WPSI

This week marks a full year since the COVID-19 lockdown began.  Early on in the quarantine period, UCD began a long-term examination of how the lockdown would impact the labor market in the Philadelphia region.

Starting today, West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) is launching a partnership with Drexel University to 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.

On Wednesday, December 4th, JP Morgan announced details of a $1.5 million grant to UCD to support the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, in collaboration with Temple University and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), as we partner to build a place-based network of employer-driven workforce programs in West, North, and South Philadelphia. Representatives from JP Morgan announced the funds to UCD staff and partners from Temple and PIDC this morning during the opening of a new branch of Chase Bank at 2815 Grays Ferry Avenue. 

We are pleased to share that we recently received a $20,000 grant from the Lincoln Financial Foundation to support the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, our job training program that connects employers seeking talent with West Philadelphians seeking opportunity. Lincoln Financial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Lincoln Financial Group, believes in empowering people to live greater lives, which advances culture and empowers greater positive change.

For the past six years, a unique constellation of enlightened employer partners, committed funders and partners, and dedicated West Philadelphia Skills Initiative staff have joined together to connect hundreds of talented neighborhood residents to work. Along the way, we have helped world-class institutions find the talent they need, supported local jobseekers as they transform their lives, and developed a cutting-edge approach to workforce development.

UCD’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is a constant source of inspiration for us. We love meeting new neighbors at our info sessions; watching participants connect with staff and alumni to hear how the program can transform their careers;  and supporting our participants as they use their new skills to nail a job interview, and better yet, thrive in a new job. And when these accomplishments are recognized by respected partners, we pause to celebrate. 

On June 6th, 2016, Janet Yellen, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Patrick Harker, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, paid a visit to the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative to learn more about the WPSI program. During their visit, Chair Yellen and Mr. Harker learned about the work being done by WPSI to connect unemployed residents of West Philadelphia to the growing job opportunities in the neighborhood. 

Three graduates of the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative program spoke about their experiences and how their lives have changed since completing the program.

On February 28th, Citizens Bank Foundation announced a $50,000 grant for University City District's West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), an innovative job training program that connects West Philadelphia employers to unemployed West Philadelphians. The check presentation was made during a training session for the Drexel College of Medicine Certified Medical Assistant pipeline, a partnership between WPSI and the Drexel University College of Medicine. UCD was honored to be joined at the presentation by John Fry, President of Drexel University; Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware; and Henri Moore, Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs, Citizens Bank.

Each summer for the past 7 years, University City District has worked with high school students in our Summer Jobs Program. This program helps students access professional development, explore career pathways, build their work history, create mentoring connections to workplace professionals, and prepare for post-secondary education. A key learning objective is building awareness of the connection between education and success. For the first time, UCD is focusing on students who graduate in 2014 as a way to support these students in the first phase of their careers.