Money Matters Resource Fair at Literacy Pittsburgh

📍Wednesday, October 21, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center

Join BNY and NextTier bank at a "Your Money Matters" pop-up event at Literacy Pittsburgh! Social service agencies and Literacy Pittsburgh programs will be on-site sharing resources. All participants will be entered into a raffle, and food will be available. 

Money Matters topics include:

• Credit scores
• Budgeting and debt management
• Savings
• Money safety

Interested? Register here.

Help Light the Way for Another Student – Become a Literacy Luminary

We hope you’ve celebrated literacy this September, as well as your own accomplishments and how far you have come. As we move into our giving season and change into the fall, we would like to tell you about another way you can support Literacy Pittsburgh and your fellow students.

Have you ever thought about making a gift to Literacy Pittsburgh? A small monthly gift can help another student, just like you, get started on their journey. You can make a $5, $10, or $20 gift each month and become a Literacy Luminary, where you receive special recognition on our website and printed materials while helping another student reach their goal all year long.

We also invite you to spread awareness of our organization and our mission of better lives through learning! Thank you for being a part of the Literacy Pittsburgh community and helping to provide another student with an opportunity to begin their journey.

Help light the way for another student by clicking this link and choosing the monthly option.

October Digital Skills Calendar

Welcome, autumn! Crisp new digital skills are in the air! 

Please check out our virtual classes and in-person offerings at Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown, PA CareerLink® Downtown, PA CareerLink® Allegheny East, and EARN Duquesne. We’re also hosting Digital Skills Orientation, Intro to Zoom, and Google Career Certificate Info Sessions to help students get started with computer classes and self-directed learning.

Please note the updated Open Lab listing! 

Open Lab Schedule (except as noted):

• Mondays: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (Literacy Pittsburgh) 
• Mondays and Wednesdays: 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm (PA CareerLink^®) Downtown; no Open Lab on Oct. 26 and 28
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Literacy Pittsburgh) 
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (EARN Duquesne)

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.

Instructional Planning Week: There will be no classes or Open Labs held during the week of September 28 - October 3, 2026.

Happy Halloween!

Service Coordination Events

November Office Hours
📍Monday & Tuesday, November 9 & 10, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center

Service Coordination Office Hours will be focused on medical access with the looming Medicaid changes. We are inviting a community partner to discuss the services they offer, their sliding scale fee, and complete applications on-site. More information to come! 

Career Services Classes and Workshops

University of Pittsburgh Jobs Info Session
📍Thursday, October 1, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm 
Online on Zoom

This information session is to learn about career opportunities at the University of Pittsburgh. Attendees will gain insight into available positions, the application process, employee benefits, and the university's commitment to professional growth and workplace excellence. Register here. If you have questions, please contact Kate Humphries at khumphries@literacypittsburgh.org, or Anna Pellas, apellas@literacypittsburgh.org.

Career Exploration Workshop
📍Wednesday, October 7, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Online on Zoom

Not sure what career you want to pursue? This workshop will help you explore different career options and identify possible paths based on your interests, skills, and goals. Learn about different types of jobs, discover resources for career exploration, and take the first steps toward finding a career in the US. Register here. If you have any questions, please contact Kate Humphries at khumphries@literacypittsburgh.org.

JFCS Job Fair
📍Friday, October 9, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Allegheny County Human Services Building 1                                                
Interested in finding a job? Check out this job fair hosted by JFCS. Meet employers, learn about available positions, and explore opportunities in the Pittsburgh area. No registration required. For more information, check the website.

Literacy Pittsburgh Post-Secondary Fair
📍Wednesday, October 14, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center

Explore education and training opportunities at our Post-Secondary Education Fair! Meet representatives from CCAC, Catholic Charities, Point Park University, and more. Learn about education and training programs, ask questions, and discover opportunities to help you reach your career goals.
For more information, contact Miguel Diaz at mdiaz@literacypittsburgh.org.

EmployHer Fall Opportunity Fair 
📍Thursday, October 15, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
University of Pittsburgh Community Engagement Center
622 N. Homewood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Explore job opportunities and connect with employers at the EmployHer job fair. This is a great opportunity to learn about open positions, meet hiring organizations, and take the next step in your career. Register here. 

