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Cedar Riverside Adult Education Collaborative

1515 South Fourth Street, Building E
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1153

The Cedar Riverside Adult Education Collaborative is a collaboration between three partner agencies: Riverside Plaza Tenants Association, Brian Coyle Community Center, and Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Basic Education Program. As a tutor, university students will assist ESL students in the classroom.

  • Classes
    • Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon
    • Monday–Thursday, 12:30–3:30 p.m. and 6–9 p.m.
  • Citizenship Class: Monday and Thursday, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
  • Conversation Group: Tuesday and Wednesday, 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Classes subject to change due to student enrollment.

Hmong American Partnership

Arcade Office (main): 1075 Arcade Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106
University Office: 379 West University Avenue, Suite 204, Saint Paul, MN 55103

Hmong American Partnership's Education and Training Department is staffed with experienced and professional instructors who are dedicated to and understand the needs of English learners. Hmong American Partnership's Intensive ESL classes are intended to help participants learn the level of English needed to find and maintain employment. Classes consist of 20 or fewer participants and meet four hours per day, Monday–Friday.

Hmong American Partnership's Civics classes teach adult English language learners the skills to understand and navigate governmental, educational, and workplace systems, and other key American institutions such as banking and healthcare. Civics classes uses a work-focused curriculum to teach civics and, at the same time, help prepare students for employment.

  • Civics classes are two and half hours in the evening, Monday–Thursday.
  • Intensive ESL classes are Monday–Friday 9–11:45 a.m. or Monday–Thursday 6–8 p.m.

Hmong Cultural Center

375 University Avenue, Suite #204, Saint Paul, MN 55103

The mission of Hmong Cultural Center, Inc. (HCC), is to promote the personal development of children, youth, and adults through Hmong cultural education while providing resources that contribute to cross-cultural understanding between Hmong and non-Hmong members of our community.

University students participating in Project SHINE assist ESL teachers in the classroom, working one-on-one or in small groups with adult English learners.

  • Classes: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.* and 4–6 p.m.
  • Citizenship Classes: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 4–6 p.m.

Project SHINE service learners do not need to be there for the entire four-hour class

Hmong speakers are encouraged to tutor here, but this is not a requirement.

Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning

1030 West University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104

The Ronald M. Hubbs Center is a program of the Saint Paul Public Schools' Community Education Department. Educational services are available to adults who want to improve their basic skills, earn a GED, earn a high school diploma, prepare for employment or post-secondary education, or learn English.

Hours of operation:
Monday–Thursday: 8:15 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday: 8:15 a.m.–2 p.m.
Length of Commitment: 2 and a half hours a week for one semester.

  • Monday–Friday classes:
    • 8:15–10:45 a.m.
    • 10:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
    • 9:15–10:45 p.m.
    • 10:45–12:15 p.m.
  • Monday–Thursday classes:
    • 1:30–4:30 p.m.
    • 5–8 p.m.

Additional 1-2 hour time slots may be available assisting in drop-in study lab.

Please visit the website to find more information, sign up for a Hubbs Center (site) orientation, and/or fill out the volunteer application form.

Metro North Adult Basic Education

1201 Northeast Eighty-Ninth Avenue, Suite 335, Blaine, MN 55434

Metro North Adult Basic Education (ABE) offers adults in the north part of Hennepin County, all of Anoka County, most of Sherburne County, and Washington County instruction for GED or high school diploma, brushing up on basic skills, English as a second language, citizenship, family literacy opportunities, and workplace instruction.

  • Classes:
    • Blaine—mornings and evenings
    • Brooklyn Center—some mornings and evenings
    • Circle Pines—some mornings and evenings
    • Colombia Heights/Fridley—mornings and evenings
    • Coon Rapids—some evenings
    • Elk River—some mornings, afternoons, and evenings
    • Forest Lake—some mornings, afternoons, and evenings
    • St. Francis—some mornings, afternoons, and evenings
    • Anoka—mornings and evenings.

A criminal history release form and references are required.

Available tutoring sites for English as a second language or citizenship classes: 

Anoka Technical College (ATC)
Blaine Learning Lab (BLL)
Brooklyn Center (BCLCM)
Columbia Heights-Fridley (CHF)

Minneapolis Adult Education

North Campus: 800 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411
South Campus: 2015 East Lake Street Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Minneapolis Adult Education provides classes in reading, GED test preparation, adult high school diploma, writing, ELL, citizenship, career planning and college success, and child development associate certificate. Preferred minimum commitment of 26 hours. Assist as a classroom assistant 1–3 hours a week (more if desired). The subject areas are: ELL, basic computer skills, basic writing, and basic math.
Tutors must attend a one-hour site orientation.

