Philadelphia Youth Network

ATTN ALL: Philadelphia Youth Network is hiring. See below ?? for job posting and spread the word: https://lnkd.in/eu3Q-TMd

?? Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) was thrilled to join the 2024 Opportunity Youth Forum (OYF) Fall 2024 Grantee Convening at the Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS) from October 28-30. This gathering was an incredible opportunity to engage with grantees nationwide, share insights, and strengthen our community of practice! ?? A huge shoutout to Monique Miles, Yelena Nemoy, Steve Patrick at the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions for making this event possible. The experience was full of powerful moments, and a few highlights stood out: ? The opening plenary challenged us to rethink systems and structures, aiming to meet young people’s whole needs while unlocking their potential and purpose. ?? Pamela Cantor MD, Founder and CEO of The Human Potential L.A.B., delivered a powerful session dismantling myths about trauma and Opportunity Youth. Her insights struck a chord and inspired all of us to reframe how we view and support our youth! ?? “Federal Advocacy 101: How to Advocate for Policies and Priorities that Support Opportunity Youth,” led by Mary Ann (Mimi) Haley, was essential for us as we strive to elevate our advocacy efforts. ?? The closing plenary featuring the President of Morris Brown College - Dr. Kevin James, Ed.D., President, Morris Brown College, was a moving exploration of belonging, well-being, and purpose. His transformative work at this historic Black college in Georgia was truly inspiring, showing us the impact of intentional and purposeful leadership. From conversations with Poet Laureate E. Bean to an uplifting mini-convening concert, strategy sessions with Caz Walcott, Arienne (Ari) J., Dr. Marvin Carr and even dinner gatherings—every moment left us energized and ready to take on the work ahead. Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson, Roxolana Golas, and I are deeply grateful for the tools, perspectives, and camaraderie shared. Stay tuned; we’re excited to bring these powerful insights back to our PYN community! ??

For Philadelphia Youth Network - it has been a busy and impactful few weeks! We’re thrilled to launch our next cohort of the Unlocked Potential Program, and even more excited to see youth moving straight into career paths with our amazing partners - Walmart and Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (Caz Walcott, Camieka Woodhouse-Willis, Gabby Clark, Esq. and Dr. Marvin Carr) Huge shoutout to Marina Richards in Human Resources and Wayne Packer, Regional HR Director, for collaboration and assiting - paving the way to success for our youth. Your support is instrumental in helping them climb the career ladder, and we’re proud to partner with such an outstanding operation Walmart (Franklin Mills)! To cap off the week, Philadelphia Youth Network celebrated our 2024 Lights On Afterschool Advocacy Day and Community Leadership Awards at Thomas K. Finletter. It was a night of community, recognition, advocacy, and celebration as we gathered with parents, youth, and key community, educational, and legislative leaders. A special shoutout to our partners Councilmember Anthony Phillips and Cykhira Walton, SDP Office of Student Life (Randi Klein-Davila, Abbey Gunn, Tiffany Chalmus MS, LPC); SDP Office of Procurement, Dr Shakeera Warthen-Canty, Ed. D, Dr. Zeller, and Principal(s) : April Brown, Jennifer Scanlan, Mary Sanchez, Heather Mull Miller, Christina Parfitt, Anna Jenkins, @Nicole Patterson, Bianca Gillis! We were inspired by the youth performances, shared a wonderful meal with families, and highlighted the importance of keeping the lights on in afterschool programs. Together, let’s keep supporting our youth and creating opportunities for them to thrive! ? Thank you to everyone who makes this possible—let’s keep the lights on! ?? Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson, Roxolana Golas, Noah Lattanzi, Michele Miles, Candace Phillips

Huge thank you to everyone who came out to support PYN's first annual Lights on Afterschool celebration! From dancing and games to delicious food, inspiring performances, and special awards, it was definitely a day to remember. Lights On Afterschool is the nationwide movement recognizing the vital role afterschool programs play in the lives of youth and families. These programs keep students safe, inspire learning, and help working families thrive. Here in Philadelphia, we’re proud to light up opportunities for career-connected learning, community building, and lifelong success! ?? A special thank you to our event awardees who lead with vision and dedication to youth in our city: ?? Councilmember Anthony Phillips ???? Dr. Shakeera Warthen-Canty, Assistant Superintendent ?? Jennifer Scanlan, Principal at Fitzpatrick School ?? Kelly Earl, Office of Procurement ???? Abbey Gunn, Office of Student Life ???? Randi Klein-Davila, Office of Student Life ?? April Brown, Principal at Finletter School ???? Dr. Laurena Zeller Thank you for your unwavering commitment to empowering our youth and supporting career-connected learning opportunities. Together, we’re lighting up the path to brighter futures! ??? #LightsOnAfterschool #AfterschoolWorks #YouthEmpowerment #PYN

Our first Saturday Seminar of the year is in the books! Super grateful for Dr. Dariell Dinkins’ leadership and thought partnership! Can’t wait to see what the rest of the Fall has in store for us! Special shoutout to Noah Lattanzi, Michele Miles, and Shirlina Knight for launching a successful start to Philadelphia Youth Network’s WorkReady BOOST Year Round program!

