'WorkReady Philly' helps young people prepare for workforce

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- Thanks to 'WorkReady Philadelphia' hundreds of young people are now more prepared than ever before to enter the workforce.

A showcase at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Wednesday, was the culmination of a summer's hard work.

Nearly 400 young people presented 93 projects in this year's WorkReady Philadelphia Expo.

"We don't have certain things we need to help our children," said Janiaya Brown.

So Brown and the rest of her team - the Sankofa Freedom Writers - have spent the last six weeks trying to change that.

Their project's specific goal has been looking at ways to mitigate the effects of mass incarceration on families in the Frankford community.

"Going out in the community, researching, collecting data," said 16-year-old Jahbrayah Mathis.

WorkReady prepares youth and young adults for the workforce and is supported by investments from government, local and national philanthropies, and Greater Philadelphia employers.

"One day you'll be in the real world, doing real things and having a job. You have to fulfill the requirements or if not you will be fired," said Brown.

"When we invest in them, they achieve so much more. The goal is really to learn what is expected of our future workforce," said Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend, Philadelphia Youth Network president and CEO.

Each work experience is paid. They carry different time commitments and goals, but the overarching theme is the same.

This year, enough funds were raised to support 7,600 summer work experiences throughout the Philadelphia area.

Everyone chosen to present at the expo all submitted applications and proposals.

Three winners will be chosen in each category by judges from local businesses.

Whatever the results, some say they'll carry the lessons they learned with them to their future careers.

Learn more about WorkReady Philadelphia and how you can apply for next summer: www.workreadyphila.org.