PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Victor Ponce lives in Pittsburgh now, to pursue the American dream.  

“To improve my life, to grow up, to be a better person, professional, to be independent,” said Ponce.

He came here, just three months ago from Cuba. 

“The situation in Cuba is difficult right now,” he said. 

Making such a big life change comes with challenges. Ponce said, “The new country, sometimes it’s difficult.”

From understanding English to the American culture, it’s a learning curve, but he said it’s getting easier with the help of the non-profit Literacy Pittsburgh. It’s an adult education organization serving people in Beaver County and Allegheny County.

KDKA’s Megan Shinn asked, “(to be) the next civil engineer?” 

Ponce laughed and said, “I hope so.”  This type of ambition drives about thirty-five-hundred adults, who receive Literacy Pittsburgh’s help every year.

About 22 paid teachers instruct free classes for students who were left behind and just arrived. 

“To be alongside the journey of somebody like Victor and the thousands of students like him, that we serve, it is an honor,” Carey Harris, the non-profit’s CEO, said.

We’re talking about anyone who didn’t graduate from high school and wants to get their GED or brush up on skills for college or job training and those who immigrated here and are determined to learn English.

“There’s something wonderful happening in Pittsburgh right now,” Harris said. “We have so many new people coming and settling here, and so many people looking for that second chance.”

She said their instructors bridge the gap so students can succeed and find careers in Pittsburgh or get post-secondary education. It’s better lives through learning and it’s opening doors to current and new Americans. 

“They’re the most resilient, tenacious people. They’re exactly the kind of people you want to live next door to. They’re the kind of people you want to hire,” said Harris.

Non-English-speaking students get placed in a class for their level or with a tutor whichever they prefer. Ponce is in at least one class, two times a week and it’s more than just A-B-C’s of English.

It’s opening opportunities and filling in the gap to help everyone in Pittsburgh live the American dream. 

“I would like to say thank you too, I’m really grateful and glad to know this place, to know these people,” Ponce said.

They’ve added new programs recently. One is a digital skills program, to help with computer skills. The other is career-oriented programming. That includes lessons to connect students with their future careers, like a math class, for trade programs.

Literacy Pittsburgh is always looking for volunteer tutors and if you’re interested in getting involved with Literacy Pittsburgh you can find a link to the non-profit right here!

If you would like to see an organization highlighted in KDKA’s Sunday Spotlight segment, send Megan Shinn an email at mshinn@kdka.com!

OAKDALE, Pa. (KDKA) — The Pittsburgh Technical College celebrated its final commencement ceremony on Saturday. The nearly 80-year-old Oakdale institution announced just weeks ago that it would close for good.

Pittsburgh Technical graduate Ryan Leichty told KDKA-TV that he’s most worried about his friends who haven’t graduated yet and all the instructors who are suddenly out of a job.

Leichty just got a welding degree. He says there are a lot of jobs open for things like welding.

Now, he says, one of the best places locally to learn those skills, and many others, is closing for good.

A college graduation is supposed to be about celebrating, but for the many students who graduated on Saturday from Pittsburgh Technical College, those feelings are complicated.

“I don’t know; it’s kind of bittersweet. It was nice graduating and everything,” Leichty said.

A cloud was hanging over the ceremony.

“I think this commencement is made even more special because it is our last,” president Alicia B. Harvey-Smith said.

The school says they are shutting down due to declining enrollment and financial challenges.

“It is a shame seeing the school was so badly managed,” Leichty said.

Instead of walking across the stage thinking about his accomplishments, Leichty says he was thinking about how poor the ceremony was.

“It felt like a backyard BBQ of a graduation ceremony, in my opinion. Like, it was very pieced together,” Leichty added.

On this hot day, he noted how graduates sat in the sun, while only the stage was covered. He says the loss of the school is a loss for a region rich with an industrial history.

“Instead of going to a four-year college where you’re paying $100,000 in student loans, someone like me, I went, I learned welding for a quarter of the cost, and I got a job right out of school,” Leichty added.

In her remarks, the school’s president told students that as leaders there are many things graduates will face that won’t be pleasant.

“There are many things that will be said about you, and those things will not be true. In closing, today, yes it is bittersweet, but because of you, PTC will live on forever.”

Leichty wants to think about his accomplishments, but it’s tough.

“The bitterness is really a large part of this day. I don’t know. It didn’t have to be this way if they had managed their money better, not lost all their money, and shut the school down.”

The school said they have attempted to raise revenue or merge, but all those attempts failed.

The official last day is set for Aug. 9, 2024.

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The 2024 Pride Fest in Pittsburg was held today in Lincoln Park.

This is the third time this Pride Fest has returned to Pittsburg, Kansas.

Hundreds of people came out to show some pride or support the cause.

Over 25 vendors set up to give information out and show off their pride merchandise.

The event also held a best dressed and dog costume competition and held three different drag shows in the evening.

“It’s a sense of community, even if it is a small town like Pittsburg it’s still so important to represent yourself anyway you want and that’s what we are here for, we are here for love and community,” said Maxine Knoph, Pittsburg Kansas Pride Secretary.

“It feels pretty nice actually because over the years I didn’t have people I could go talk to about things like sexuality or race and that stuff, it’s like now I can, I have people I can go talk to, hang out with,” said Asben Williams, he/they.

“It’s amazing, it is absolutely wonderful to know there are people out there that will support you and who you are,” said Avery Haraughy.

The next Pittsburg Pride event will be at TJ Leland’s in August.