Increasing the impact of Literacy Pittsburgh's work depends on including and welcoming the varied and rich perspectives and backgrounds of our staff, board, volunteers, and students. We are committed to working with urgency, patience, and humility to create a culture where everyone is treated with dignity and respect so that they can thrive. We recognize this work is not easy, nor is it quickly accomplished, but it is essential if we are to live our mission, vision, and values.
Literacy Pittsburgh formalized our efforts with an Action Plan in FY23, which was expanded and incorporated into our current strategic plan. The plan was based on a human capital audit, cultural survey, and input from staff, board, and volunteers over 15 months. The Action Plan is integral to Literacy Pittsburgh's overall growth strategy and has three overarching objectives. An oversight committee of board and staff members will manage these efforts. Our Staff Engagement Committee will also provide assistance.
Build or refine essential systems related to talent—hiring, pay, potential, performance, and promotion—to ensure we are recruiting great people and nurturing their talent. This objective includes strengthening our recruitment, hiring, and onboarding systems, growing employee compensation, using our performance management system to reinforce our culture, and creating a strong professional development system.
Creating and maintaining systems and space to get to know each other as staff, students, board members, and volunteers so that we can benefit from the rich wisdom, expertise, and experiences that each of us brings to our work of creating better lives through learning. This includes staff engagement surveys and activities, regular opportunities to gather student and tutor voices, and regular board engagement and training opportunities.
Working to spend our limited resources with local vendors that reflect our organization's values and community.
The work within each objective is underway. Literacy Pittsburgh will be engaging staff, board, and others in critical projects aimed at creating a more welcoming environment for board, staff, volunteers, and students alike.
We pledge our commitment to belonging by supporting:
People
Literacy Pittsburgh recognizes the value of the fixed and changeable characteristics of social, familial, and economic factors that each student, staff member, and volunteer brings to the organization.
Culture
We have a commitment to provide access and opportunity for all persons so that fixed and changeable characteristics, social, familial, and economic factors do not predict student educational outcomes or staff professional progress at Literacy Pittsburgh.
Dignity
We pursue deliberate efforts to ensure that our organization is a place where differences are embraced, other perspectives are respectfully heard, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging.
Respect
We support meaningful access to our resources by all persons who are eligible for our services, with their wide range of needs, abilities, bodies, minds, and backgrounds. We commit to identifying and removing existing barriers and learning from the expertise of individuals who regularly face barriers to access.
