Create Opportunity for Youth in 2008

Invest in our region’s future workforce by helping to provide paid internships for Philadelphia youth this summer.

The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce is encouraging regional employers to offer summer internships to Philadelphia young people through its workforce development campaign, Working Solutions. Commerce Bank is the corporate sponsor of Working Solutions.

Employers that cannot offer an internship position at their workplace can still be a part of Working Solutions by making a financial contribution to sponsor paid summer internships at non-profit organizations. And you can designate one or more non-profit organizations to receive your internship commitment.

Launched in 2007, Working Solutions connects local youth development agencies with the business community. Last summer, the Chamber’s efforts helped identify 1,049 internships. These paid internships were supported by 143 regional businesses, foundations, and non-profit organizations and represented more than double the positions available in 2006. This year, Mayor Nutter has asked us to increase our goal to 2,000.

"It is incumbent upon each of us as stakeholders in the future of this city and region to identify new ways to create opportunity, especially for our youth, said Mark Schweiker, President & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. "Working in alliance with our region’s employers and elected officials, we will provide meaningful jobs for youth and make a positive difference."

Internships provide students with important work skills, connect them with the business community and encourage them to establish personal and professional goals.

Each position costs the employer about $1,600, which includes intern salary and program administration. Internships extend six weeks during July and August. Interns work at least 20 hours per week Monday through Thursday and attend professional development programs offsite on Fridays. Internships are open to Philadelphia students who will enter 11th grade or higher in the fall. All students are pre-screened and pre-qualified.

Last summer, several large employers hired 25 to 50 interns while smaller organizations hired one or two.

In addition to summer internships, Working Solutions includes support for a proposed Pennsylvania tax credit for businesses that provide internships and/or participating Business Mentoring Youth, a workplace program for Philadelphia 10th graders.

Join us. For more information, click here, call 215-790-3732 or email tquay@greaterphilachamber.com.

Click here to read about the positive experiences both the interns and employers had this past summer.

Summer internships are coordinated by WorkReady Philadelphia, a broad based partnership that is dedicated to building the region’s future workforce. WorkReady is managed by the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) in collaboration with dozens of organizations including three employer recruitment partners: Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Philadelphia Academies, Inc.; and United Way of Southeastern PA. Commerce Bank is the corporate sponsor for Working Solutions.