Explore the ways we’ve been engaging Greater Pittsburgh neighbors and expanding our impact, from welcoming University of Pittsburgh volunteers to leveraging new technology.
Supporting Civic Engagement
On National Voter Registration Day, YWCA GP partnered with the Voting is Power Pittsburgh Regional Coalition to hold two nonpartisan voter registration pop up events at our Homewood and South Side locations. These events provided community members with an opportunity to register to vote, update their registration information, and learn more about the importance of making their voices heard at the ballot box.
A Warm Welcome to a New School Year
YWCA GP Early Learning Programs welcomed students and families to an Open House to kick off the year. In the Pre-K classroom, families enjoyed a scavenger hunt featuring educational activities. Families in the toddler classroom wrote encouraging messages to their students on fall leaves, which now hang on the tree in the Homewood Education Center entrance, and took photos in front of a fall-themed photobooth. The event provided a warm and welcoming start to the school year, helping students, staff, and families build connections and excitement for the year ahead.
Creating Spaces Where Children Can Thrive
As part of the 2026 Pitt Day of Caring, YWCA GP Early Learning Programs welcomed a team of University of Pittsburgh faculty and staff volunteers. Together, they helped transform our space by cleaning out a former classroom and moving resources from our upstairs library into a new downstairs library. Their willingness to lend a hand made a meaningful difference and helped ensure our students and staff have a strong start to the school year. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and talents in support of our students and families.
Hands-On Learning, Real-World Impact
Aniah Brewer, a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, is preparing for a career in human services and advocacy. During the 2024-2025 school year, she participated in the University of Pittsburgh’s Community and Racial Equity Leadership (CREL) Fellowship, which helps graduate students gain hands-on experience at partner agencies through community-engaged programs and applied research projects. After choosing YWCA Greater Pittsburgh as the place to build a strong foundation for her future, she contributed across all of the organization’s program areas as well as assisting with program evaluation. While Aniah’s fellowship helped her learn real-world skills to support her career path, her presence was also key to supporting YWCA GP’s programs and the needs of the Homewood community. We were pleased to partner with the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work on this opportunity to uplift a young leader while increasing our capacity to deliver on our mission. In the video below, Aniah shares what the experience has meant to her and how it has shaped her professional journey.
Improving Access to Essential Resources with Jotform
Greater Pittsburgh residents seeking support can now more easily find the help they need through a new tool developed by YWCA GP's Economic Advancement Programs. The free, web-based Resource Guide for Basic Needs connects neighbors with more than 200 local resources to address food insecurity, legal matters, mental health needs, financial challenges, and other everyday concerns. Available services range from prenatal home visits for expectant parents to free lawn-cutting assistance for seniors, making it easier for community members to access vital support.
YWCA GP’s Economic Advancement Programs are also leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen service delivery and extend the reach of their team. Gabby, an AI assistant available 24/7 on YWCA GP’s Financial Assistance webpage, gathers initial information from partner families about their needs, helping to make the intake process more efficient. By reducing administrative burden, staff can focus more of their time on delivering direct support and connecting families with the critical resources they need while ensuring that partner families who complete an initial financial assistance assessment are immediately connected with our Resource Guide.
These innovative technology solutions, developed utilizing Jotform software, improve access to assistance for individuals and families while helping YWCA GP support the community more effectively and efficiently. To learn more about how YWCA GP is using Jotform to expand access to essential resources, read Jotform’s recent interview with our team here.