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