Public Health Directions | Winter 2012-2013

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WINTER 2012-2013

Public Health

DIRECTIONS IN THIS ISSUE:

A Message from Richard J. Cohen (2)… New Looks and Locations for the New Year (3)... Promoting Public Health with Public Art (4)... OST Receives Motorola Grant to Create Video Library (5)... Targeted Solutions: Creating Unique Connections Among Nonprofit Websites (6)... Seeing PHMC (7)... CHDB: The State of Good Health in Southeastern Pennsylvania (8)... The Public Health Bracket (10)

Teen Video Shows a Summer of Learning Workforce Skills at PHMC

I

n June 2012, 25 teens gathered in a

which kicked off with orientation in June,

place preparation advice for students, from

small conference room at PHMC’s 260

students received a range of potential posi-

interviewing skills to professional attire.

South Broad Street location to talk

tions. Colbert, who works with 100 Philadel-

“The WorkReady program gave youth the

about their dreams. One spoke of wanting

phia school students every year, selected the

opportunity to see what the workforce is

to travel the world. Another hopes to start

students who worked at PHMC and matched

about, learn 21st-century work skills, meet

his own restaurant. Yet another mentioned

them to their jobs based on interests and tal-

people and be around positive people who

wanting to attend medical school after col-

ents. “A few students needed a second chance,

gave guidance and hope,” says Colbert. “I’m

lege. Over the summer, these teens got

most needed a first chance. But I knew all

positive that everyone learned something.”

the opportunity to jump-start their career

of them would benefit from it,” she recalls.

At the conclusion of the program in ear-

readiness with jobs at PHMC that provided

Through collaboration with Melissa Fox,

ly August, the students presented a video

them with real-world experience.

PHMC’s managing director of health, who

documenting their experience, created

In April 2012, Deborah McMillan,

reached out to senior administrators at

under the guidance of several college stu-

Elaine Colbert and Rachael Kirzner, of

PHMC, 80 percent of the students were placed

dents, also participants in the program,

PHMC’s social services, received funding

at PHMC’s headquarters on South Broad

who assumed leadership roles among

for PHMC from Philadelphia Youth Net-

Street in Philadelphia while the remainder

the teens. It features interviews with the

work to bring the WorkReady program to

worked at its New Pathways Projects,

students and their supervisors. “I’ve seen

PHMC. “Our hope is that the teens can use

HELP

Howard

the youth become more mature, self-con-

this experience as a launch-pad for their

Health Center, Rising Sun Health Center,

fident, outgoing and more comfortable in

goals, careers and futures,” says McMillan.

Metropolitan Career Center and Urban

the workplace setting,” says Colbert. “The

A video the teens created shows that they

Garden project locations. “We created a mi-

video definitely expressed that.”

are well on their way.

crocosm of what working in the real world

Preparation and planning for WorkReady

Philadelphia,

Mary

would be like,” says McMillan.

began in April to ensure that the program

On Fridays, the teens gathered together

would operate smoothly. Through WorkReady,

for workshops that provided helpful work-

Sissy Troy, a WorkReady teen who held a summer position with the PHMC Communication team, contributed to this article.

Click here to watch clips from the WorkReady students’ video. a publication of

PUBLIC HEALTH

management corporation


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