Great news for the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, the University City District’s program providing job training and job interview opportunities to West Philadelphia residents by connecting them with local employers. The program has recently received a major grant – $600,000 – from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The grant will help the Skills Initiative to expand its reach and impact in the area.

The nationally-acclaimed program, which recently turned 5 years old, boasts a 90 percent job placement rate for its graduates and has helped hundreds of unemployed West Philly residents since its inception in 2011. The Pew grant is the largest ever in the program’s history and is essential to its efforts to significantly grow its capacity over the next three years. These plans include expanding the number of program participants, both trainees and employers, and employment opportunities.

The program’s goal is to serve 500 individuals annually by the end of 2021.

For more information about the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative and current opportunities for job seekers, visit: www.universitycity.org/wpsi.

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

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) is at it again: the organization that has helped hundreds of unemployed West Philadelphians is now recruiting people for their two upcoming job training programs. Both programs described below are open for unemployed individuals residing in the zip codes 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, and 19151.

Recruitment is now open for candidates interested in training and job opportunities as carpentry technicians.

Participants of this program will:

• Learn the carpentry trade from master craftsmen
• Earn a generous performance-based wage stipend
• Build cutting-edge job connection strategies that will help you connect to a career you will love.

Successful applicants should:

• Have experience and/or education in the carpentry/construction field.
• Have a high school diploma or GED by June 27th, 2016

The application deadline for this program is June 3rd, 2016.  Continue Reading

Here’s a great opportunity for local drivers. This November, the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), which provides training and job opportunities for motivated and unemployed West Philly residents, is partnering with Impark, one of the largest parking management companies in North America, for their new program. This program may be for you if:

• You have had a valid driver’s license for at least three years
• You know how to provide top notch customer service
• You are ready to work on your career rather than just another job

The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 16. Paper applications are available at 4725 Chestnut Street, Room 112 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applicants must be residents of 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, or 19151, possess a high school diploma or GED, and be unemployed to apply. Click here to apply online.

University City District‘s program, West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), is seeking West Philly residents for security jobs in the area. Training will be provided. Here are more details.

WPSI’s Connect to Success training program, which connects West Philadelphians with the region’s premier employers, is partnering with Allied Barton Security Services and will train and prepare security professionals for work on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus. The next session for the program starts in November. In June, all graduates of this program received job offers from Allied Barton, according to a WPSI press release.

The Connect to Success program offers:

• 5 weeks of training and preferential candidate status with Allied Barton Security Services
• Performance-based stipends awarded for successful classroom performance
• Professional development and work-readiness skill-building
• Financial education and more

If you meet the criteria listed below, you’re welcome to apply for the program:

• Unemployed
• A resident of West Philadelphia – as defined by zip codes 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, 19151
• A high school graduate or possess a GED
• Able to commit to at least 30 hours of weekly training beginning November 10, 2014
• Experienced in security, customer service, military, or hospitality (preferred)

Interested individuals can complete an online application here or download and print the program application (WPSI Application – Fall 2014_pdf) and then mail/fax it to WPSI. Application deadline is Friday, Oct. 24. There will be an information session about the program on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 3730 Walnut Street (Huntsman Hall, Room 240). Please RSVP by calling 1-888-291-5404. For more information about WPSI, visit their website. You can also check out their Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.

We’d like to share some awesome news that came from the Pew organization. A whole bunch of West Philly-based artists, organizations and projects have recently been awarded prestigious and substantial Pew grants.

Here they are:

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative

The University City District (UCD) has been awarded an $180,000 grant from Pew Charitable Trusts for continued support of the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, a program that connects local employers seeking talent to talented West Philadelphians seeking opportunity. The University City District was one of 45 Philadelphia-area organizations to receive money from the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services, the primary vehicle through which The Pew Charitable Trusts supports the efforts of health and social service organizations in the Philadelphia region. The money will allow the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative to continue and improve its service of providing training and employment to low-income individuals in the district.

This is the second grant the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative has received from Pew. The first was awarded in 2011 and helped launch the program.

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage (the Center) recently announced its 2014 grants in support of Philadelphia’s arts and cultural community. They include 12 new Pew Fellowships of $60,000 each, 35 Project Grants in amounts up to $300,000, and two Advancement Grants of $500,000 each, according to Nicole Steinberg, Center Communications Specialist.

Pew Fellow Ted Passon

The Center recognized the accomplishments and work of filmmaker and Emmy-nominated director Ted Passon, who lives in the West Philadelphia area. Passon’s recent documentary films unpack complicated social and political issues, while reflecting the underlying human emotions at play.

Here are also some funded projects in the area:

Liberian Women’s Chorus for Change: Fatu Gayflor, Marie Nyenabo, Zaye Tete, and Tokay Tomah. (Photo by Anna Mulé, courtesy of the Philadelphia Folklore Project)

Philadelphia Folklore Project: Liberian Women’s Chorus for Change

Led by 2014 Pew Fellow Fatu Gayflor, the Liberian Women’s Chorus for Change addresses urgent issues of violence against women in the Liberian community, fostering conversation and generating action through song. The Philadelphia Folklore Project will present the Chorus in local Liberian neighborhoods as well as in concerts at World Café Live and other venues.

Iquail Shaheed: Pushers

Pushers will examine issues of addiction in Shaheed’s neighborhood, the underserved area of Mantua in West Philadelphia. Shaheed will conduct exploratory workshops with youth participants in Mantua, and he will collaborate with outside artists on the script and music for the performances, including playwright and MacArthur Fellow Tarell Alvin McCraney. Shaheed is a first-time Center grantee.

WXPN: Zydeco Crossroads

This yearlong project will examine the evolution of zydeco, a musical form that blends Cajun music, blues, and R&B. Multiple concert performances will showcase celebrated zydeco musicians and explore the genre’s intersections with hip-hop, soul, and rock. Music documentarian Robert Mugge will also create a new film on zydeco, to be screened at a culminating weekend festival in fall 2015.