The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, the program of the University City District that connects West Philly employers seeking talent with West Philadelphians looking for opportunity, is currently recruiting residents for a training program with Allied Universal, one of the largest providers of security services in North America.

The program is seeking applicants who possess a high school diploma or GED, are currently unemployed, and live in the zip codes of 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, or 19151. Applicants should have experience working in security, customer service, or related fields.

Program graduates are guaranteed an interview with Allied Universal. The participants will receive a performance-based stipend during the training and will learn the skills needed to successfully connect to employment and a fulfilling career path.  Continue Reading

SEPTA customers who are planning to use SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line on Monday should prepare for service delays. Due to ongoing inspections following the discovery this weekend of support-beam cracks on two Market-Frankford Line rail cars, there will be a temporary shortage of rail cars during peak travel times. Beginning with the morning rush hour on Monday, Feb. 6, trains will operate with longer intervals, and supplemental bus service will be provided.

During the peak periods – 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. – service will operate as frequently as possible with available vehicles, and A/B stop service will be suspended. Supplemental buses will be positioned at locations along the line to provide alternative service. Midday and evening train service will operate on regular schedules, as will overnight Owl Bus service.  Continue Reading

Shakespeare in Clark Park will return in July with five nights of Coriolanus. The company is continuing its commitment to “radical community engagement,” which for the past three years has seen the community become a part of its annual summer show.

Shakespeare in Clark Park community workshop (Photo courtesy SCP).

Since this fall, Shakespeare in Clark Park has been hosting free acting workshops for the community and private workshops at senior centers and youth groups.

On February 16 and 17, the company will host two workshops in West Philly, where community members can hone their acting skills, have a good time, and even prep for the upcoming community auditions for Coriolanus. Community members will receive training on voice, movement and scene work from professional actors.

Here’s more information on the workshops:  Continue Reading

Here’s a summer job opportunity for young West Philly men and women who can swim or are willing to learn to swim. The Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation has launched its 2017 Lifeguard Recruitment Campaign and will begin its competitive lifeguard recruitment process this month.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process early in order to have enough time to pass the required screening and lifeguard training course. Parks and Rec staff is also able to provide beginner-level swimmers that apply early with assistance in preparing for the screening. The lifeguard position pays a competitive wage of $12.33 to $14.60 an hour.

Parks and Rec hires 400 lifeguards annually to patrol its 70 outdoor pools and four indoor pools, and there are a lot of West Philly pools that need lifeguards (Pictured: Kelly Pool in West Fairmount Park). The first step for interested candidates is to attend a screening at one of three indoor training facilities during the following screening days and times beginning now through June:  Continue Reading

The University City District has issued a special crime alert for the area residents due to a high number of armed robberies reported in the western edge of the neighborhood in the past 10 days. Ten robberies with a gun have been reported since Saturday, Jan. 21, mostly occurring between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. in the areas between Chester Avenue and Pine Street and 47th and 49th.

Here are dates, times, locations and some more details for robberies reported in the past week (via Spot Crime):

− Jan. 27, 8:28 p.m. – 4800 block of Sansom St.
− Jan. 27, 9:06 p.m. – 800 block of S. 49th St.
− Jan. 28, 8:14 a.m. – 900 block of S. 46th St.
− Jan. 28, 9:11 p.m. – S. 49th St. and Springfield Ave. A wallet, iPhone, and headphones were taken in this robbery. Suspects are described as three black males 18-21 years old, wearing jackets and jeans.  Continue Reading

After President Trump administration issued the temporary Travel Ban for the citizens coming from seven majority-Muslim countries, many West Philly residents and a number of local groups participated in the Philadelphia airport protests over the weekend. We’re posting some photos and tweets from the airport and from around the neighborhood. Also, check out this recent story by Philly.com on West Philly’s interfaith immigrant rights group, the New Sanctuary Movement.

Photo by Elaine Fultz.