If you were to ask most people what they thought the three words "diversity, equity, and inclusion" meant, they'd probably say "business jargon." And that's a shame. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are so much more than just buzzwords. They're about how we treat people who are different from us—and how we can all do better.

I’m proud to say that at Philadelphia Works, DEI is more than just business jargon. We DO the heavy lifting of threading diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work, both internally at our organization and externally for the system we serve.

Internally, one of our organizational core values is “People-first.” In alignment, leadership listened to staff and implemented real, sustainable change, forming a staff-led DEI council. With the help of PhilaWorks’ DEI consultant Shawn Mott, the group implemented DEI workshops for all staff to facilitate a culture of respect and transparency.

Externally, we continue to collaborate with organizations like the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia on initiatives like Recharge & Recover PHL that acknowledge that Black and brown communities and businesses suffered disproportionately from the pandemic when compared to the rest of the region. We also ensure that our investments in the region are accessible and equitable, helping residents reach their full potential.

We will continue our DEI commitment and prioritize historically marginalized groups of people in the communities that we serve and for the people who we work with. Last year, I promised this work would continue. Today, I renew that promise.

Yours in service,

H. Patrick Clancy 

This episode features a conversation with Shawn Mott, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant for Philadelphia Works. Shawn reveals the efforts that Philadelphia Works has made to keep the focus on DEI on a year-round basis. You'll also learn what organizations can do to center diversity, equity, and inclusion, and make it an integral part of their workplace culture. Discover how to measure progress when it comes to DEI and how to create a work environment where everyone feels valued and included.

Listen to the Episode Here

"Equity at work is about justice, fairness and living up to the values of our nation. In 1963, when the Equal Pay Act became law in the United States, women working full-time, year-round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. Today, that gap has shrunk, and women make 84 cents on the dollar. That’s progress, but it’s not enough.

The wage gap for many women of color is much larger. We know that Black women, for example, lose around $3.9 billion dollars each year due to wages lost while on leave. Families where women are the primary breadwinners are disproportionately impacted when women’s work is undervalued. And there are so many benefits to eliminating wage gaps: Equity means greater equality in opportunities, more widespread protection against economic shocks, and a more inclusive, resilient economy generally." - Alaysia Hackett

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Each year approximately 2,000 businesses use our no-cost services to find high-quality talent. The PA CareerLink® System (funded and managed by Philadelphia Works, Inc. — the City’s Workforce Development Board) has resources for your business to hire, train, and retrain a skilled workforce in Philadelphia.

Get Started Here

WorkReady offers summer and school-year experiences for youth to prepare for careers through opportunities for awareness, skill building, and paid work experience. As we continue to build our future talent pipeline, it's crucial that we support early career preparation to put our region's young talent on the right track for a successful career.

Businesses of any size and industry can participate. Each year, Philadelphia Works participates in the program by hiring a young person, providing them with access to meaningful paid work experiences that promote self-efficacy and build the transferable skills required for young talent to secure and sustain employment.



Learn How to Invest in Young People

Women in nontraditional careers often earn more than women who have earned a four-year degree, graduating without debt and earning more over their lifetime. Let’s keep earning. The Women in Nontraditional Careers (WINC) Project is a Philadelphia regional collaboration to support, increase and advance the participation of women in construction, manufacturing, and transit careers.

Help Someone Find Their Path

The Laurie Moran Partnership Award is given jointly to a workforce development board and local or regional chamber(s) of commerce that have formed a significant partnership to advance the workforce and economic development of their local region. It honors a board and their local or regional chamber(s) that built the bridge that Laurie built in her community and together fostered significant, concrete impacts in the community.

Philadelphia Works is the winner of the Laurie Moran Partnership Award for its work with the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia on projects like the Life Sciences Talent Collaborative, which has trained and placed new talent with dozens of employers in Philadelphia’s thriving life sciences industry

Learn About Other Honorees Here

We are proud to announce the promotion of Patricia Blumenauer to Chief Operating Officer of Philadelphia Works.

For 20 years, Patricia Blumenauer has been working closely with city stakeholders to grow the number of quality programs and initiatives available to Philadelphia residents that facilitate their advancement and help them reach their full potential.

Learn more about Patricia's impressive work and accomplishments here

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