Neighborhood Learning Alliance was formed as a non-profit, 501(c)(3), corporation in December 2003 under the name of Wireless Neighborhoods. The name switched to Neighborhood Learning Alliance, replacing Wireless Neighborhoods, in the summer of 2011.
The organization has roots deep within the lower income neighborhoods of the City of Pittsburgh. The establishment of Wireless Neighborhoods as an independent entity was the culmination of years of cooperation and tireless efforts of several of Pittsburgh’s preeminent community organizations including Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, Community House Church, and Hill House Association.
Created to improve community and faith organizations’ capacities to respond to issues that affect the lives of the children and families in the neighborhoods they serve, Neighborhood Learning Alliance has chosen, quite purposely since its inception, to target a majority of its efforts and resources on improving the quality of afterschool programming because of the alarmingly low levels of academic proficiency, particularly for the children in the City’s African-American and lower income neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Learning Alliance and its partners have helped transform afterschool programming. Before, students had safe places with homework help and snacks. Now, students enjoy truly innovative, professional, youth-friendly, instructional environments that are setting the standards for community afterschool practices.