Jonathan Jacobs’ Post

The reason I focus so much on these internships and opportunities, they are more than just “jobs”. They lead to careers that change lives by not just providing financial security and upward mobility, but they also help them mature, and lasting relationships. I often am doing this work on my own, as this isn’t considered a major focus, unfortunately, as it should be! We need Career Developers in our schools, and also folks who help out recent graduates obtain employment. Just as we have counselors helping students do applications, essays, and financial aid for college, we need folks working with employers, understanding their needs, and working with students directly doing resumes, interview practice, connecting them with dress clothes, and then matching to employers. Even more, we need to have folks helping the employers creating projects and opportunities during the school year. This young man graduated from Mastbaum HS Electrical Program a few years ago, went into the US Marines, and then was accepted to PECo via their Helpers program where he is now an Aerial Linesman. If your organization would like to build your workforce, consider working with your local CTE High School.. start mentoring early, and I promise you will have the most talented and loyal workforce. I have plenty of great young people at Mastbaum, West Philly, and Parkway West! Inquire within!

Dannyelle Austin is #hiring. Know anyone who might be interested? Great organization and mission!

Shoutout to all of PECO and Keith Henderson for supporting our students! This year, Mastbaum CTE HS and Parkway West HS both have several students employed there this summer, and having an amazing experience! Even prouder, they met an amazing Mastbaum graduate Izamarie Camacho, who was an electrical student, and now a Temple grad and works in the PR Department (she was always one my favorites). Mastbaum and West Philly also have several students the last few years who are now electricians and linesman at PECO as well, making high wages! Izamarie was also a intern in her summer years in High School as well!

I get asked a lot why I focus to create internships so much. I have even been told “it’s just a part time job. When internships are meaningful and thought out, they are much more. Internships allow students to apply school based knowledge into the real world, and connect the dots between school and work. It also allows for kids to learn the soft skills and work ethic, along with simply “how to work”. Lastly, and to me the MOST important, is allowing kids to develop their adult networks and interactions. This young man is only in day 3 of his internship, and he’s already sharing with his mentor some concerns (I’ve known this same kid for 2 years, and I wasn’t aware). Think of how powerful it is, for a young person to be at work learning, and have an adult helping address the personal concerns of our young people while also helping them succeed in the workforce. The relationship built, that’s why.. it’s a game changer for all involved. The young person gains a caring adult and earns new skills and money, and ideally, the company gets some fresh ideas and inspiration from the young person, and builds their future workforce! As other adults see and interact with our students, it also allows them to see the talent we have in our public schools. If anyone would be interested in sponsoring a student this school year, and helping them obtain dress and professional clothes, please let me know. I’d love to make the connection!! The difference it makes is game changing. Last year the awesome Jeff George took a young man for a suit before a job interview, and now that young man is working making 30 an hour. Rickey Duncan SR. and his organization NOMO took a young lady from my school to Macys, and got her an entire professional wardrobe, and she wore her amazing outfits to interviews with companies everywhere. Now she’s in the carpenters union l, and made an impression on a major company named Turner Construction. More of this!! Thank you Keith Henderson for your dedication to our cities youth! You’re the absolute hero to so many breaking the poverty cycle, and wish we had more of you everywhere!

Love waking up and seeing what out amazing CTE Philly kids do in the summer. For those who say there’s nothing for kids to do, please know, my schools alone have over 100 students that I track in paid internships, doing everything from construction to accounting, to customer service, to government affairs, from early childhood education, to animal science. This young man not only is working at PECO, but also working at a lifeguard, he passed all the tests last week. Did you know your kids can also get FREE swim lessons and certifications, and work for the city as a lifeguard? We have so many amazing opportunities for youth in this city, please take advantage. The systems to access them need to be simplified for sure, and I hope they will.. but know our cities youth are out here doing some outstanding work, and building mentors and adult networks to build a successful future. Thank you Keith Henderson for the mentorship and career opportunities your provide our students with PECO!

