More Than 7,500 Young Philadelphians Prepare For Summer Job Program
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Thousands of young people between the ages of 14 and 21 were getting ready today to begin summer jobs through the partnership known as "Work Ready Philadelphia."
Brenton Oakley, 18, will major in criminal justice at Penn State University in Abington this fall, but he'll be getting a taste for the real world this summer through a six-week paid internship at a center city law firm.
"One of the things I'm very grateful to Work Ready for is putting me in a position where I can get firsthand experience in my choice of career that I want to pursue," Oakley said today.
Work Ready has been arranging jobs for young people, ages 14-21, since 2003.
Stephanie Gambone, VP of the Work Ready's managing partner, Philadelphia Youth Network, says the session that begins in a few days is shaping up to be one of the biggest in a long time.
"We were projecting close to five thousand summer jobs this year," she told KYW Newsradio, "but due to employer investment and other investors -- city government, the mayor's office, the Chamber (of Commerce) -- we're proud to say that we're going to serve over 7,500 people in the summer-only program, beginning July 1st."
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The jobs vary, from service projects and corporate settings to small businesses, recreation centers, and nonprofits.
