Have you heard of Working Solutions? It’s the Chamber’s workforce development initiative. Last summer, in a push facilitated by the Chamber, the business community provided 1,049 summer internships to young people in Philadelphia through WorkReady, a comprehensive public-private partnership dedicated to building the region’s workforce.
These paid internships were supported by 143 regional businesses, foundations, and non-profit organizations and represented more than a 100% increase in WorkReady’s internship opportunities from 2006, when 441 qualified youth were placed in summer internships, while over 400 qualified youth remained on a waiting list.
Mayor Michael Nutter also endorses summer internships for youth and is advocating for an increase the number available for next summer and beyond. In fact, as a candidate he wrote about it in the Nutter Plan for Economic Development.
“As Mayor, I will double the number of business-funded jobs and internships by the end of my first term, from 1000 this summer to 2000 in four years. This is in addition to the jobs that have been identified through the WorkReady and School District programs. This effort will require a significant effort to coordinate with the region’s business community and identify additional businesses that can offer a summer internship.”
The Chamber plans on helping him reach this goal. We look forward to working closely with the Mayor’s Office on important workforce development issues.
Working Solutions summer internships give skill development and mentorship opportunities to youths that may not otherwise be given a chance. They open students’ eyes to new ideas and aspirations, while helping employers build a dynamic work force.
Jessica Kesler, who interned at Independence Blue Cross last summer and is currently in 11th grade at Parkway Center City High School, put it in her own words.
“[Working Solutions] helps young people get their foot into the door. A lot of young people can’t get into the corporate world or major companies at this time because we are always seen in such a negative light. It really helps us get out there and prove to people that there’s more to us than what you see in the news all the time.”
Click here to find out more about Working Solutions.
Click here to read about the positive experiences both the interns and employers had this past summer.
