YWCA GP in Action - June 2026
Explore the latest moments, milestones, and stories from our programs and initiatives. Read on to see the moments the generosity of our community helped make possible this month at YWCA GP.
Bringing STEM to Life
We were pleased to engage partner families at our Remake Learning Days event, Byte-Sized Brilliance: Little Learners to Big Thinkers. Students enjoyed programming robots, creating glasses and art using 3D printing, and learning about electronics and programming by playing a banana piano. We are grateful to volunteers from BNY and students from the University of Pittsburgh’s Community Alliance Program for helping us provide students with the opportunity to engage in hands-on STEM learning.
Sharing Resources Together
Co-hosted with Community Schools, Homewood Children's Village, and Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12, our Career and Resource Fair held at Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12 was a success. We were pleased to welcome 34 organizations and engage 186 students during the event, which was generously supported by FedEx. FedEx volunteers also lent a hand by assembling snack bags for students. This event reflected the power of partnership in connecting students with resources, encouragement, and pathways for the future.
Celebrating Learning Milestones
At our 2026 Celebration of Learning, partner families, community partners, and students from our PATHmakers Program gathered to celebrate another successful year. Part of Opportunity Pathways Programs, PATHmakers helps 5th-12th grade students explore post-secondary education and other income-sustaining career pathways. Students and families made art with 3D pens, enjoyed refreshments, and participated in a live CodeJoy show, where they learned to code motors, LEDs, and sensors. Students also received medals and tote bags to celebrate their hard work throughout the year. Thanks to everyone who joined us in celebrating our students, and congratulations again to our talented PATHmakers!
Polymers & Production
During visits to corporate partners, PATHmakers explored a wide range of professional opportunities. At Covestro, a global manufacturer of high-tech polymer materials and plastics, students took part in lab tours, team-building activities, and a career café where they connected with staff across different roles. Thank you to YWCA GP Board Member Adrienne Dupaix for engaging with students and sparking meaningful conversations about their futures!
At Tech 25, an event production business and training center, PATHmakers learned about music and stage production. While there, students learned how to control lighting, create beats, DJ, and MC. This visit inspired two students to enroll in Tech 25’s Community Based Vocational Education during the upcoming school year.
Opportunities for Education
PATHmakers have been busy visiting local colleges and universities. Their activities have included touring the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown campus, visiting an open house at Slippery Rock University, having in-depth discussions with an admissions counselor at PennWest California, and touring laboratories at Rosedale Technical College. At La Roche University, PATHmakers participated in a series of STEM activities in honor of researcher and chemist Percy Julian. We are grateful to the educational institutions and partners who help students envision what comes next.
A Joyful Start to Bright Futures
Our oldest Early Learning Center students from our Homewood and Propel locations marked the end of a wonderful final year of Pre-K with a graduation ceremony. The graduates sang songs, crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, and listened to meaningful words from their teachers. Surrounded by proud family members and friends, we were honored to celebrate our students’ achievements and know this milestone is just the first of many graduations to come.
Turning Steps into Impact
More than 50 walkers gathered at Point State Park for the YWalk, part of the 2026 Highmark Wak for a Healthy Community, joining family, friends, and staff members for an uplifting morning in support of YWCA GP. Because of the remarkable generosity of our walkers, donors, and supporters, the YWalk raised $4,250, far exceeding our fundraising goal. Every contribution played an important role in reaching that milestone, and we are truly grateful for each gift and for everyone who took part. We also extend a special thank-you to our team captains, whose dedication and leadership helped move this effort forward, as well as to the members of our Board of Directors and Young Leaders Board for their support and for helping make the day so meaningful.
Learning How Our Rights Are Upheld
Our latest Action Conversation explored the role of courts in challenging unjust laws and defining and defending fundamental rights. Moderator Judy Hale of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and panelists Liliam Clavijo Hernandez, Maeve Plummer, and Sujaya Rajguru of the Women’s Law Project discussed how the fight for equality continues both inside and beyond the courtroom. This panel examined how impact litigation is used to confront discrimination based on race, gender, and other identities, while also acknowledging the limits of legal systems in delivering true justice.