Economic Inclusion

Penn’s Economic Inclusion initiatives provide education and employment opportunities for local individuals and businesses. Through Penn’s commitment to engage locally, Human Resources has maintained partnerships with the surrounding communities to help support this effort.

Here are some of the partnerships that help Penn with its economic inclusion initiatives:

University City District
University City District is a partnership of world-renowned anchor institutions, small businesses and residents that creates opportunity, and improves economic vitality and quality of life in the University City area of West Philadelphia.

West Philadelphia Skills Initiative
West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) is a training program that connects West Philadelphia employers with their graduates seeking employment opportunities. In this program, participants can get the following:

  • Cutting-edge job connection strategies resulting in 93% of WPSI graduates finding employment.
  • A generous stipend while in training at WPSI.
  • On-the-job training at the University of Pennsylvania, earning $15/hour.
  • An accelerated connection to a career you love and the life you want!

Netter Center for Community Partnerships
Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships improves the internal coordination and collaboration of all university-wide community service programs, develops partnerships between the University and the community, and creates and strengthens local, national and international networks of institutions of higher education.

Elected Officials, Chambers of Commerce and Special Interest Groups

Our partnership with West and Southwest Philadelphia elected officials, Chambers of Commerce and Special Interest Groups is evident through our participation in round table discussions about current and future workforces, job readiness seminars, resume critique, mock employment interviews and attendance at career opportunity expos. Our partnerships have been the catalyst for job placements through AppleOne Employment Services.

West and Southwest Elected Officials
Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
State Senator Vincent Hughes

Chambers of Commerce
Asian Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
African American Chamber of Commerce
LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Special Interest Groups
PA CareerLink West Philadelphia
Southwest Community Development Corporation
JEVS Human Services
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Sierra Group