Literacy Pittsburgh Student Newsletter
One Big Table: An Internal Tasting - Celebrate with Literacy Pittsburgh!
Join us for food samplings from international cuisines, an artisan market, music, entertainment, and activities.
📍Monday, March 4 from 6:00 - 9:00pm
Stage AE
Special student rate for One Big Table: $35 per ticket for general admission. Enter promo code STUDENT24 at checkout.
Student Portal – Find Workshops, Classes, Job Fairs, and Help
Do you wish you could just find all of your Literacy Pittsburgh benefits in one place? Do you look at the events in your monthly newsletter and then struggle to find it in your email when you’re trying to sign up? Literacy Pittsburgh students can now find everything they need in a one-stop website just for them.
Our student portal, LPstudent.com, has current offerings, a calendar of events from our Digital Skills, Career Services and Service Coordination, and Workforce Development teams. You can even request help directly from Career Advisors or Service Coordinators on our “Jobs” tab or “Support” tab. You can also find partner events from PA CareerLink, JFCS, and others, as well as local job fairs. Check out the student portal today!
Watch this video to learn more:
Literacy Pittsburgh Computer Classes
Improve your computer skills with Microsoft Office, email, job search, online safety and more through free in-person and virtual classes in Allegheny and Beaver County.
Current class calendars are on our website, and students can sign up by emailing digitalpgh@literacypittsburgh.org or calling/texting (412) 983-2595.
Service Coordination Updates
Service Coordination Office Hours
📍Monday, March 4 & Tuesday, March 5 from 12:00 – 1:00pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center (Google Maps) OR Online on Zoom
Do you need help with taxes? We will help students get an appointment with PA 211 for someone to help file their taxes. We will be in-person at the Downtown Center and virtual. If you would like to attend virtually, please sign up here. The Zoom link will be emailed to you on the morning of the event.
English Listening: What to Do in April in Pittsburgh
📍Friday, March 29 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Online on Zoom
This is a new event for waiting ELL students who want to practice listening to English. Students can hear Literacy Pittsburgh service coordinators talk about Pittsburgh and different events happening in the area in the month of April.
If you are a waiting student and would like to attend this event, sign up here, and the Zoom link will be emailed to you on the morning of the event.
Student & Career Services Updates
Reminder: All Career Services information can be found on the student portal. The “Calendar” page includes all information about upcoming workshops and events and the “Jobs” page holds resources for training programs and job search.
Upcoming Workshops and Events
Career Services Office Hours
📍Mondays from 10:45am – 12:45pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center (Google Maps)
Join Career Services during their office hours for quick career help, such as asking a question, getting feedback on a resume, or any other career-oriented questions you may have. Sessions will occur on a walk-in basis – no need to schedule in advance. Questions or concerns? Email epetrick@literacypittsburgh.org
Career Workshops
📍Wednesdays from 1:00 – 2:30pm
Online on Zoom
This is a series of 3 workshops available to all students — even before you start classes. These workshops are designed to get you started thinking about your goals, and to ease you into learning with us. This month's offerings are:
Wednesday, March 6: Career Exploration (Interest Surveys)
Wednesday, March 13: Resume Basics
Wednesday, March 20: What is Career Services?
Classes are open to all Literacy Pittsburgh students but we will prioritize waiting students. Interested? Register here.
American Workforce Culture
📍Friday, March 15 from 12:00 – 1:30pm
Online on Zoom
New to the job market in Pittsburgh? This workshop will teach about American work culture, social norms, and how to navigate working in the US job market. Interested? Register here.
CCAC Information Session
📍Thursday, March 21 from 12:00 – 2:00pm
Online on Zoom
Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) will join Literacy Pittsburgh to present information about programs, financial aid, and their application process. Event is open to all current and former Literacy Pittsburgh students. Interested? Register here.
Virtual Resume Workshop
📍Friday, March 22 from 11:00am – 12:30pm
Online on Zoom
Need to brush up your resume? Curious how a resume is different from a CV? Join JFCS’s Margaret Lizzi for a workshop on this important document needed for your job search. Interested? Register here.
Interview Skills Workshop
From Dress 4 Success
📍Tuesday, March 26 from 6:30 – 8:00pm
Online on Zoom
Where does confidence begin? Can we really “lose” our self-confidence? How do we practice confidence? Join Liz Mims from Dress 4 Success to learn about confidence in your job search and interviews! Interested? Register here.
