Meet Our Students
Troy learns about the construction trades and goes on to earn Apprentice of the Year
Like many Americans, Troy dreamed of creating a better life for his family. He sought a career that would provide financial security and offer potential for growth. Troy found this opportunity in the construction field. As a first step toward his dream, he enrolled in Introduction to the Construction Trades, a pre-apprenticeship program offered by Pittsburgh Gateways. It was there that he met Literacy Pittsburgh math teacher Tina Burns. Tina explains, “Troy focused on every math concept, working hard to master it. He listened to every guest speaker, union member, and concept, and he took the program very seriously.” Troy’s hard work paid off, and he was hired by Laborers’ Union Local 1058. He won Apprentice of the Year for the region and gave a speech for the Department of Labor on how the trades changed his life.
Melissa improves her digital literacy skills and lands a new job
When Melissa lost her job she wanted to make sure her computer skills were up to date. She learned from PA CareerLink® that Literacy Pittsburgh offered free computer classes. She took several classes including Google Docs and LinkedIn. She improved her typing skills and worked toward her Microsoft Office Specialist certificate in Excel. Melissa looks forward to helping people succeed in her new role and she has come full circle: Her new position as a Career Navigator is housed at PA CareerLink®. “This is where my heart is,” Melissa says.”I want to be able to help people and teach them how to have the tools to be successful in life and move on.”