Federal Adult Education Funding Is at Risk (Again): Your Voice Matters 

The Administration’s proposed budget for 2027 again suggests ending all federal funding for adult education. This would seriously harm our students, our programs, and the communities that Literacy Pittsburgh supports. This proposal is worrying, but it is not final. Congress will now review the budget and make decisions. In the past, strong and united advocacy has changed the outcome. Just last year, Congress rejected a similar proposal after staff, students, donors, and volunteers spoke up about how important our work is.

Here is how you can help: 
Send an email to your Senators 
Send an email to your Representative 

Please take time to speak up and ask your members of Congress to support adult education funding. When we raise our voices together, we can protect these programs again—for you, for our mission, and for the future of adult education.

May Digital Skills Calendar

Embrace the spring with new computer skills! The attached calendar lists classes by location.

Please check out our virtual classes and in-person offerings at Literacy Pittsburgh Downtown, PA CareerLink® Downtown, PA CareerLink^® Allegheny East, and Penn Hills Library. We’re also hosting Digital Skills Orientations, 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; no Open Lab on May 25)
• NEW! Mondays: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Penn Hills Library; no Open Lab on May 25)
• Mondays and Wednesdays: 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm (PA CareerLink® Downtown; no Open Lab on May 25)
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Literacy Pittsburgh) 

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.

Please note: Literacy Pittsburgh will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026, for Memorial Day.

Happy May!

Service Coordination Events

Service Coordination Office Hours: Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Applications  

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

Assisting students with scheduling appointments for enrollment in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP). CAP is a utility assistance program that partners with multiple agencies, including People’s Gas, Duquesne Light Company (DLC), and Pittsburgh Water & Sewage (PGH2O), among others.
Eligibility requirements will be provided upon registration. Virtual appointments are available for those who prefer to attend remotely please sign up here.      

LIHEAP Has Been Extended!

The LIHEAP application window has been extended to May 8th, 2026. Student Services will continue assisting students in completing their LIHEAP applications through the deadline. Please ask your teachers to submit a referral to make an appointment. The following documentation is needed: 

• Electric and/or gas bill
• Social security numbers for all members of their household
• Proof of income (paystubs, award letter, SSI award letter, 1099, bank statements, local tax record, etc.)

 *Appointments take up to 30 minutes to complete. 

 If you have any questions or concerns, please email Manique Braziel  (mbraziel@literacypittsburgh.org) or Ezekieli Seti (eseti@literacypittsburgh.org) for additional information. 

Career Services Classes and Workshops

Upcoming Workshops and Events                   

Waitlist Workshop: Resume Makeover and Cover Letter Takeover
📍Wednesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 27
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm 
Online on Zoom

This is a series of 2 workshops available to all students–even before you start classes. These workshops are designed to get you started thinking about your goals and ease you into learning with us.

• Wednesday, May 6, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Resume Makeover
• Wednesday, May 27, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Cover Letter Takeover             

Interested in Resume Makeover? Register here.
Interested in Cover Letter Takeover? Register here.

Please contact Noelle Dreizin (ndreizin@literacypittsburgh.org) with any questions.

CareerLink Information Session
📍Thursday, May 28, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Online on Zoom and at Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center

CareerLink is coming to Literacy Pittsburgh to explain the services, workshops, and resources they provide. This will be a hybrid event; feel free to come to Classroom 7 or join through Zoom.
Interested? Register here.

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 during this weekly practice space. Questions? Email Noelle Dreizin at ndreizin@literacypittsburgh.org.

Upwardly Global Industry Workshop
📍The fourth Tuesday of every month, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Literacy Pittsburgh's Downtown Center  

Hoping to learn about different industries across the United States workforce?  Upwardly Global offers a vast library of job courses to improve your knowledge of different industries and your skills as a job seeker. Interested? Come to Classroom 7! There will be a sign-in sheet for you to sign before the workshop starts.

Career Service Drop-In Hours
📍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. 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, but 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.

Post-Secondary Fair

College Writing Workshop

You can sign up by scanning the QR code, by emailing/texting Miguel Diaz (mdiaz@literacypittsburgh.org / (412) 801-1675), or by clicking here.

Per Scholas Information Session

May Community Events

Pittsburgh Opera - April Song Shop

📍Sunday, May 10
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
Penn Ave & 6th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

This free concert at one of the city’s premier venues will showcase the talents of over 300 Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestras (PYCO) student musicians and Pittsburgh-area choirs and singers.

April Financial Tip — Clean Up Your Bills

Spring is a good time to clean up your home and your money. Look at your monthly bills. Are you paying for something you don’t use anymore? Can you switch to a cheaper plan? Even small changes can save you money each month.

Rebuilding Her Life and Career

In Ukraine, Diana was a pharmacist. She had a college degree and many years of work experience. She loved her job, but she could not continue that work after she moved. Diana wanted to build a new future in the United States. She hoped to work in healthcare again. She knew that improving her English was very important.

With encouragement from friends, Diana joined Literacy Pittsburgh. She worked one‑on‑one with a tutor. This helped her feel more confident and improve her English skills.

“Studying at Literacy Pittsburgh has been a very good experience,” Diana says. “The teachers are kind and patient.”

Today, Diana feels more confident. She practices English at home and continues taking steps toward her goals. Programs like Literacy Pittsburgh are possible because people in our community choose to give. Their donations help keep classes, tutoring, and support available for students.

If Literacy Pittsburgh has helped you and you are able to give, please consider making a donation of any size. Giving is always optional. Your gift can help other students continue learning and working toward their goals.

Student Spark Award Recognition 

We are excited to recognize the following students for our Student Spark Award! Students are nominated by their teacher or tutor, and this list represents nominations received from January to March. Congratulations to all!

Angela - Starting a new job (Nominated by Noelle Dreizin)
Darima - Working hard at learning English (Nominated by Tatiana Bykova)
Michele -  Mastering a difficult lesson (Nominated by Debbie Howells)
Mutala -  Starting a new job (Nominated by Noelle Dreizin)

Student Success Stories

Congratulations to the following students!

Mohammad arrived in Pittsburgh from Afghanistan in June 2024 on a Special Immigrant Visa, seeking safety and stability. Soon after arriving, he connected with Literacy Pittsburgh through a chance visit to the Carnegie Library and enrolled in an English for Job Seekers class, where he found both inspiration and community. The program helped him navigate the U.S. job market, leading to a research position at the University of Pittsburgh. He sees research as a long-term contribution that benefits the community over time “I have never enjoyed being in a class in my entire life as much as I enjoyed attending Ms. Anne Carney’s class,” Mohammad shares. “I learned a lot not only from the teacher but from the classmates who were from every corner of the world.” Now focused on earning an associate degree and starting a family, Mohammad credits Literacy Pittsburgh for his progress and encourages others to succeed through positivity, gratitude, and hard work.

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

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny."
— C. S. Lewis

“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them."
— Chris Grosser