  • Classes (North Campus):
    • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (Monday–Thursday during the summer)
    • Monday–Thursday, 6–9 p.m.
  • Classes (South Campus):
    • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 12:30–3 p.m. (Monday–Thursday during the summer; no afternoon classes during the summer)
    • Monday–Thursday, 6–9 p.m.

For more information and/or to fill out the volunteer application form, please visit the website.

Open Door Learning Centers (Literacy Minnesota)

Arlington Hills: 1115 Greenbrier Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106

Northeast: 1509 Northeast Twenty-seventh Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Northside: 1800 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55405

Southside: 2511 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Literacy Minnesota’s Open Door Learning Center has four Twin Cities locations offering free classes for adult learners. Project SHINE students will have the opportunity to help people in our community who are learning English computer skills, preparing for citizenship, or the GED. Help community members reach their goals!

No experience is needed; the Project SHINE Coordinator and Open Door Volunteer Coordinator will provide all necessary training. Visit the Literacy Minnesota website for volunteer opportunities at Open Door Learning Centers, and then complete the Open Door Volunteer Application.

A minimum three-month commitment is preferred for all volunteers. Also note: volunteers arrive 30 minutes prior to class start in order to prepare.

Osseo Area Schools-Adult Basic Education

7051 Brooklyn Boulevard, Suite 200S., Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

Osseo Area Schools Adult Basic Education volunteers assist the teacher in conducting activities, providing assistance to adult students with questions, and working one-on-one or in small groups with students as assigned by the teacher. Gain the satisfaction of seeing the increase in the students’ English speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities.

Site requires university students to commit to two-four hours per week during the school year. Project SHINE students will do two hours per week for 10 weeks.

Northwest Family Service Center, ESL Level A - Level E

  • Day Classes:
    • Monday–Thursday, 9a.m.–1 p.m.
    • Friday, 9 a.m.–noon
  • Night Classes:
    • Monday–Thursday, 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Willow Lane, ESL Level B - Level E

  • Day Classes:
    • Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
    • Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.–noon

Our Saviour’s Community Services (English Learning Center)

2315 South Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Our Savior's Community Services English Learning Center is a learning community of refugees, immigrants, and advocates. All of the teachers, tutors, and classroom assistants are volunteers. Project SHINE students can serve as classroom assistants and/or work one-on-one with ESL students.


Classes offered include English Level 1 through Level 5/6 and Citizenship Classes.

  • English: Monday–Thursday, 9:30–11:45 a.m.
  • Citizenship Class: Monday–Wednesday, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
  • English Evening Classes: Monday–Thursday, 6:45–8:30 p.m.

Saint Paul Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Family Literacy

(ECFE is now managed by Hubbs Center at 1030 West University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104)

Saint Paul Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) recognizes that family literacy is an approach to inter-generational learning focused on the family. It acknowledges family and culture as the foundation of learning for the child. Family literacy recognizes the parent as the child’s first and most important teacher, and acknowledges that the literacy of the parent is crucial to the development of the literacy of the child. Family literacy provides instruction to enrich the home environments through interactive, inter-generational learning that respects family and culture and models, supports, values and promotes literacy and lifelong learning.

Project SHINE students can help assist Adult English Language learners as classroom assistants or tutor students one-on-one.

For more information and/or to fill out the volunteer application form please visit the website.

Vietnamese Social Services

277 West University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55103

Vietnamese Social Services (VSS) is dedicated to maintaining the identity of the Minnesota Vietnamese community while addressing the basic economic, educational, and health needs of refugees and immigrants statewide.

VSS offers English classes that are tailored to fit individual needs. They are offered at various skill levels, accommodating the needs of persons with no English skills as well as individuals who possess basic English language skills and are working towards fluency.

English Classes:

  • Adult English Language classes serving Vietnamese, Somali, and Karen students, Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–noon. Mixed-level English class.

University students participating in Project SHINE may choose any day(s) and time between 9:30 a.m.–noon.

If you have questions about any site, please contact the Institute for Community Engagement and Scholarship at 651.793.1285 or community.engagement@metrostate.edu.