Here’s a great opportunity for local youth this summer. West Philadelphia Financial Services Institution (WPFSI) is currently accepting applications for their WesGold Fellows summer internship program for current 10th and 11th grades in Philadelphia high schools. The internship covers topics of personal finance, college planning, career and personal development through college level instruction, field trips, networking with professionals and giving presentations (see flyer below for more information).

The application can be found on www.wpfsi.com, by calling 215-452-0100 or emailing: juliana@wpfsi.com. Application deadline is April 1, 2014.

Thanks to an $82,000 grant from The Barra Foundation, University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) will move employment training site, West Philadelphia Skills Center for Economic Advancement, from pilot phase to a fully-integrated, holistic approach.

The Center for Economic Advancement, located at Community College of Philadelphia West on 47^th and Chestnut Streets, was opened in 2012 as an intensive soft job skill training site that helps bridge the employment gap in West Philadelphia. The Barra grant will allow WPSI, which launched in 2010 to address issues of unemployment and poverty in the community, to implement the most effective strategies tested during the Center’s pilot phase over the last year.

“From recruitment, assessment and selection to programming and evaluation plans, we have studied which approaches work best with our participants and our employers,” WPSI Director Sheila Ireland told West Philly Local. “Although we will maintain a stance of continuous improvement, we know feel that we have a good understanding of what works.”

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts’ 2013 State of the City, the median household income for the University City region is $21,801, with 48.1 percent of residents living in poverty. In West Philadelphia’s West Market region, the numbers are slightly higher—$26,487 and 33.8 percent. West Philadelphia Skills Initiative aims to change that tide by connecting local residents with partnering employers that have operations in West Philadelphia through its three programs: the Center for Economic Advancement, Job Pipelines, and the Youth Employment Network. Last year, WPSI worked with over 130 participants across all three programs, which either provide training or professional internships in the medical assistance, information technology, landscaping, lab technology, administrative, and security industries among others.  Continue Reading

Mariposa Food Co-op is seeking a new Membership Coordinator to join their staff collective. They have recently expanded their operations and their membership is quickly increasing in size. They are interested in applicants who have previous experience managing large numbers of individuals, especially coordinating people in a volunteer organization and/or working within a cooperative model. A major part of this job is interacting with people, so Mariposa is asking that only candidates with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills apply for this position.

Compensation is $12.25/hour with a yearly raise. Benefits include health savings account, paid vacation and sick/personal days and monthly $25 in-store shopping credit.

Deadline for applications is April 14, 2012. Ideal start date is June 1, 2012. For the full job description and to apply, visit this page.

Mariposa Food Co-op has moved to a new stage of its expansion project – the new store renovation – which is scheduled to finish in October. One of the benefits of the expansion is that over the next few months Mariposa will be hiring for additional, permanent staff positions. 8-10 new jobs are supposed to open.

The first position is a Member Coordinator, as their membership numbers approach 1,000. Mariposa began accepting applications for this position last week.

Mariposa is looking for a person with great interpersonal skills, someone who will develop and refine methods and practices for their entire member program.

The job will average 30 hours per week, primarily daytime hours with some weekend/evening hours. For the full job description and information on how to apply go here. Deadline for application is July 13, 2011.

For this and future position announcements visit this page.