Philadelphia Youth Network is diving into the next phase of our strategic plan with the incredible support of our Board of Directors. Huge shoutout to Board President Tracee Hunt, Board Treasurer Josh Schmidt, and our directors Dr. Whitney A.E. Arjun, Jen Carroll, and Jerry Kosmin. Excited to collaborate with our strategic facilitator, Dr. Cheryl Oakman, and our Executive Leadership Team: Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson, Gloria Miranda, Timothy Rayer, Kiana Edwards and myself as we tackle the important work ahead. Over the weekend, we launched the 2024 fall cohort of Work Ready BOOST with a powerful professional development session for our teens. Kudos to Michele Miles, Dr. Dariell Dinkins, Francis Buggey, Jr., Noah Lattanzi and Shirlina Knight for leading this impactful session. The youth are getting ready for their fall internship experiences, showing great promise and enthusiasm. Stay tuned for more exciting updates on the horizon!!!

Last week, PYN welcomed the fall cohort of PYN's Unlock Potential program in partnership with Walmart and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice. The program - designed to uplift justice involved youth over the age of 18 who are disconnected from job opportunities - kicked off with a professional development session led by PYN staff focusing on pre-application training, resume building, and interview prep. Huge shout out to everyone who came out - stay tuned as this motivated group takes the next step toward building their futures. #UnlockPotential #PYN #YouthCareers #WorkforceDevelopment #PhillyYouth #FutureLeader

Join Us for the Southwest Philly Job Fair! The Urban League of Philadelphia is thrilled to host the Southwest Philly Job Fair! This is a fantastic opportunity for job seekers and employers to connect and explore new career possibilities. ?? What to Expect: ????Full-Time Employment opportunities ????Part-Time Work options ????Internships for students and early-career professionals ????Networking with top employers in various industries ?? Date: November 14th, 2024 ?? Location: 5900 ELMWOOD AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19143 Whether you're seeking new job opportunities or simply looking to expand your professional network, this job fair is your gateway to endless possibilities. Join us and take the next step in your career journey! #JobFair #SouthwestPhilly #CareerOpportunities #Network #Employment #UrbanLeague #Philadelphia

Philadelphia Youth Network has been bustling with activity lately, from spotting double rainbows ?? to engaging in strategic planning. Huge shoutout to the incredible team and partners who have made it all possible! Special thanks to @michael manz for his expertise as our Pediatric CPR/First Aide instructor, The School District of Philadelphia, Office of Student Life, Abbey Gunn, Randi Davila, Pennsylvania Department of Education - 21st CCLC for their unwavering support. Exciting news as we launch the Philadelphia Youth Network Career Connected Learning and Ignite Programs at Adaire, Ziegler, Hunter, Cooke, Finletter, Baldi, Harding, and Fitzpatrick Schools. Shout out to our phenomenal Principals!!!! The future looks bright with many partnerships in the pipeline and a plethora of exciting initiatives on the horizon. We can't wait to see the positive impact on the youth in our community! A big round of applause to the exceptional Dr. Cheryl Oakman, a true icon in youth development, who will be spearheading our strategic planning process. The enthusiasm is palpable, and we are eager for what's to come. Stay tuned for more updates - there's so much more in store! Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson, Alicia Golden, Greg Lynch, April Brown, Nicole Freeman, M.Ed, Christie Parfitt, Heather Mull Miller, Bianca Gillis, Jennifer Scanlan, Mary Sanchez, and Anna Jenkins, @joy coleman, Le-Quyen Vu, Michele Miles, Roxolana Golas, Michele Depoulter, Timothy Rayer, Gloria Miranda, Dr. Dariell Dinkins, David Colpe, Francis Buggey, Jr., Kiana Edwards

What a week! PYN officially kicked off our new Career Connected Learning Afterschool programs at Baldi, Fitzpatrick, Finletter, and Harding schools! ?? Students have been getting to know each other and settling into their new space, and we couldn’t be more excited to see the connections and growth that will follow. A huge shout-out to our amazing partners at the School District and our dedicated PYN staff for making this happen! ?? Together, we’re empowering young people to explore their career paths and build a brighter future. #PYN #Afterschool #OutofSchoolTime #YouthDevelopment #PhillyEducation #21stCenturySkills #PYN