Philadelphia (July 3, 2017) — Recent news has reported that summer jobs for teens are disappearing. But in Philadelphia, that is not the case. Today marks the beginning of WorkReady Summer, a six-week, 120-hour summer work experience for young people, ages 12-21, managed by the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN). Thanks to strong public and private support, WorkReady will provide approximately 7,000 work experiences this summer.
The impact of summer jobs is greater than you’d expect. There are many unique opportunities that benefit our City, our businesses, our communities and our young people. These summer work experiences may look different from the “traditional” summer job. While WorkReady is best known for its internships, it offers a variety of unique experiences that help participants gain professional skills, build networks and learn financial responsibility.
WorkReady provides a continuum of experiences for participants including:
Through this series of opportunities at worksites across Philadelphia representing various industries, young people gain valuable skills while impacting our City, businesses and communities. Here are a few of the unique opportunities offered:
“Today our WorkReady participants will embark upon unique journeys where they will learn, flourish and become a part of Philadelphia’s growing economy,” said Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend, President and CEO of PYN. “I want to thank our partners, funders and providers for making an investment in our young people, the future workforce and leaders of Philadelphia.”
WorkReady Philadelphia is a citywide effort made possible by dedicated providers and employers, and blended funding from the public sector including the State and City, and private sector including businesses and philanthropy. Top investors in WorkReady include the City of Philadelphia (Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Human Services), and Philadelphia Works, Inc. For a full list of WorkReady supporters, visit www.workready.org/#involved.