PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philly nonprofit JEVS Human Services honored more than 40 mentors this week for giving Philadelphia youth a chance to explore career opportunities all across the city.
More than 7,000 young Philadelphians, ages 12 to 24, were exposed to opportunities this summer through JEVS’ “Career Connected Learning” program. Forty-four providers introduced them to roles in health care, education, government, the arts, nonprofit work, and much more.
“They were really everywhere, whether it was equestrian, Parks and Rec camp counselors, working through Mural Arts, I mean, you name it,” said JEVS CEO Cynthia Figueroa. She said the goal was to create a pathway for youth and connect them to mentors in roles they may have never explored before.
On Tuesday, those providers were celebrated with a lunch at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Center City. One such provider was Beyond the Bars , a nonprofit that works to interrupt cycles of violence through music.