Discover the Basics of Living in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh and the region have a wonderful mix of resources to meet your needs and desires. There is something for everyone here. There are many wonderful parks to breathe in the fresh summer air and to play amidst the changing leaves of the fall, as well as all kinds of neighborhoods that reflect Pittsburgh's history and diversity. Pittsburgh offers the quality of life of the big American cities without overwhelming you with the size and complexity of a big city. Here you will find useful information about immigration, transportation, employment, childcare services, where to learn English, education, and everything you need to feel comfortable in your new home.
Welcome Center for Immigrants & Internationals
We serve as a clearing house of information and services available to new arrivals to Southwestern Pennsylvania and those already living in the region. The Center's main goal is to help immigrants and internationals have a successful experience here.
Visitors to the Welcome Center typically ask a wide variety of questions, ranging from where to learn about job opportunities or how to start a business, to where to find appropriate medical or legal services, or English language classes, or how best to contact specific government agencies. Multilingual staff are ready to provide free advice and help match callers with service agencies to meet their specific needs, whatever they may be. For more information or to make an appointment, call 1-866-774-2201 or go to www.wcii.org.
The Pittsburgh Refugee & Immigrant Assistance Center (PRIAC)
of Jewish Family & Children's' Service of Pittsburgh
The only low-cost immigration provider recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the southwestern Pennsylvania area. Officially recognized to provide immigration services for individuals and families with limited financial resources, PRIAC is staffed by two immigration attorneys, an accredited representative, paralegals and employment specialists. Fees are nominal and arrangements can be made for indigent clients.
Immigration services provided are: consultation, status adjustment, naturalization, status inquiry, visa extension, asylum, petition for relatives abroad, affidavit of support, affidavit of relationship, travel document, diversity visa lottery, and others.
In addition to immigration services, PRIAC offers acculturation workshops, ESL referrals, and culturally sensitive vocational services, including skills assessment, Job Readiness workshops, career counseling, resume preparation, interview practice, training referrals, job lists, job development, and employer troubleshooting.
For more information or an appointment, contact:
5743 Bartlett Street,
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Phone: 412-521-1737
Fax: 412-422-9540
www.jfcspgh.org
E-mail: czabusky@jfcspgh.org
El Centro Hispano, The Hispanic Center
A Pittsburgh-based non-profit corporation, was founded to address the workforce needs of the southwestern region of Pennsylvania. Its mission is the recruitment, placement, and retention of workers to the area, focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on the Hispanic population.A Pittsburgh-based non-profit corporation, was founded to address the workforce needs of the southwestern region of Pennsylvania. Its mission is the recruitment, placement, and retention of workers to the area, focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on the Hispanic population. In line with these goals, the Hispanic Center assists families that are interested in relocating to the Pittsburgh region by providing access to affordable housing and employment opportunities. Their programs include employment referral, access to education and training programs, and a family mentoring program to facilitate the adjustment to Pittsburgh for newcomers. To discuss these opportunities, contact the Hispanic Center: Phone: 412-322-2716
Interim Director: 412-322-2717
E-mail: EL_CENTRO_ORG@ccac.edu
http://www.pghhispaniccenter.org/
The Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors (PCIV)
It is the region's only community-based non-profit solely dedicated to forging cultural, educational, and business relationships between Western Pennsylvania and the global community through citizen diplomacy. The organization assists in retaining international employees, students, and researchers in the Pittsburgh region. PCIV serves as a resource for prospective employers on matters regarding hiring, visas and working with international student employees. PCIV offers a membership program, which provides international students and scholars a chance to learn more about American culture while discovering the rich cultural resources that Southwestern Pennsylvania has to offer. PCIV's publication, Understanding Pittsburgh: A Guide for International Visitors and Residents, is a great resource for newcomers. This publication is currently being revised in a CD-ROM version; for further information please contact PCIV. Contact: Gail Shrott
Executive Director
Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1130
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1885
tel. 412-392-4513
fax 412-392-2411
www.pciv.org
Group photo above courtesy of the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors
Jewish Family & Children's Services
Contact: Linda Ehrenreich, Associate Executive Director
Jewish Family & Children's Service is a non-sectarian social service agency with a demonstrated history of responsiveness to the needs of the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
We provide multi-faceted community services without regard to race, religion, socio-economic status, or ethnic heritage. Our programs include employment services (including culturally-sensitive job readiness services) though our Career Development Center, immigrant and refugee services through our Pittsburgh Refugee & Immigrant Assistance Center, clinical services, cross cultural behavioral health services, foster care and adoption services, services for children with special needs, home-based services for older adults and we administer the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry for those in need of supplemental food in the 15217 area. Contact: Linda Ehrenreich, Associate Executive Director
Phone: 412-422-7200
Fax: 412-422-9540
5743 Bartlett Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Email: lehrenreich@jfcspgh.org
www.jfcspgh.org
Catholic Charities, Refugee Services Program
For more than 30 years, Catholic Charities' Refugee Services Program has helped refugees resettle in the Pittsburgh area. All of the individuals and families that we have welcomed have been declared refugees by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and have come to the United States seeking a new home and a new start. Refugees have come from Southeast Asia, Cuba, Africa, Haiti, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
The Refugee Services Program provides refugees with basic needs, English language training and employment counseling. Our staff works with local businesses to match refugee with jobs. More than 90% of the refugees we serve find employment within three months of their arrival.
Phone: 412-456-6980
212 Ninth Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
http://www.ccpgh.org
Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission
An important part of the SPHPC's mandate is to devise creative ways to protect, interpret, and manage the industrial and cultural heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania. This partnership requires the efforts and resources of local, regional, state and federal agencies, the private sector, and most importantly, the residents of the region to combine promotion and preservation of the region's resources.
P.O. Box 565
105 Zee Plaza
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Email: information@sphpc.org
http://www.sphpc.org/
The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
The mission of the World Affairs Council is to promote, on a non-partisan basis, greater understanding of important international issues. The Council offers many opportunities for open discussion on a wide range of global issues, bringing together people from different communities and with different perspectives to understand our rapidly changing world. 2640 One Mellon Center
500 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-281-7970
Fax: 412-281-1795
Questions about us?
Email: welcome@worldaffairspittsburgh.org
http://www.worldaffairspittsburgh.org/
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