At Literacy Pittsburgh, we believe strong partnerships make lasting impact possible. Through long-term investment, volunteer engagement, and a focus on workforce readiness, our collaboration with PPG Industries and the PPG Foundation reflects a shared belief that education is a powerful engine for individual opportunity and regional growth.
For Yaqi Wo, Literacy Pittsburgh’s board member and a PPG leader, this work is deeply personal. “I grew up valuing the importance of how education can transform a person’s life,” Yaqi shares. “That’s why Literacy Pittsburgh’s mission, Better lives through learning, resonates with me so deeply.”
She pursued her PhD in the United States because of her own faith in education as a pathway to opportunity. Yaqi sees Literacy Pittsburgh’s work as essential to a more equitable future, one where more people have access to the tools they need to improve their quality of life.
That perspective closely aligns with how Malesia Dunn, Executive Director of the PPG Foundation & Global Corporate Social Responsibility at PPG Industries, views the organization’s investment in Literacy Pittsburgh. “Literacy Pittsburgh’s math and digital literacy programs align with the PPG Foundation’s commitment to supporting educational experiences that lead to meaningful careers, right here in Pittsburgh,” Malesia notes.
Both leaders point to strong demand for Literacy Pittsburgh’s programs as evidence of a broader community need. Foundational literacy, math, and digital skills are essential for today’s workforce, and expanding access to those skills supports economic mobility for individuals while strengthening the region as a whole.
Bringing Color, Creativity, and Community into the Classroom
Beyond funding and strategy, what makes this partnership especially exciting is how it comes to life through PPG employee engagement, including the Colorful Communities project with Literacy Pittsburgh.
Yaqi proudly recalls leading a Colorful Communities initiative in which PPG volunteers painted five vibrant canvases that now hang inside Literacy Pittsburgh hallways and classrooms. “The artwork celebrates the teaching and learning journey of our students,” she says. “It also reminds everyone who enters those classrooms of the pride we take in the work being done here by staff, learners, volunteers, and partners.”
For both Yaqi and Malesia, moments like these reflect what makes the partnership special: visible impact, shared ownership, and a focus on dignity and belonging.
As PPG Foundation approaches its 75th anniversary, Malesia notes how excited she is to see this partnership continue to grow and support adults and families in our region.
As we continue to respond to evolving community needs, support from long-term partners like PPG and the PPG Foundation makes it possible to invest in our students and programs, talented staff, and learning environments that empower adults to succeed.
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is the largest provider of adult basic education in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Last year, Literacy Pittsburgh helped more than 4,000 individuals acquire the skills needed to reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small class instruction. Founded in 1982, it serves local adults through numerous neighborhood locations and its Downtown Pittsburgh Learning Center.