Ongoing Career Services Opportunities
📍Dates and times 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. 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                              

Drop-in hours are for active Literacy Pittsburgh students only. Translation is only available through Google Translate; however, we will do our best to assist in all cases. This service is not a 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. For questions, please contact Kate Humphries at khumphries@literacypittsburgh.org.

Post-Secondary Fair at Literacy Pittsburgh

📍Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center 

College Pathways will be hosting a Fall Post-Secondary Fair at Literacy Pittsburgh! Students will have the opportunity to meet representatives from local colleges, universities, and training programs to learn about their educational and career options. You can speak with representatives about their programs, application processes, and student support services. If you are interested in attending college or pursuing further education in the future, this is a great opportunity to explore your options and learn about available resources. Representatives from CCAC, Point Park University, Catholic Charities, Carlow University, and other organizations will be in attendance.

We hope you can join us!

Writing for College Class 

📍Mondays and Wednesdays
October 5 - November 11
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center

Are you interested in improving your writing for college or for your professional life? Then the Writing for College class is right for you! 

This class helps students prepare for first-year college writing assignments. Students will learn about close reading and the stages of the writing process, from freewriting to drafting to revision. This class will require students to write during each class session. By the end of the class, students will have learned how to approach first-year college writing. To sign up, please click here. Email mdiaz@literacypittsburgh.org or call 412-801-1675 if you have any questions about this class or other College Pathways classes.

Workforce Success Job Fair

October Community Events

 Birds & More Naturalist-Led Walk

📍 Sunday, October 4,  9:00 am - 10:00 am
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
614 Dorseyville Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Join a free, naturalist-led Birds & More Walk. These walks are held year-round. Please note: ASWP’s outdoor programs will be canceled in the case of severe weather. For more information, please visit the website.

Literacy Under the Lights 

📍Thursday, October 8, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
1125 Princeton Blvd., Wilkinsburg, PA 15221

Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh hosts a family fun night with a literacy focus. This event is free and will include a bounce house, face painting, balloons, food, storytelling, and free books for children.​ Learn more here

Where to Turn Resource Fair

📍Tuesday, October 20, 9:00 am -  1:00 pm
Duquesne University Power Center
1015 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219

This full-day event brings together vendors and speakers to provide information about social services, health care, early childhood education, housing, transportation, and food resources in Southwestern PA. It's free (lunch included), but pre-registration is required. Free registration here.

You Can Help Protect Your Family During Back-to-School Season

A new school year is officially here! That means new schedules, new bus routes, new classmates, and potentially new opportunities for human traffickers to target vulnerable children in the hustle and bustle of the season. Once you know what to look for, you can teach your family or students how to recognize when a conversation or new acquaintance may have suspicious motives.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Back‑to‑School Prevention Fact Sheet emphasizes starting with prevention and preparation year‑round to create safe, supportive, and engaging learning environments. For bonus points, bring back-to-school digital safety awareness to your social feed by sharing this post with your family and friends on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Every share counts!

October — Start Saving for the Holidays

The holidays can be fun, but they can also cost a lot. Start saving now, even if it’s only a few dollars each week. A small holiday fund can help you buy gifts or food without using credit cards.

Medicaid Eligibility Changes: Resources for Refugees and Immigrants

If you or a member of your family will be affected by the upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes that take effect on October 1, the Nationalities Service Center (NSC) has created a flyer available in the following languages: English, French, Haitian Creole, Kinyarwanda, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, Dari.

Additionally, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia recently shared the encouraging news that refugees who receive SSI will continue to maintain Medicaid coverage in Pennsylvania.

Student Success Stories

Congratulations to the following students!

D’Arcy plans to pursue Excel and Google certifications before earning an Associate degree in languages and becoming an interpreter. Growing up in the West Bronx, she developed a talent for languages and a passion for helping people from different cultures.

By learning languages such as Haitian French and Somali Maay Maay, she hopes to help newcomers navigate daily life and pursue their own dreams.

“It feels like we are all on the same path, and that path leads me to freedom.”

For D’Arcy, earning her GED is about more than education. It’s about creating opportunities, building connections, and helping others. Her message is simple: don’t wait. Make time to build a better future.

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

“Dreams don’t work unless you do.”
– John C. Maxwell

“Small steps lead to big victories; take one today.”
– Unknown