PHILADELPHIA YOUTH NETWORK INC

PHILADELPHIA YOUTH NETWORK (PYN) EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD LIFELONG SKILLS, PURSUE MEANINGFUL CAREERS, AND EMBRACE CHANGE WITH CONFIDENCE SO THEY CAN THRIVE IN THE WORKFORCE, EXPERIENCE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES. PYN ADVANCES OUR MISSION THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMMING THAT MOVES YOUNG PEOPLE FROM CAREER AWARENESS TO CAREER LAUNCH AND ADVANCEMENT. OUR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) PROGRAMS PROVIDE TRADITIONAL OR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMING FOR OVER 300 MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS IN SEVEN PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PROGRAMMING INVOLVES ACADEMIC SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH) AND SPORTS. ALL PROGRAMS INCLUDE A CAREER EXPLORATION COMPONENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO VARIOUS CAREERS, MEET GUESTS WHO WORK IN VARIOUS FIELDS, AND LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED IN THOSE CAREERS. OUR WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS CONNECT OVER 400 PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH TO INTERNSHIPS OR OTHER WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE CAREERS HANDS-ON. YOUTH ARE MATCHED TO CAREERS BASED ON THEIR ASSESSED INTERESTS AND SKILLS. INTERNSHIPS VARY IN LENGTH OF TIME AND TOTAL HOURS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND. YOUTH ARE SUPPORTED BY COACHES WHO GUIDE THEM THROUGH IDENTIFYING THEIR INTERESTS, PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS, AND NAVIGATING THE WORK ENVIRONMENT. YOUTH EARN A HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT FOR COMPLETION OF THEIR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES. OUR CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAMS PROVIDE HOLISTIC PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, CAREER COACHING, AND CREDENTIALING OPPORTUNITIES TO SECURE FULL-TIME, BENEFIT-BEARING JOBS TO 40 YOUNG ADULTS, AGED 18-24 WHO HOLD A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR RECOGNIZED EQUIVALENT, WHO ARE LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME, AND WHO MAY EXPERIENCE OTHER COMPOUNDING CHALLENGES. CASE MANAGERS COLLABORATE WITH PARTICIPANTS TO CREATE INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICE PLANS BASED ON NUMERACY AND LITERACY SKILLS, WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION ASPIRATIONS AND APTITUDES, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE NEEDS, ALONGSIDE PARTICIPANTS' PERSONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND OCCUPATIONAL GOALS. PROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE JOB READINESS, SKILL-BUILDING, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS; LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES; CAREER EXPLORATION AND JOB SEARCH SERVICES; TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT TO SMOOTH PATHWAYS INTO FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING, OR WORK EXPERIENCES; AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR SUPPORT AFTER PROGRAM COMPLETION. OUR SYSTEMS BUILDING WORK FOCUSES ON CREATING SUSTAINABLE COLLABORATION ACROSS EMPLOYERS, EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH. THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE INFRASTRUCTURE, ALIGN PARTNERS TOWARD COLLECTIVE IMPACT, AND SUPPORT EMPLOYERS IN HIRING, RETAINING, AND ADVANCING YOUNG TALENT.