Literacy Pittsburgh Student Newsletter
Student Survey
Literacy Pittsburgh emailed students a Student Update Survey reminder in early January. The goal of the survey is to make sure that we have your correct contact information and to learn more about any employment and educational updates that you might have. Please look for the survey in your email and let your program coordinator, teacher, or tutor know if you have any questions!
What Is Your Big Table? Celebrating Traditions
Literacy Pittsburgh's One Big Table event celebrates the diversity of our city through food, entertainment, music, and art.
We plan to display a photo exhibit of different food traditions that will also be shared on social media and in newsletters.
We invite you to share photos of traditions you celebrate, especially those featuring food! Traditions could be holidays, birthdays, family reunions, baby showers – anything celebrated with family or friends. Some examples from our staff are below.
To participate, use the button below to submit a photo and 1 - 5 sentences about the tradition and what it means to you. We hope you will let us feature traditions that are important to you!
Traditions submitted by our staff members
A baby shower includes food and gifts for mom and baby.
Submitted by Lisa Morse, Pittsburgh East Program Coordinator
I was honored to be invited by one of our students to attend a Nepali wedding in a traditional dress. Radhika’s wedding was a joyful celebration with friends and family. As family and friends gathered, food was cooked and served throughout the celebration. Food included, but was not limited to, momos, samosas, vegetables, and roti. Plates and hearts were full on Radhika’s special day!
Submitted by Caitlin Griffiths, Director of Child and Family Programs
South Hills Interfaith Movement’s (SHIM) Clothing Closet is Reopening!
SHIM provides clothing and small household items to South Hills neighbors. Operating Mondays from 10am-1pm each week at our Bethel Park location 5301 Park Ave, Bethel Park, PA 15102, SHIM’s Clothing Closet provides free clothing for infants, children, and adults all year round.
Additional shopping hours can be available by appointment.
Digital Literacy Classes
The Carnegie Library downtown will start Digital Literacy Classes with interpretation in Dari and Pashto for Afghan refugees for several Saturdays starting January 21st.
Dari Bilingual Computer Classes
Pashto Bilingual Computer Classes
Free Tax Return Preparation
Tax season runs from January 23 to April 18. You may qualify for free tax preparation assistance if your family’s income was less than $60,000 in 2022.
How to get free tax help
Please select from the following options for filing your 2022 taxes:
1. Have your taxes prepared virtually
- Is this option right for you? Learn more
- Get started at www.GetYourRefund.org/JustHarvest
2. Schedule an in-person appointment
To schedule an appointment, you can contact the United Way Resource Navigators in 3 different way
- Dial 2-1-1 or 888-856-2773
- Text your zip code to 898-211
- Use United Way’s online scheduler to make an appointment
Student Success Stories
Congratulations to the following students:
Brianna Meadows, a student in Terra’s and Emily’s classes, is now a GED graduate. From day one, Brianna focused on dedicating herself to her goal of earning her diploma. She also adapted to some big surprises during her course of study. She originally expected her daughter to arrive in mid-September, but found out in early August that she would need to be induced on August 18th! Juggling moving and preparing for her daughter’s arrival, she continued to study, and passed her RLA and Social Studies tests on August 17th. Her baby was born August 20th. Brianna continued to study for her Science and Math exams, and passed them both with flying colors on November 9th. She plans to enroll at South Hills Beauty Academy for their upcoming semester, and in a few years, attend college to study psychology. Brianna has been a pleasure to work with, and we are certain that her tenacity, strong will, and positive attitude will take her far.
Lyubov Holovatyuk is an ESL student from Ukraine. She was matched with a mentor tutor to help her with getting a job that uses her background in language and philosophy.
“Hello, my dear friends! I want to share with you my little story of an immigrant in the USA. I came from Ukraine 8 years ago. I am a philologist of the Ukrainian language by education, and I worked for 10 years in a college and did my favorite thing – teaching students. In the USA, it was very difficult at first. My family needed everything: from furniture, beds to plates and spoons...I always wanted to study, but unfortunately, I had to work a lot. I worked for the Malkin family (hockey) for 7 years and in order to learn English I learned Russian well. Now I share my experience with you because I realized that I can learn English, I will be able to get a diploma and find a profession.”
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