In-Person Resume Workshop
📍Wednesday, March 27 from 2:00 – 4:00pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center (Google Maps)
Join Literacy Pittsburgh's Career Services as they guide you step-by-step through creating a resume. Computers will be available for student use. Interested? Register here.
March Career Fair at UPMC
📍Wednesday, March 27 from 11:00am – 1:00pm
UPMC Neighborhood Center (6401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206)
Need a job? Interested in UPMC? This spring, Literacy Pittsburgh students are invited to join UPMC’s career fair celebrating recent ESL graduates. To prepare, Literacy Pittsburgh's Career Services will hold in-person office hours where advisors can help students to register for the career fair event, create or edit resumes, and enroll in transportation assistance if needed.
Literacy Pittsburgh Office Hours:
Wednesday, March 20 & Thursday, March 21 from 10:00am – 2:00pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center (Google Maps)
Interested? Email cangelo@literacypittsburgh.org or enroll in-person during office hours.
Free Tax Preparation
Tax season runs from January 23 to April 15 of each year. You may qualify for free tax preparation assistance if your family’s income was less than $65,000 in 2023.
How to get free tax help
Please select from the following options for filing your 2023 taxes:
- Have your taxes prepared virtually
- Is this option right for you? Learn more
- Get started at www.GetYourRefund.org/JustHarvest
- Schedule an in-person appointment
- To schedule an appointment, you can contact the United Way Resource Navigators in 3 different ways:
- 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
- To schedule an appointment, you can contact the United Way Resource Navigators in 3 different ways:
- Contact AARP at AARP Tax-Aide Allegheny County, PA
- File on your own at https://myfreetaxes.com
- No income limits
- Interpretation services available
Supports for Success Program
Looking for one-on-one assistance to achieve education, employment, or financial goals? Human Services Center Mon Valley Supports for Success program can help you identify and work towards goals such as finding a job, advancing your career, going back to school, and working towards financial goals. If a person outside of the Mon Valley applies, they will be referred to partners at South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO), or Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (AVAC) depending on location. Sign up for more information here.
The Awakening at CCAC Main Campus
The Awakening is a play by director Lorenzo Boone that looks at the influence of gangs and peer pressure through the character of Jason. Jason finds his heart and gang loyalty changing as his loved ones help him find an opportunity to break free.
📍Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm, February 16 - March 10
CCAC Foerster Student Center
Literacy Pittsburgh students are eligible for the student price. Buy tickets here:
Student Success Stories
Congratulations to the following students!
Congratulations, Carolina! You are so talented! We can't wait to see your painting in the Carnegie Museum!
Carolina Leiva is a student from our English for Business class. Carolina's goal is improve her English and get a job. Her original painting received an honorable mention in a contest she participated in. As a result of her honorable mention, her painting will be displayed in the Carnegie Museum. Carolina will let the class know when her painting will be on display.
Congratulations, Spozhmal! You'll do great in school!
Spozhmai is starting graduate school this semester. She is pursuing a joint degree with an MS in Industrial Pharmacy and a Professional MBA at Duquesne University. Her goal was to improve her speaking and listening as well as to get a job. As a result, Spozhmai will no longer be attending Literacy Pittsburgh. Spozhmai was a student in our Immigrant Workforce Program (IWP) during the summer of 2022 and later attended Ms. Amanda’s evening English for Academics class. Spozhmai worked as a pharmacist in Afghanistan, so her graduate program is an excellent fit for her. We wish her well!
Nuha is an immigrant from Iraq. Nuha had a bachelor’s degree in biology from her country. Nuha had a goal to improve her English skills and get a job in medical field. She was matched with a volunteer tutor and she registered at CCAC to get her diploma at the same time. This past summer, Nuha graduated from CCAC and got a job at UPMC-St. Margaret Hospital as Medical Lab Tech.
Luba is an immigrant student from Ukraine. She has a master’s degree in psychology. She needed help with learning English and getting a job. Luba was matched with a mentor that helped her to complete her CCAC registration form and FAFSA application. Luba passed her assessment test at CCAC and will start this spring semester majoring in Hospitality and Tourism.
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
"Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will."
— Vernon Howard
"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change."
— Stephen Hawking
