PAACE, or Pennsylvania Association of Adult Continuing Education, is the state’s organization for advocacy of adult and continuing education. Each year PAACE holds a conference where adult educators, administrators, staff, and tutors from across the state of Pennsylvania convene to learn and network together. This year's PAACE conference will be held on April 26th, 27th, and May 1st.  Eleven Literacy Pittsburgh staff members from across the agency will be presenting at PAACE thi...

The Administration’s proposed FY 2027 budget once again calls for eliminating federal adult education funding—a move that would have serious consequences for our learners, our programs, and the communities Literacy Pittsburgh serves. While this proposal is deeply concerning, it is not final. Congress now begins the appropriations process, and history shows that strong, coordinated advocacy can make the difference. Just last year, Congress rejected a similar proposal after we (staff...

City of Pittsburgh First Lady and Literacy Pittsburgh board member Katie O’Connor recently convened a roundtable on early childhood development, with Literacy Pittsburgh CEO Carey Harris participating. Mrs. O’Connor’s commitment to championing young children and their families through lifelong learning is energizing, and we are eager to support her efforts.  Although most of Literacy Pittsburgh’s programs focus on adults, many of those adults are parents working hard to build the ski...

We are excited to share that Terra Teets, Program Manager of Auxiliary Teaching/Support has been selected as Pennsylvania's new State Advocate for Adult Education Fellow (SAAEF) through COABE, a national organization that advocates on behalf of adult education.  “I care deeply about adult learners, second chances, workforce pathways, and the educators and programs doing this work every day,” Terra explains. “This new role is a commitment to take that passion one step further by sho...

Diana moved to the United States from Ukraine in April 2023. Seeking safety and stability for her family amidst the war in her home country, Diana chose to settle in Pittsburgh to begin a new chapter.  In Ukraine, Diana was a dedicated healthcare professional. She holds a university degree in pharmacy and possesses many years of experience working as a pharmacist. While she is not currently practicing in her profession, her passion for healthcare remains her driving force as she navigates her n...

As CEO of Highmark Wholecare and a current board member of Literacy Pittsburgh, Ellen Duffield sees firsthand how literacy and education shape economic opportunities, workforce readiness, and even community health. “It is critically important to the success of organizations like Highmark Wholecare that we have a skilled, literate workforce,” Ellen says. “We serve diverse populations with complex health and social needs. Strong language skills, including multilingual capacit...

Immigration policy shifts are reshaping the landscape for Literacy Pittsburgh’s foreign-born students, creating new barriers that reach far beyond the classroom. Many learners now face uncertainty about their legal status—even those already vetted and approved—fear of attending in-person programs, and restrictions on employment opportunities—all of which disrupt their ability to build stable lives and pursue education. These challenges don’t exist in isolation; they ripple outward...

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Sometimes new volunteers tell us they have considered tutoring for many years, but were hesitant to sign up because they weren’t sure they could do it. At Literacy Pittsburgh, our Academic Team provides training and ongoing support to all our tutors to help them succeed.  Tutoring Specialist Lindsey Crumley and Tutor Training Coordinator Jeff Rice compiled some of the most frequently asked questions from new volunteers. If you have been considering signing up to tutor, you may have some of th...

As we welcome a new year, many of us take time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we hope to go. At Literacy Pittsburgh, goal-setting is at the heart of everything we do—because every student who walks through our doors brings their own aspirations, challenges, and dreams for the future. No matter the goal, our work begins with understanding each student’s starting point and creating a clear, personalized pathway forward. A Strong Start Through Placement and Assessment When students ...

When it comes to shaping the future of Literacy Pittsburgh, few people have left as enduring a mark as Louise Herrle. Her journey with the organization spans nearly four decades, beginning in 1984. It was then that she first became a tutor after connecting with former Executive Director Don Block at a United Way meeting. “I was a tutor for a number of years, and fairly quickly, Don asked me to join the board,” Louise recalls. She served on the board from 1988 to 1999, including six y...

The Career Services team at Literacy Pittsburgh is dedicated to helping students carve a path forward through a variety of methods. Whether students are looking to write a resume, apply for jobs, find training programs, or discuss their options, we are here to help. Some of the services we provide include:  Drop-in Hours are offered 3 days per week at our Downtown Center. They are designed to help answer job search-related questions quickly. No appointment needed. Career Advising is for stud...

With the new year comes the news that Literacy Pittsburgh will not be hosting its annual One Big Table event in 2026. The celebration is being paused to focus energy on what matters most: supporting our students and programs directly. While we were looking forward to celebrating with you in April, this decision reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship amid potential federal funding cuts. We hope to bring back the event, more vibrant than ever, in 2027. Literacy Pittsburgh remains stron...

