2021 marks the 20th anniversary of worldwide World Refugee Day celebrations! Join Pittsburgh on Friday, June 18 in celebrating.

 

World Refugee Day 2021

Hosted virtually on June 18, Pittsburgh’s World Refugee Day celebrations will include:

• • stories from local refugee and immigrant neighbors,
  • recipes you can try at home,
  • kids’ activities,
  • a marketplace of local artisans, and
  • ways to take action.

About World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day Pittsburgh is a joint effort of several organizations throughout the city. Led by Jewish Family and Community Services and Acculturation for Justice, Access, and Peace Outreach, the city has been celebrating this event for many years. To learn more, visit the Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC) website.

More Events

For more events, visit our event calendar.

Families, celebrate Juneteenth with your children by signing them up for a free class on the history of the holiday! Classes are available for children ages five to 18 years old.

 

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Juneteenth Classes

Offered through the online learning platform Reconstruction, the classes are designed to celebrate the history of Juneteenth and provide opportunities for kids to discover their own special ways to promote Black freedom in their communities.

Class Units

Their courses are broken up into the following units:

 

Juneteenth Jubilee (5 – 9 years old)

Students will learn the origin and traditions of Juneteenth celebrations. Then, using their new knowledge, students will plan a celebration of their own by creating a menu and a special guest list.

Sign Up: Learn more and see class dates.

Juneteenth verzus July 4th (10 – 14 years old)

Students will experience informational videos about July 4th and Juneteenth then read a short excerpt from The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert. Students will discuss the two different independence celebrations and their implications on Black people. Students will develop their own nuanced understanding of Black freedom and how/when they can celebrate Black freedom in their communities.

Sign Up: Learn more and see class dates.

Reppin’ Juneteenth (15 – 18 years old)

Students will answer the essential question: “How have Black people in America fought for independence?” and investigate the concept of emancipation and the Juneteeth holiday. Students will synthesize their own idea of sovereignty, agency, and independence using videos and articles then create a slide presentation to represent their vision for freedom and celebration. Young leaders will have the knowledge they need to promote Black freedom in their communities.

Sign Up: Learn more and see class dates.

 

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Upcoming Brown Mamas Classes

This summer, Brown Mamas is offering hands-on, African-American-centered learning opportunities to their communities in Pittsburgh in conjunction with the online learning platform Reconstruction.

Receive Updates: To stay up to date, sign up for their newsletter!

10 years ago, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced MyPlate, a simple graphic that acts as a healthy eating guide on how to balance the five good groups in your diet. Now, they are offering fun ways to celebrate!

 

About MyPlate

MyPlate is a healthy eating guide you can use to balance the five food groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy (or fortified soy alternatives) – in your diet. Over the past 10 years, the USDA has expanded the guide to include free print materials, digital tools, and resources to meet specific dietary needs.

Join the Celebration

To celebrate the anniversary, the USDA created fun activities you can do throughout the month.

• • Take the MyPlate Quiz to see how your eating habits compare to the recommendations.
• • Download the MyPlate App to set food group goals to help you eat healthier and join challenges!
• • Create a personalized plan based on your age, sex, weight, height, and activity level.
• • Use MyPlate Kitchen to explore over 1,000 healthy, budget-friendly recipes.
• • Find budget-friendly resources on how to save money at the store.
• • View the MyPlate icon to see what a balanced food plate looks like.
• • Test your nutrition knowledge by taking Food Group Quizzes!
• • View simple, one-page tip sheets on meal planning, snacking, and more.
• • View healthy eating recommendations based on your age.

More Information

For more information, visit their website!

Starting June 5, Write Pittsburgh will host Neighborhood Storytelling Workshops for the Pittsburgh community. The first two workshops are intended for McKeesport and Hazelwood communities.

 

Neighborhood Storytelling Workshops

Write Pittsburgh’s Neighborhood Storytelling Workshops provide a space for neighbors to brainstorm, write, and share stories about their lives in their neighborhoods and engage in conversations about what they hope the future will look like for their community. No experience is necessary.

 

Workshop One: McKeesport

The first workshop is open to teens and adults in McKeesport. All community members are welcome to stop by and share their stories.

• • When:
    Adult Session: Saturday, June 5  | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
    Teen Session: Saturday, June 5  |  12:30 – 2 p.m.

