Literacy Pittsburgh Student Newsletter
GED Graduation Ceremony
We are excited to celebrate those students who earned their GED diploma during the years 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023.
When: Thursday, May 11
Where: CCAC Allegheny Campus - Foerster Student Services Center Auditorium, 839 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Grads arrive at 5:00 pm; Ceremony begins at 6:30pm
Grads are invited to bring up to 3 guests to help celebrate this amazing accomplishment. Guest tickets must be reserved by May 1 at tinyurl.com/LPGED23.
Student Survey Response
In the fall, we asked you for your feedback, and we heard from 249 of you.
Based on that survey, we know our students want:
- more information about careers and how to get started in them
- continued flexible options for orientation and learning
- more and different supports to help reach their goals
We heard you! Here is what we are doing in response:
- continuing to provide both in-person and remote learning and orientation options
- hosting orientations out in the community
- hiring new student support specialists to help with needs outside of the classroom
We are also creating an online student portal, where you can:
- find information about classes and services
- sign up for computer classes and career classes
- tell us if you need help with anything outside of your studies
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We are always working to serve you better, so look for another survey in the next few months!
UPMC Latin American Health Fair
Join Jewish Family and Community Services and other community partners for the free Latin American Health Fair.
When: Saturday, April 29, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Where: UPMC Neighborhood Center, 6401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
This event is open to the public and designed to support the health and wellness of refugees, immigrants, and all community members.
The health fair will offer a range of free services, including:
- In-person interpretation (Spanish and Portuguese)
- Free health screenings
- Documentation and immigration support
Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare. If you or someone you know could benefit from the Latin American Health Fair, please plan to attend!
Criminal Record Clearing Event
UPMC Health Plan, Partner4Work, and Neighborhood Legal Services are hosting a criminal record-clearing event on April 19 since April is Second Chance Month. The event is open to all community members and will feature presentations about expungements, pardons, and record sealing, as well as personal testimonials, organizations sharing resources, and the opportunity to talk to Neighborhood Legal Services attorneys about needs and goals.
When: Wednesday, April 19, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Where: UPMC Neighborhood Center, 6401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Students & Career Services Updates
Career Spotlight: Sales Representative
A sales representative talks to potential customers to sell a company's product. Usually, companies want to see at least a high school diploma or GED credential. You can find this career in almost any company that sells a product. Most companies give on-the-job training to their employees. The average starting salary is $38,330. The industry has plenty of room to grow with an experienced employee making up to $90,860. The benefits of becoming a sales representative include: many different companies where you can work, room to grow in the industry, and the ability to start this career without a college degree. To explore your career options after Literacy Pittsburgh, contact Callie Angelo in Career Services at cangelo@literacypittsburgh.org.
Upcoming Workshops and Events
Jewish Family and Community Services Spring Job Fair
When: Friday, May 5, 11:00am - 2:00pm
Where: Carnegie Library Main, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
This event is hosted by Jewish Family and Community Services Career Development Center and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. There will be more than 20 representatives from different companies to provide information about their organizations, different hiring opportunities, and other available services. The job fair is free to all adults. Register here.
Pittsburgh Technical College Information Session
When: Friday, May 12, 12:00 - 2:00pm
Where: Virtual
Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC), located in Oakdale PA, offers a variety of certificate and associate degree programs to help students enter a number of union jobs. This virtual information session is a great introduction to the school, and interested students can schedule tours of the campus afterward. For more information about PTC visit their website. Register here by May 10.
Pittsburgh Job Corps Open House
Pittsburgh Job Corps program helps eligible young people ages 16 through 24 complete their high school education, trains them for meaningful careers, and assists them with obtaining employment. At Job Corps, students have access to room and board while they learn skills in specific training areas for up to three years. In addition to helping students complete their education, obtain career technical skills and gain employment, Job Corps also provides transitional support services, such as help finding employment, housing, child care, and transportation. Click here to register for this free event.
When: Thursday, May 11, 9:00 - 11:30am OR 1:30 - 3:30pm
Where: Pittsburgh Job Corps Campus, 7175 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206
WorldSquare Returns to Downtown
Welcoming Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership are proud to again team up to present a return of WorldSquare, to celebrate, promote and welcome our local international communities. Market Square will once again be transformed with the sights, sounds, and cuisine of the international and immigrant communities of Pittsburgh. “World Square – Welcoming All of Pittsburgh’s Neighbors” provides a global outlook and a unique opportunity for international and newcomer communities within the region.
When: June 2 - 4 and June 9 - 11
Fridays: 5:00 - 9:00pm
Saturdays:12:00 - 9:00pm
Sundays:12:00 - 6:00pm
WorldSquare registration is open to vendors of all kinds - businesses, artists, makers, performers, and food vendors from across the various international newcomer communities.
Student Success Stories
Congratulations to the following students!
Congrats to new citizens Gulaiym and Bakyt! They are a husband and wife who came to the U.S. from Kyrgyzstan in 2017. Thanks to the dedication of their amazing Literacy Pittsburgh tutor Regina, they recently passed the citizenship test. Gulaiym and Bakyt took Regina out to lunch to celebrate.
Steve is a Digital Skills student who recently took our Using Email class. Here's what he had to say: "I was excited about this class but had no idea just how important it was until the following day, when I was invited by a potential employer to engage in a phone interview for a position. Having to respond back to the employer by email, I used what I learned the day before in class to write and send a professional email and make a great first impression!"
Kind words from Sarah, who attended our Computer Skills classes: "I am also very excited to start this new position at Beaver County Rehabilitation Center. I will be working as a Job Coach. I will be assisting special needs clients with learning work-related skills so that they can work in the community or in the factory at the BCRC facility. I will also fill out reports and work times using the Word and Excel programs. Because of the training that I received from Literacy Pittsburgh, I now feel very confident in using those computer programs for the Job Coach position. Thank you so much for all your guidance, patience, and skills in teaching me these computer skills."
Shortly before graduation in March, Damion got a job working for PSC, a company that supports activities at the Shell plant in Beaver County. On his day off, he decided to stop by and let the class officially congratulate him as he added his cap to the GED Wall of Fame. He is still thinking about pursuing his dream of becoming a heavy equipment operator. In the meantime, he is hoping to be able to join us at the Literacy Pittsburgh graduation ceremony in May.
Instructors Lynn and Jess are co-teaching a class at Concord Elementary on digital skills, including navigating the internet and how to use Zoom. Students are English language learners, some with limited English, so this class is a huge accomplishment.
Share your success story with us! You can help inspire others who are overcoming barriers and working toward their goals. Email it to Najlaa at nebrahim@literacypittsburgh.org
“Wisdom begins with wonder.”
- Socrates, Greek philosopher
"Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you'll ever have is your mind and what you put into it."
- Albert Einstein
