University City District’s award-winning program, West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, which helps unemployed West Philly residents connect with local employers seeking talent, has been on hiatus since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But here’s some great news: the program is launching its first virtual training.

The Skills Initiative in partnership with Drexel University will train aspiring Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. Unlike the majority of Skills Initiative training programs, this cohort will serve all Philadelphia residents, regardless of zip code.  Continue Reading

The University City Science Center is launching a free STEM job training for their workforce development program with a particular interest in recruiting participants from West Philadelphia. This is part of the Science Center’s effort to create greater access to and new pathways into family-sustaining STEM jobs for under- and unemployed Philadelphians.

As part of this new program, the Science Center is now accepting applications for the first cohort of trainees for their free STEM job training program – “Building an Understanding of Lab Basics (BULB)”. The program is open to Philadelphians age 18 or older with a high school degree or GED interested in science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM) field. Applications close on Monday, June 29.  Continue Reading

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has extended the application deadline for their Playstreets program to Monday, June 15. Playstreets is the City’s free summer feeding program for children and Parks & Rec is accepting applications from residents who want to volunteer as block captains for this program.

Each summer, 300 to 350 city streets are closed temporarily to vehicular traffic to give children a safe place to gather, play, and eat a free, nutritious meal. The program has been running for more than 50 years and takes place in every neighborhood of the city.  Continue Reading

Skills Initiative program graduate Jacqueline Saunders spoke about her experience with the program at the check presentation ceremony.

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), the nationally recognized job training program, has just received an investment that will allow them to expand their reach to employers across the region. The program, which has been connecting unemployed West Philly residents with University City employers since 2011, has received a $125,000 contribution from the Citizens Bank’s Charitable Foundation, which will go to support their expansion efforts. Since 2012, the Citizens Charitable Foundation has contributed more than $450,000 to the program.

“We are proud to support the [West Philadelphia Skills Initiative] organization as it takes its efforts to the next level, providing more opportunities for unemployed Philadelphians to get the training and support needed to succeed in the workforce,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank, Mid-Atlantic Region, during a presentation that took place this morning at WPSI’s office (see photo).  Continue Reading

Are you good at chess and like working with kids? Here’s a great volunteer opportunity. The Walnut St. West Library children’s chess club is looking for volunteer chess coaches for the upcoming school year (September 2019 – May 2020). The club meets Wednesdays 5:30-7 p.m. at the library located at 40th and Walnut Streets.

The club is looking for volunteers to teach and supervise children ages 6-14 who are learning chess. Their skill levels vary from beginner to quite proficient. Coaches will not get to play much themselves but will enjoy helping the children improve their skills.

The Chess Club won the first place in the 2017 MasterMinds Scholastic Summer Chess League Championship.

If you are interested to volunteer on a regular basis – once a month or more – please contact Mary Goldman at: marylgoldman@gmail.com

Unemployed West Philly residents are invited to apply for a new job training program with University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI). The new program will prepare individuals to be Animal Care Technicians with the University of Pennsylvania. This is the 7th program WPSI has run in partnership with UPenn, the largest private employer in the state.

WPSI and Penn are seeking applicants who possess a high school diploma or GED; are currently unemployed; and live in the West Philadelphia zip-codes 19104, 19131, 19139, 19142, 19143, 19151, or 19153. The program is recruiting detail-oriented, motivated, and resilient individuals with experience in janitorial, housekeeping, labor, or science labs. Experience with animal care is a plus.  Continue Reading