• • Location: Career Works, Mon Valley Center (409 Walnut Street, McKeesport, PA 15132).
• • Sessions will be held outdoors and in compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Workshop Two: Hazelwood

The second workshop is open to teens and adults in Hazelwood. All community members are welcome to stop by and share their stories. Registration is NOT required.

• • When: Sunday, June 6  |  3 – 6 p.m.
  • Location: Hazelwood Green (4734 Second Avenue, Hazelwood, PA 15207)
  • Sessions will be held outdoors and in compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Other Workshops

Future workshops will be in other neighborhoods throughout Pittsburgh.

More Information

For more information, visit the Write Pittsburgh website.

The Latrobe Art Center invites community members to enjoy a free day of activities for children and families to celebrate the life and legacy of Mister Rogers! All activities are located in Latrobe.

 

Mister Rogers Family Days

 

Monday, June 7

• • Daniel Tiger Storybook Walk and other week-long activities begin.
  • Adams Memorial Library’s Palmer Summer Reading Program begins.

Tuesday, June 8  |  12 – 4 p.m.

• • 12 – 4 pm. – Latrobe Farmer’s Market at Legion Keener Park.
  • 12:30 & 1:30 p.m. – Story Time at Legion Keener Park with Adams Memorial Library and WQED. Pre-registration required.

Wednesday, June 9  |  2 – 7 p.m.

• • 2 – 7 p.m. – “Beautiful Night in the Neighborhood” Shop Hop Night.
  • 2 – 7 p.m. – Children’s Cookie Decorating at Latrobe Art Center.
  • 4 – 7 p.m. – Live entertainment by Derek Woods in the Parklet.

Friday, June 11  |  7:30 – 11 p.m.

• • Movie Night at Legion Keener Park. Pre-registration required.
    • 7:30 p.m. – Pre-movie entertainment by Laurel Valley Academy of Dance and more.
    • 9:00 p.m. – Mister Rogers Neighborhood and Daniel Tiger movie night starts.

Saturday, June 12  |  11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• • Crafts with Latrobe Arts Center.
  • Chalk the Walk at Adams Memorial Library.
  • Downtown Labrobe Scavenger Hunt.
  • Neighborhood Trolley Visit.
  • Balloons by Greater Labroble High School Cheerleaders.
  • Free parking all day.

Activities Running All Week

• • Free parking is available every week after 4 p.m.
  • Daniel Tiger Storybook Walk in Downtown Latrobe.
  • Mister Rogers Quotation Quest in Downtown Latrobe.
  • Selfie Garden in James H. Rogers Park and Parklet.
  • Sidewalk Fun in Downtown Latrobe.
  • Fred Rogers Exhibits by LAC and Latrobe Area Historical Society.

More Information

For full event details, visit the Latrobe Art Center website. For questions, call 724.537.7011.

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Are you looking for jobs in early childhood? View this week’s featured job descriptions from child care programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

 

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Jobs Hiring in Pittsburgh

 

Child Care Teacher/Assistant

Thomas Child Care and Learning Academy is hiring Child Care Teachers and Assistants to plan and direct daily programs for children in their assigned groups. These professionals will consistently provide developmentally appropriate, child-centered activities that meet the physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of children.

• • Apply: To apply, email thomaslearningacademy@gmail.com or call 412.727.6323.
  • Location: 10739 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Toddler Teacher

Genesis Early Learning Center is looking to hire an experienced, qualified Toddler Teacher who is dependable and good at multitasking. This professional must have a love for teaching and provide a fun, safe, and educational learning environment.

• • Apply: To apply, email your resume to Shanae.Brown@genesislearningcenter.org.
  • Location: 1293 Mt Nebo Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Child Caregiver

Happy Trails & Happy Trails 2 U are hiring Child Caregivers to provide care, supervision, and learning experiences to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and young school-age children.

• • Apply: To apply, email hayneslewis93@gmail.com or call 412.401.4243.
  • Locations: 281 Duff Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 and 1009 Edith Street, Duquesne, PA 15110

 

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Submit a Job

Each week, Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs from early learning programs across Pennsylvania. We share these posts on our website, social media channels, and newsletter.

• • Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form no later than Tuesday, June 8.

This form is intended for positions in the early childhood field. Unrelated jobs will not be included. All job descriptions submitted after June 8 will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays.

For questions, contact Lainey Yockey at lainey@tryingtogether.org.

