Building Safer Futures Through Work: WorkReady VIP

Check out the highlights from Philadelphia Youth Network’s WorkReady VIP (Violence Intervention and Prevention) Program and our recent visit to the construction worksite at North Philadelphia Peace park in partnership with YouthBuild Philadelphia.

This year, more than 300 youth participants are engaged in PYN's WorkReady VIP program across multiple partner organizations and worksites throughout Philadelphia. These placements span industries and neighborhoods, but all share a common goal - to reduce risk factors for violence by increasing opportunity, career exposure, and foot-in-the door style work-based learning experiences.

A Two-Phase Model Rooted in Prevention

PYN's WorkReady VIP Program is intentionally structured in phases to support young people both personally and professionally. The first phase focuses on classroom-based learning and preparation, where youth participate in:

• Positive Action curriculum centered on social-emotional learning, conflict resolution strategies and healthy decision-making

• Communication skills, emotional regulation, and problem-solving

• Professional skills training facilitated by PYN through train-the-trainer models and curated resources

By the time participants transition to worksites, they are not only job-ready — they are equipped with tools to navigate conflict, manage stress, and build positive relationships in and outside of the workplace.

The second phase of the program moves youth into paid, mentor-led work experiences, reinforcing the idea that employment itself can be a stabilizing force and a protective factor against violence.

At the North Philadelphia Peace Park, YouthBuild Philadelphia brought its cohort of young people to a construction-focused worksite where participants are:

• Earning wages while contributing to the construction of a shared community space

• Building a stage, storage facility, and other park infrastructure

• Working closely with mentors who model accountability, teamwork, and professionalism

• Obtaining their OSHA 10 safety certification, an industry-recognized credential that supports entry into construction and skilled trades careers

Partnership Spotlight: YouthBuild Philadelphia

YouthBuild Philadelphia is a long-standing leader in education, workforce development, and community revitalization for young people who have been disconnected from traditional school pathways. Their model blends academics, vocational training, leadership development, and service, helping youth build both employable skills and a strong sense of purpose.

Through their participation in WorkReady VIP, YouthBuild’s construction programming aligns seamlessly with the program’s violence prevention goals providing consistent mentorship, positive peer environments, and clear pathways to careers in the trades.

A Citywide Strategy for Violence Intervention and Prevention

The Peace Park project is just one example among many across WorkReady VIP worksites citywide. Together, these placements form a coordinated violence intervention strategy that recognizes employment, mentorship, and social-emotional skill development as key tools for prevention.

By investing in young people through paid work, supportive learning environments, and trusted community partnerships, PYN and its providers are helping participants build safer futures — for themselves and for their neighborhoods.