New Emergency Alerts App for Immigrant Safety

ReadyNow! is a free, secure mobile app that helps community members create an emergency plan and alert trusted contacts and legal aid with one click if they are faced with arrest.

Unlike static emergency planning resources, ReadyNow! kicks into action in moments of crisis, ensuring that support networks immediately have the information they need to respond.

The app was developed by Human Rights First, in partnership with Acacia Center for Justice, in close collaboration with immigration lawyers, digital security experts, and community advocates. It has been rigorously security tested and built with privacy at the center, ensuring that data is encrypted, stored locally on users’ devices at rest, and deleted after alerts are sent—protecting user data even if their phone is seized. We believe this is a powerful resource for individuals and families at risk.

This new app is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play. You can begin setting up emergency plans today. ReadyNow! is currently available in English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Kreyol, and French, with more languages coming soon.

August Digital Skills Calendar

Get ready for back-to-school season with shiny new computer skills!

Please check out our virtual classes and in-person offerings at Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown, PA CareerLink^® Downtown, PA CareerLink^® Beaver County, PA CareerLink® Allegheny East, and CCAC Homewood-Brushton. We’re also hosting Digital Skills Orientations, Intro to Zoom, and Google Career Certificate Info Sessions to help new students get started with classes.

Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown:

Beginner English Computer Class

New! Digital Skills for College Success (6 sessions)
Intro to Microsoft PowerPoint (6 sessions)
Digital Skills Orientation
Intro to Zoom
Open Lab / Typing Club

PA CareerLink^® Downtown:

Google Sheets (6 sessions)
Open Lab / Typing Club

Virtual Classes (Online via Zoom):

Digital Skills Orientation
Google Career Certificate Info Session
Excel Chart
Intro to Zoom
Job Search with Indeed

PA CareerLink^® Allegheny East:

Intro to Microsoft Word (6 sessions)

New this month: CCAC Homewood-Brushton:

Computer Basics (6 sessions)
Intro to Microsoft Excel (6 sessions)

Please note the updated Open Lab listing!

Open Lab Schedule (except as noted below):

Mondays:
9:00 am – 12:00 pm (Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown
10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PA CareerLink® Beaver County; two dates: Aug. 11 and 25)
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm (PA CareerLink® Downtown; no Open Lab on Aug. 25)
Wednesdays: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown)
Thursdays: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown)

We hope we have some classes that interest you! As always, please email us at DigitalPGH@LiteracyPittsburgh.org and please specify which class(es) and dates you are interested in.

Finally, don’t forget our calendars are also available at www.LPStudent.com/calendar. The August calendar will be updated soon.

Happy August!

Service Coordination Events

Back to School! Office Hours

📍Monday, August 4 & Tuesday, August 5, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center

Service Coordination will be assisting students with getting back to school supplies for their children (K - 12) who are returning to school this fall. We will be promoting various back-to-school events around the city that parents can attend. If you have any questions, please contact Manique (mbraziel@literacypittsburgh.org) or Ezekieli (eseti@literacypittsburgh.org) for assistance.

Student and Career Services Classes and Workshops

Upcoming Workshops and Events

Career Day
📍Wednesday, July 30, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center  

Join Literacy Pittsburgh for a chance to meet and network with new employers at this in-person job fair. Representatives from Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, Concord Hospitality, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, HomeCare Helpers, Dollar Bank, and PA CareerLink will be present.

Upwardly Global Open Lab
📍Every Tuesday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center  

Literacy Pittsburgh career advisors and digital skills staff have collaborated to offer a space for interested students to study their Upwardly Global lessons. Use on-site computers and get assistance with any technical or instructional barriers with this weekly practice space. Questions? Email Dru at dpelter@literacypittsburgh.org.

Career Class: New Choices 
In collaboration with Pennsylvania Women Work  
📍 August 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Online on Zoom

Get ready to get a job with this class from PA Women Work!  Learn how to:

Create a new resume  
Polish your interviewing skills  
Use effective communication tactics  
Navigate the job application process  
Build your confidence

The class is open to any Literacy Pittsburgh student, regardless of gender.  The deadline to register for this class is Tuesday, July 29. To register: call 412-478-9861 or email Dru at dpelter@literacypittsburgh.org

Career Service Drop-In Hours

📍Times and dates can be found here.
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center  

Drop-in hours are a time for individual career advising services where no appointment is required. Please ask for the career advisor at the front desk when you arrive. Services offered during drop-in hours may include:

Upwardly Global registration
Resume consultations
Interview preparation
Cover letter writing
Assistance with job or school applications
General advisement on goals and career exploration

Some services may not be appropriate if more than one student is in attendance. Translation is only available through Google Translate; however, we will do our best to assist in all cases. This service is not job placement. Students will apply for jobs with the guidance of advisors. Career Advisors do not apply on behalf of students. If a student requires job placement services, contact information for staffing agencies can be provided.