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N'Gnyoh recently landed a position at UPMC through our Pathways to Work collaboration. This program, launched last year, builds on a partnership started in 2019. Pathways to Work provides a preliminary recruiter to help unemployed or underemployed adults facing barriers in their job hunt. The recruiter provides support and advice on resumes, interview tips, skill assessment, free training opportunities, and guidance on UPMC jobs and UPMC Health Plan applications. Earlier this year, N'Gnyoh hear...

For Art Rectenwald, supporting Literacy Pittsburgh is both a personal and a professional commitment. As founder and CEO of Rectenwald Brothers Construction—a national leader in commercial construction—Art has built more than just buildings. He’s built a business grounded in hard work, relationships, and opportunity.   With a workforce that includes many immigrant employees, he understands firsthand how literacy skills can open doors. When he connected with Literacy Pittsburgh through CEO...

Yeraldin moved to the United States from Colombia in May 2022. She came here through a cultural exchange program called Au Pair. Yeraldin sought to expand her knowledge, experience American culture, and improve her English. Her now wife joined her here through the same program.    “What I like best about Pittsburgh is that it’s a city full of opportunities,” Yeraldin says. It’s very beautiful and there’s always something to do. It has a strong and welcoming community.”  Yeral...

Mark your calendar for “Give Big, Pittsburgh!”  Pittsburgh’s annual charitable donation event on Giving Tuesday falls on December 2 this year. Literacy Pittsburgh will be participating once again in this exciting fundraiser. You can help make the holidays extra special for Literacy Pittsburgh’s students and provide them with the tools they need to achieve their goals. On December 2, just visit givebigpittsburgh.com and make a donation to Literacy Pittsburgh (or to any of the other g...

Last month, CEO Carey Harris and Marketing and Communications Director Maria Polinsky attended the Best Places to Work celebration at PNC Park hosted by the Pittsburgh Business Times.  This is the third time that our staff has earned Literacy Pittsburgh a Best Place to Work designation! Staff complete a survey about organizational culture and working environment. While we are proud of this honor, the Best Places to Work Survey is a valuable tool for benchmarking our strengths and identifying a...

Mohameden came to the United States from Mauritania in 2023 and started taking English classes at Literacy Pittsburgh a few months after he arrived. “I decided to move and live in the United States of America in order to change my reality and achieve my dream for the future,” Mohameden explains. “I decided to enroll [at Literacy Pittsburgh] firstly because it is free, and I do not have the money to pay for my studies. Secondly, I knew that it would help me and would be my path towards achi...

A barrier is anything that challenges or prevents a student from attending or focusing on their educational goals. At Literacy Pittsburgh, the Student Services Team is responsible for helping students address and overcome these challenges with the help of external programs and partnerships. Student Services consists of three teams: Service Coordination, Career Services, and Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC), all of which work interdependently to serve our students across varying areas of...

We recently completed our first Accounting Essentials class, an exam prep course for the official Intuit Bookkeeping Professional certification. This certification, especially when paired with the QuickBooks certification, can open the door to a career in bookkeeping. Our first QuickBooks prep class is in session now.   Many of the nine students in first Accounting Essentials class began with no prior academic knowledge of bookkeeping. Through the 12-week course, they delved into accounting ...

Empowering Readers for Success (ERAS) is a partnership with OpenLiteracy to help elementary students strengthen reading skills. The program uses a science of reading curriculum developed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute. Modeled partly on the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program, ERAS offers one-on-one and small group support without age requirements for tutors. Volunteers use pre-created lessons, eliminating the need for planning, and meet with students twice a week.  Over t...

The Diversity Visa (DV) program, also known as the Green Card Lottery, helps people from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. become permanent residents. Each year, the U.S. government selects up to 50,000 winners through a random lottery system. Farida had the chance to be selected in 2020. She completed all the administrative, judicial, and health procedures before receiving an appointment for the interview at the U.S. Consulate in Algeria. The interview was fruitful, resulting in ...

COABE recognizes Senator Jay Costa and Governor Josh Shapiro for exceptional support of adult education during national Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Week, taking place September 14–20, 2025. Senator Costa and Governor Shapiro were nominated by Literacy Pittsburgh, an adult education organization that serves Allegheny and Beaver counties.  “COABE is proud to honor Governor Shapiro and Senator Costa, recipients of the Legislative Champion Award, for distinguished leadership and ...