YouthWorks
YouthWorks promotes academic achievement, career success, and productive citizenship for Philadelphia and Chester in-school youth ages 14 to 21.
Students participate in one of two modules: Year Round or Summer Only, each offering a series of workshops, activities, internships and work assignments to enrich academic achievement, life skill development, career exploration, and job skill development.
Upon enrollment, each student completes an assessment to determine their current knowledge and skills in each of three major learning areas; academic support, college and career preparation, and workforce skill development. Working with AmeriCorps members, each develops an individualized learning plan identifying specific personal goals, areas for development, and benchmarks to establish progress.
Components of the YouthWorks program include:
- Homework help and tutoring
- Career-specific service projects, job shadowing, and work site visits
- Post-secondary education and career options research
- Career and life skills building- resume writing, time management, budgeting, and personal relationships
- Paid "junior counselor" positions in EW summer camps or other paid summer employment
Throughout the modules, students complete a portfolio to track their progress and document their accomplishments. The portfolio reflects the range of students’ activities and includes items such as journals, career research, lesson plans, and work or service project materials. The portfolios are reviewed by principals and teachers to award academic credit for outstanding work and identify students to participate in an annual city-wide exhibition sponsored by the Philadelphia Youth Network.
David Trevaskis, President of the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies and the Pro Bono Coordinator of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, noted that "these young people were inspiring in their creativity and hope as they tackled wide ranging problems in our community."