CareerLink^® Representative at Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown Center
📍Thursday, August 28
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center

PA CareerLink^® is an organization dedicated to helping Pennsylvanians get jobs and build job skills. The PA CareerLink^® representative can meet with students one-on-one, answer questions, present workshops, and more. To schedule a session with the CareerLink^®advisor, email Dru at dpelter@literacypittsburgh.org. Learn more about PA CareerLink^®: https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/

Immigrant Workforce Program
📍September 3 – October 30
Online on Zoom

JFCS Career Services and Literacy Pittsburgh are excited to announce that we are teaming up to present a free Immigrant Workforce Program (IWP). IWP is designed to provide foreign-born professional job seekers with the knowledge and career skills needed to succeed in the American job search.

The fall cohort starts on September 3 and ends on October 30, 2025. It is a nine-week virtual program occurring every Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm. Interested? Sign up here.

The Brashear Association Job Fair

📍Wednesday, August 20 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Neighborhood Employment Center
730 E. Warrington Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15210

To register, please contact Beth Ann Buck at 412-390-3588 / babuck@brashearassociation.org

All Together Now! A Benefit Music Festival for Pittsburgh's Immigrant Community

Don't miss this exciting event to benefit Pittsburgh's immigrant community. August 7 - 10, you can check out musicians at a variety of Pittsburgh venues. Get the schedule and tickets at the event website.

Proceeds from the All Together Now! Music Festival will go to the Collaborative for Immigrant Impact to help immigrants access legal services, housing, healthcare, education, English classes, career development, food assistance, and more, ensuring our immigrant neighbors have the opportunity to thrive.

The Collaborative for Immigrant Impact is a network of 20 Pittsburgh-based organizations that serve as a critical safety net for over 20,000 immigrants in our community. In an era of rapidly shifting immigration policies and funding challenges, these organizations have come together to address urgent needs and provide essential short-term support.

Libby: A Free App to Read Books and Listen to Audiobooks

Do you like to read books or listen to stories? You can use Libby! Libby is a free app from the library. You can read eBooks (books on your phone or tablet) and listen to audiobooks (books you can listen to like music).

Libby is free to use. You only need a library card.

Need help? Visit this Getting started with Libby page or ask your library staff. They can help you get started with Libby.

Enjoy reading and listening with Libby!

August Events

The Salvation Army and First National Bank's Back-to-School Bash

On Wednesday, August 13, hundreds of backpacks with school supplies will be distributed to area families. The event will start at noon and run until 3:00 pm at The Salvation Army’s Pittsburgh Homewood-Brushton Worship and Service Center, located at 8020 Frankstown Avenue.

Assistance is open to all students entering grades K-12 residing in ZIP code areas 15147, 15201, 15203, 15206, 15208, 15213, 15215, 15219, 15221, 15222, 15223, 15224, 15230, 15231, 15232, 15235, 15240 and 15260. Registration is required in advance by calling 412-242-1435 or click here to fill out the following online form. The deadline to register is Friday, August 8 and students must be present on the day of the event.

Pittsburgh Public School's Back-to-School Event

On Monday, August 18, Pittsburgh Public Schools will host a Back-to-School event. The event will include free stuffed backpacks, food, haircuts and hairstyles, manicures, shoes, socks, and more. The in-person part of the event takes place in the FedEx Great Hall at Acrisure Stadium, located at 100 Art Rooney Ave. The drive-through portion takes place in Gold Lot 1A, located at 792 W. General Robinson St. No preregistration is required.

Citiparks’ Summer Food Service Program 2025

The 2025 Summer Food Service Program runs through Friday, August 15, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in Allegheny Commons Park (near the Aviary) with the Roving Art Cart and tons of fun! Visit the website for additional information and locations: Summer Food Program - Pittsburgh, PA

Some partner locations end earlier in August. Please check the locations list for specifics.

Summer Meals are back at the Library!

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is participating in the 2025 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in order to ensure Pittsburgh youth, have access to free food during summer vacation. The program runs through August 13

You can find CLP’s 2025 summer meals and snacks schedule here:
Summer Meals are back at the Library! - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Student Success Stories

Congratulations to the following students!

Mohini and Alev were recently passed the Microsoft Office Specialist Expert Excel exam. A total of eight students passed this very difficult exam. Congratulations!

Tifanny recently earned the Microsoft Office Specialist Expert Excel certification.

Even before the class wrapped up, Tiffany was able to use her new skills to improve her workflow, particularly custom number formatting and conditional formatting with the Weekday function.

“All of these little formatting tips and tricks I have learned in the Excel class I am taking with Literacy Pittsburgh. It helps with consistency in my data entry, reduces any extra errors that may occur and just helps with organization and cutting down extra time in my tasks with tracking the cash flows for the company I work for. I would have never decided to try my hand at updating my files had I not taken the class!”

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

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
— Confucius

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
– Albert Schweitzer