The Skills Initiative

Last Friday, May 1st, Skills Initiative staff and alumni met up for a night of bowling, networking, and fun. The outing was a great opportunity for everyone to reconnect over some friendly competition. 🎳

This week, participants in our CNA program in partnership with Penn Medicine enjoyed a 3 day-tour visiting HUP, Presbyterian, and Pennsylvania Hospital. They were able to hear from HR, Nursing Leadership, and established CNAs. We finished each day with professional development session focusing on workplace personalities (DiSC), Growth Mindset, and Customer Service.

Deadline extended!

We are offering applicants a few more days to apply to join our partnership with and Hanwha Philly Shipyard! If you or someone you know has welding experience or certification, this is a great opportunity to level up your career!

Apply using the link in our bio by the new deadline of Tuesday, March 24th at 5 PM.

Now recruiting from all Philadelphia ZIP codes 🚨

The Skills Initiative is partnering with Navy Yard Philadelphia and Hanwha Philly Shipyard to recruit Philadelphia residents with welding experience for a Welder B training program. This opportunity prepares participants for careers in shipbuilding with one of the Navy Yard’s leading employers.

Participants will:
-Receive professional development and career coaching
-Complete classroom instruction on ship orientation and shop math
-Gain hands-on welding training through a 14-week cohort-based program
-Have the opportunity to interview for Welder B positions

Applicants must be Philadelphia residents with a welding certification or at least three years of welding experience.

📅 Apply by Thursday, March 20 at 5 PM – bit.ly/46KpSZ6
💻 Watch the info session - https://bit.ly/4s75FoT

We recently celebrated graduates who completed their training for roles at Iovance through our partnership with the Navy Yard

After months of intensive biology coursework and hands-on experience, these graduates crossed the finish line equipped with the technical skills, professional confidence, and industry knowledge needed to step into critical roles within Philadelphia’s growing life sciences sector, plus college credit thanks to a partnership with Thomas Jefferson University.

Since 2020, The Skills Initiative at the Navy Yard has run 17 cohorts and has helped more than 160 Philadelphians launch new careers through paid, employer-aligned training in high-demand industries.

Learn more >
https://navyyard.org/blog/navy-yard-skills-initiative-graduates-complete-21-week-training-program-with-jefferson-and-iovance/

Watch a full recording of this morning's Virtual Office Hours!

Skills Initiative Penn Medicine Partnership Information Session, January 2026 In this information session, staff from The Skills Initiative shared more information and details about our partnership with Penn Medicine for three roles: A...

🚨 The Skills Initiative is recruiting citywide for three healthcare roles with Penn Medicine 🏥

We've changed a few things about this recruitment to offer more opportunities to more people. Here's what to expect:

🧠 One employer, three roles
📄 Apply to up to two positions, ranked by preference
📌 Applicants not placed in this cohort may be considered for future healthcare roles

Got questions? We got you:

💭 Check our page for the FAQ
💻 Join our Virtual Office Hours on Jan 22 > www.tinyurl.com/jan22info
🎥 Watch pre-recorded info videos for each position on our page/website!

Learn everything you need to know here > https://philadelphiaskills.org/jobs/

We’re grateful to the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia for recognizing The Skills Initiative in their recent article. We’re proud to be part of a regional effort focused on quality jobs and stronger collaboration across Philadelphia!

Read the full article here > https://lnkd.in/eVMcufcS

Moments like this are why we do the work!

We’re proud to support Philadelphians as they build skills, confidence, and pathways to meaningful careers. Congratulations to Kalishia and all of our graduates stepping into what’s next.

Congrats grads! 🎓✨

On Friday, December 12, we celebrated the graduation of our latest cohort trained for careers as Aseptic Manufacturing Technicians through a partnership between The Skills Initiative, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, and The Navy Yard.

Over 21 weeks, participants completed professional development, hands-on technical training through the Jefferson Biotechnology Program, and on-the-job experience with Iovance, building real skills for real jobs.

This milestone also marks our first partnership with Thomas Jefferson University and the first time graduates earned college credit through the program, opening doors for continued education alongside career growth.

We’re proud of this cohort and excited to share what’s next as they step into new roles and opportunities!