bonney

?? Fab Friday Learner Spotlight: John Anderson ?? ??? Adult education provided John with the foundation he needed to build a secure future. After facing challenges in the Pittsburgh Public School system, his parents opted to homeschool him. However, John felt deprived of a comprehensive education and yearned for a legitimate academic credential to pursue college. Discovering Literacy Pittsburgh was a turning point. He recalls, "Attending Literacy Pittsburgh was by far one of the best things I've ever done in my life." The supportive staff and substantial instruction empowered him to master mathematical concepts essential for the GED? test, laying the groundwork for his future studies at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). ?? With improved writing skills and newfound confidence, John successfully passed his GED? test and pursued an associate degree in electrical engineering technology at CCAC. Today, he thrives as a computer programmer with aspirations to develop a fully-fledged video game and publish his own novel. Looking ahead, John is considering furthering his education at Carnegie Mellon University or the University of Pittsburgh, embodying the spirit of a lifelong learner and dreamer. ?? John's journey exemplifies how determination and access to adult education can transform lives, turning obstacles into opportunities. ?? Your Story Matters! If you're an adult learner with a story to share, we want to hear from you. Sharing your experiences can inspire others and highlight the transformative power of adult education. ?? Share Your Story: https://lnkd.in/e_DeUxJD #FabFriday #AdultEducationMatters #Inspiration #EducateAndElevate #ShareYourStory Sharon Bonney Educate and Elevate Foundation

?? Exciting Opportunity for Adult Ed Learners! ?? Today, February 28, is the FINAL DAY to become or renew a COABE student membership and enter the raffle! ??? ??? Raffle winners announced LIVE on March 6 at the COABE Adult Learner New Member Meeting! ?? Don’t miss out—sign up today: https://lnkd.in/eYKv43WC ?? Why join? ? FREE membership ? Amazon job opportunities & free life insurance ($60K value) ? Eligibility for the $2,000 Outstanding Adult Learner Award ? FREE COABE Conference registration for adult learners in HSE, ESL & digital skills programs ? Advocacy opportunities to make your voice heard Additional note- Learners who register for the COABE 2025 conference, in person or virtually, will automatically become a COABE member. #LoveYourFuture #COABE #AdultLearners #AdultEd #StudentSuccess Sharon Bonney Julie Knack

??? Advocacy in Action: Growing Stronger with Every Voice! ???? Like the State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship (SAAEF) and the Student Ambassador Leadership Institute (SALI), the COABE Student The COABE Student Ambassador Training is designed to empower adult learners to become powerful advocates for adult education. With each new group trained, the movement grows, the voices get louder, and the impact spreads farther. ??? The New Mexico Adult Education Association’s latest cohort of Student Ambassadors is proof that when learners are equipped with the right tools—awareness, storytelling, and direct advocacy—they can change policies, challenge perceptions, and elevate adult education nationwide. ?? ?? Every training builds on the last, creating a ripple effect of advocacy across the country. We can’t wait to see what this incredible group accomplishes next! ?? Want to be part of this movement? Join us for Ambassador Training at the COABE Conference or sign up for the new online version launching this spring! Let’s keep the momentum going! ?? #COABE #StudentAmbassadors #StudentsAsLeaders #AdultEducationMatters #AdvocacyMatters #BeTheChange #EducateAndElevate Sharon Bonney Erin Vobornik New Mexico Adult Education Association

?? Present with Excellence at COABE 2025! ??? Are you presenting at #COABE2025? Make sure your workshop stands out! Join Kimberly Glenn, Sarah Goldammer and Steven Schmidt for a must-attend webinar co-hosted by AALPD and COABE. ?? Date & Time: TODAY February 27, 2025 | 3:00 PM ET ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/e-D_Txf4 ? Learn strategies to engage your audience ? Discover tools & techniques for effective presentations ? Gain confidence to deliver your best session Can't make it live? No problem! ?? Register, and you'll receive a recording to watch at your convenience. Let’s make COABE 2025 a success together! ???? #COABE2025 #AdultEducationMatters #ProfessionalDevelopment #PresentWithImpact Sharon Bonney

?? Adult Education: High Impact, Low Investment ?? More than 2,000 federally funded adult education programs across the U.S. are achieving a 72% success rate, despite being severely underfunded—with only $200-$800 spent per student annually, compared to $10,000 for K-12. Meanwhile, adult educators earn 20% less than their K-12 counterparts, yet they continue to transform lives every day. At COABE, we represent 55,000 adult educators, administrators, and mentors working to improve educational outcomes for the 43 million U.S. adults with low literacy skills. Through partnerships with business and industry leaders, we are growing the pipeline from adult education to the workforce, ensuring that adult learners gain the skills they need to thrive, support their families, and strengthen their communities. ?? Investing in adult education means investing in America’s workforce and future. Let’s bridge the gap and support adult learners! #AdultEducationMatters #COABE #LifelongLearning #Upskilling #WorkforceDevelopment #EducateAndElevate Sharon Bonney Educate and Elevate Foundation Julie Knack

?? New COABE merch is here! ?? ?? Shop now: https://lnkd.in/eck6EYZ8 Whether you're joining the COABE National Conference in person ?? or virtually, now’s the time to show your adult education pride! The Expanding Horizons logo is a great way to represent adult ed advocacy all year long. ???? A t-shirt or hat is a simple yet powerful way to support adult education during public advocacy efforts—make a statement and help spread awareness! ?? Get your exclusive gear before it sells out! ??? ?? Plus, there’s so much more available through the link! ?????????? #COABE2025 #AdultEducationMatters #Advocacy #GetYoursNow Sharon Bonney Julie Knack

?? Are You Registered for COABE 2025? ?? Join us at the COABE 2025 National Conference from March 30 - April 2, 2025, in Dallas, Texas! Experience the world’s largest adult education conference with: ? 400+ breakout sessions across 17 strands ? National-level speakers sharing best practices ? Networking with 4,000 adult educators from across the country ? Virtual & in-person attendance options Don’t miss out—register today and get ready for an unforgettable professional development experience in BIG, bold Dallas??: https://lnkd.in/ebU8Zmp5 ?? Reserve Your Room for COABE 2025! The conference hotel is sold out, but don’t worry! Nearby hotels still have availability, and COABE will provide morning and evening shuttles to overflow hotels. Book by January 27 to secure a discounted rate at: ?? Sheraton Dallas Hotel ?? Westin Dallas Downtown ?? Omni Dallas Hotel ?? Visit the COABE Hotel & Travel page for details and to book your stay: https://lnkd.in/eZycTXCr ?? Teamwork Makes the Dream Work—Volunteer at COABE 2025! The COABE National Conference thrives because of our dedicated volunteers! Whether it’s your first time or you're a returning volunteer, we need YOU to help make this conference a success. Sign up and get involved! ?? Ready to make an impact? Visit the COABE Volunteer Page to learn more and sign up: https://lnkd.in/ecV4mDDT Learn about roles, incentives, a training guide and even a training webinar. Everything you need to be prepared! #COABE2025 #AdultEducationMatters #ProfessionalDevelopment #BiggerAndBetterInDallas #Volunteer Sharon Bonney Julie Knack