What is the Philadelphia Youth Network? Supporting Philadelphia Youth for over 20 Years
We believe every young person deserves the chance to achieve their dreams. PYN works with partners to prepare young people for the career of their choice. Our programs create opportunities for young people throughout Philadelphia.
Our Vision
Alleviate poverty and promote equity through education and employment.
Our Mission
Create coordinated systems which promote the attainment of academic achievement, economic opportunity and personal success.
Our Impact
Together with our partners, we have provided more than 225,000 opportunities to young people since PYN was founded in 1999.
Latest News
What we do
PYN solves systemic problems in youth workforce participation and performance through professional development, data collection, research-based program design and streamlined operational support.
Analysis & Research
PYN collects data from over 125 youth-serving programs, conducts surveys with youth-serving organizations and young people, analyzes trends for investment and capacity decisions, and shares this data annually with the public.
Program Design Management
PYN creates service networks to prepare teens and young adults for successful futures. PYN recruits youth-serving organizations, allocates maximum spots for young people based on need and provider performance, and guides program plans to ensure a quality experience for each young person — regardless of their provider.
Professional Development and Training
Our unique approach to professional development and training directly benefits service providers through individualized coaching, ongoing monthly continuous improvement sessions, guest experts and use of our research-based tools and techniques. Our training is rooted in the Weikart Center’s Assess, Plan, Improve cycle, and allows providers to make a more accurate evaluation of their programming through the use of scientifically validated tools.
SUCCESS STORY
Evolving During Challenging Times
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, it was clear that our plans for WorkReady Summer needed to evolve. Luckily our system was built to be purposely flexible and constantly evolve no matter the circumstance. By re-evaluating our programs annually we’ve been able to pinpoint problem areas like financial and digital literacy and seamlessly add them to our initiatives.
Our History
Since 1999, we've dedicated our lives to equipping Philadelphia's young people with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in today's workforce. Throughout our history, we have partnered with Philadelphia’s evolving landscape of leaders and systems to ensure young people are prioritized and prepared with the support, education, and employment they deserve.
Work with PYN
We are always looking for talented individuals to join our team, and working at PYN offers many benefits, including flexible scheduling, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to drive large-scale impact. The Philadelphia Youth Network is an equal opportunity employer, and we’d love to have you.
Donate to PYN
Your financial support helps young people prepare for success in school, work, and life.