Here’s some exciting news about a West Philly-based organization that has been helping unemployed but motivated local talent to get job training and pursue hiring opportunities with local employers. The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, founded by the University City District (UCD) in 2009, has recently dropped “West Philadelphia” from its name. The reason is the rapid expansion beyond the West Philly borders over the past few years, which is impacting new neighborhoods and new industries. So, the new simplified name is The Skills Initiative.

“Although West Philadelphia is no longer in our name, it will always be our home. We will continue to be anchored in West Philadelphia, close to our University City District offices and founding major employer partners,” reads a recent announcement by UCD.

To go along with this exciting news, UCD has released a digital publication titled Skills Initiative: The Next Chapter, a collection of stories about employer partners, program alumni, funders, and staff that showcases the new Skills Initiative brand and impact. Click here to view or download the new publication.

A new look and logo have also been developed, driven by “a desire to match the quality of our visual presentation with the quality of our staff, services, and the talent of our participants.” The different colored blocks in the new logo represent the many stakeholders who make the Skills Initiative’s work possible.

For more information about the Skills Initiative, visit: philadelphiaskills.org.

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is partnering with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) for a new Navy Yard Skills Initiative program, which will train Philadelphia residents for permanent, full-time, union careers with the Philadelphia division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center.

The Management Assistant program seeks to connect Philadelphians with experience in office management for federal careers earning $26/hour. Recruitment for the program kicked off on Tuesday, Aug. 13 and job seekers will be able to submit applications until Friday, Aug. 23 at 5 p.m.. To apply, candidates must be a resident of Philadelphia county, commit to the full training schedule, possess a high school diploma or GED, and have previous experience using Microsoft Office Suite in an office setting. For additional information and to apply for the program, please visit: www.navyyard.org/skills.

The program is the second partnership between the Skills Initiative and Naval Surface Warfare Center, building on the success of the 2023 Industrial Trades Program. The Naval Surface Warfare Center facility at The Navy Yard employs about 2,800 people.

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Great news for the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), University City District’s program that helps unemployed West Philly residents obtain necessary job skills and connect with local employers. The organization has recently been awarded a $4 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to help accelerate WPSI’s goals of providing opportunities for job seekers, program alumni, and incumbent workers to secure meaningful employment that will help break the cycle of poverty. In the past few years, WPSI, which was founded in 2009, has expanded from West Philadelphia to other city neighborhoods.

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The Manufacturing Career Accelerator Program (MCAP) at Drexel University is back this spring and again recruiting participants among Philadelphia residents. This six-week tuition-free program, which first launched in Spring 2021, is designed to “help participants become their professional best while learning about the manufacturing industry and preparing to begin a rewarding career in a dynamic industry.”

The program is specifically interested in recruiting West Philadelphia residents. In MCAP, participants work with program instructors and staff to develop even more professional skills and learn how to apply them in the workplace.

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Residents of the neighborhoods surrounding West Fairmount Park have a chance to help shape the future of the park and the Centennial District. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is currently working with the Fairmount Park Conservancy, The Mann Center, Philadelphia Zoo, and the Please Touch Museum on a new planning initiative which includes improvements of the park experience for visitors and residents.

A “community-led framework for how to be more inclusive and fair in future park investments”  used in the planning process.

As the plan affects communities it needs to be developed with communities. Therefore, The Centennial Subdistrict Design Plan team is looking for paid Community Ambassadors to be a part of the process.

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Here’s a great program hosted by The Free Library of Philadelphia that aims to help unemployed workers and new job seekers. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Free Library will offer career exploration workshops, as a part of the larger Philly Career Launch series, an initiative that aims to help unemployed individuals to qualify for occupations that are accessible to workers without a bachelor’s degree.

The day-long workshops will be held at several neighborhood library locations, including three West Philadelphia-based branches, over the course of four weeks through October 20. The workshops will highlight occupations in four industries: construction and trades, health care, information technology, and manufacturing. In the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to explore careers that build on their strengths and get hands-on experience with online resources.

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