 

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Other Child Care Jobs

View More Job Descriptions

For more job descriptions, view our news posts from previous weeks:

• • May 27 – June 2
  • May 20 – May 26
  • May 13 – May 19

ECE Hire

Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more.

Stay Up to Date

To stay up to date on our featured positions, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACDH) is collecting community responses on the impact of 2020 through a Community Health Survey. Respondents can enter to win a Giant Eagle gift card!

 

Community Health Survey

The Allegheny County Community Health Survey, which is open to people ages 18 and older who live in Allegheny County, will help local officials identify residents’ biggest health and wellness concerns and strategize solutions. Survey results will be combined with results from a larger health study conducted in 2019 by ACDH, as well as a variety of other data sources.

Complete the Survey

The survey is available in English and Spanish. Community organizations can request paper surveys in multiple languages through this form. Residents who complete the survey can enter an optional raffle for a Giant Eagle gift card!

• • Share Your Response: Complete the Community Health Survey.

More Information

For more information, visit the Allegheny County website.

PACCA is accepting nominations for the 2021 Educators of the Year and the Award of Excellence to recognize contributions PACCA members made to the early care and education profession.

 

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2021 PACCA Awards

 

Educators of the Year Award

Educators of the Year Awards honor outstanding service and accomplishments in the delivery of services to children. They are given to individuals at PACCA member programs who have contributed significantly to the direct care and education of young children.

It is suggested that nominees have been teachers for at least three years. Awards are presented to educators in both center- and home-based settings.

Award of Excellence

The Award of Excellence honors outstanding service and accomplishments in the field of administration. The award is presented to a member of PACCA who has demonstrated qualities of:

• • vision (ability to see possibilities for making things happen and communicating this vision),
• • teamwork (ability to work with and support others), and
• • leadership (willingness to reach out to benefit the child care community).

It is suggested that nominees have been a director, executive director, administrator, or owner for three years.

 

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What Do Winners Receive?

• • A $500 award stipend,
• • complimentary registration for the virtual Early Childhood Summit (October 18-20, 2021),
• • an engraved award recognizing their achievement, and
• • recognition in PACCA’s newsletter, website, and Facebook page.

How to Nominate

To nominate a colleague, complete the nomination form and include a written description of why this person deserves the award. PACCA encourages testimonials from children, fellow staff, colleagues, and parents to illustrate your nominee’s exceptional work.

• • Nominate Someone: Complete the nomination form.
• • Nomination Deadline: July 31, 2021

Ask a Question

For more information, visit the PACCA website. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org.

OCDEL is using a competitive application process to disperse state expansion funding to eligible child care provider grantees in fiscal year 2021-22.

 

Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program

The Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) increases the number of low-income, Head Start-eligible children who receive high-quality pre-kindergarten services in Pennsylvania. Governor Wolf’s proposed 2021-22 state budget HSSAP funding totals $20 million.

This Request for Applications (RFA) is intended to support child care providers in preparing to serve and enroll children in September 2021. Applicants must submit funding proposals aligned with the program moels outlined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards 1302 Part B.

 

Eligibility

This program is for Head Start and Early Head Start grantees. Successful applicants must demonstrate:

• • current federal funding for Head Start or Early Head Start as a grantee or delegate; and
  • no uncorrected deficiencies from the most current federal Monitoring Review.

Required Documentation

Applicants must have the following in place to complete an application:

• • Letter of Intent (REQUIRED),
  • Vendor Number (SAP #),
  • Administrative Unit Number (AUN),
  • Master Provider Index Number (MPI), and
  • Federal ID Number or Tax ID Number.

Applicants should also review all information in this document before submitting their Letter of Intent.

What is a Letter of Intent?

Letters of Intent represent the applicant’s intent to apply for HSSAP funding and include preliminary information about requested funding, program models, provider types, and areas to be served.

 

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Program Application

Step One

Programs interested in applying must submit a completed Letter of Intent by 3 p.m. on June 24, 2021. These letters should be digitally sent via email to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Step Two

Agencies that submit a fully complete Letter of Intent by the deadline will be notified with the HSSAP application is open in eGrants. All applications must be submitted by Wednesday, July 15, 2021 at 3 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.

FAQ: How to Apply

To access the required templates and learn more, view the How to Apply page.

 

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Pre-Application Webinar

A pre-application webinar will be held on June 4, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A recording will be available on the HSSAP How to Apply webpage after the session.

• • Register: To register, complete the online registration form.