When people ask what Philly High School students do in the summer.. they get PAID internships at companies such as Elliot Lewis, who manages the building maintenance at all major buildings in Philly! This is day three, and Carpentry Senior Dronaka is on the roof of the convention center looking at HVAC and electrical units that maybe in need of repair! She is one of 8 interns at various locations with Elliot Lewis this summer, and one of 82 Mastbaum CTE High School students with paid internships everywhere from Elliot Lewis, PECO, PGW, Drexel, Jefferson Hospital, Temple University Hospital, Fork Restaurant, Fleet Management/City of Philadelphia, Childrens Hospital, Bank of America, City Council, Fox Chase Farm, KenCres Early Childhood Center, Parks and Recreations, City of Phila Law Offices, and several other small business across the city. I couldn’t be prouder of them. Not to mention to the Parkway West CTE Early Childhood Education students are at KenCrest building their CDA hours, and the CTE West Philly Computer. Networking youth are working with the District IT repairing broken technology to assure all students have access next school year. When folks talk about what kids do in the summer.. remember this. There are many positive, amazing, and talented young people working hard to build a better future for themselves, their families, and their city. We need more business to step up and provide the chance and be the mentors the kids need. Opportunities (and Mastbaum) build the future! When students can apply their in school learning to real world experiences, their confidence goes up, graduation rates go up, and poverty cycle goes down. If you’re looking to hire and build Your workforce with skilled talent, let me know!

Today was graduation day at my first school, Mastbaum CTE High School.. let me share some successes from this year.. and know there are three brand new paid pre apprenticeships coming to us next year to expand the career paths! This graduating class, we had: 10 graduates with full time employment in several companies, including the Elliot Lewis, Philly Airport, PGW, and various US Navy contractors as welders building our submarine forces, with wages 18-24 hour, union, pension and retirement. That’s just starting.. thank you Mary Rose P. Chevelle E. Harrison, MBA,CCA Trish Conti Sherri Weatherley 10 have summer paid internships with companies such as Bank of America, PECO, PGW, St. Christopher’s Hospital, and UPENN Hospital. 1 young lady has her real estate license and heading off to college. Thank you Jeff George for connecting her with the mentorship! 1 young man from business CTE continues his employment with Marriott Hotels, who he met at our career fair, and impressed them so much, they created a job for him while in high school! 3 are waiting for their successful applications to the carpenters union, including our top carpenter, a female! 4 students will continue their school year internships at Temple Hospital into full time jobs at Temple Hospital with 23 an hour, and tuition reimbursement! 1 student is hired as a bilingual medical translator at a local doctors office. 2 are using their culinary CTE and ServeSafe Manager and Food Handler to manage a local restaurant 10 are working at Jefferson University AND attending college as Esperanza for nursing. Others are attending schools such as CCP, Morgan State, HOFSTRA, Temple University, Cheyney.. This is just ONE school in the city.. I’d say we ended up with a pretty successful group. Whenever the negativity of the cities youth comes up, or how poorly the public schools here are doing, remember the successes at Mastbaum CTE High School in Philly, located in the heart of the heroin epidemic in Philly. Our students are champions.

There two young men graduated from Mastbaum CTE HS welding program last year. Before graduation, both young men had career employment as welders, working with Naval Defense contractors building submarine components. Their salaries are very high, recieve union benefits, a pension, and a career with advancement. This is their one year anniversary in their careers! Recently in Philly, a local millionaire threw 300 million to create scholarships for public school youth to attend private K-12 schools. I have a better option. If you happen to be a billionaire with access to large companies, use that money to create career opportunities, partnerships, and mentorship with schools. Provide the connections to youth showing how academics relate to the opportunities your company provides. Work with teachers to create projects and cross curricular activities relevant to your companies real work tasks that students can solve, and you can evaluate. Create job training and internship opportunities that lead directly to employment opportunities. Surrounding the youth with positive adult role models, and showing them the skills needed to succeed both academically and professionally, you will be increasing graduation rates and eliminating the poverty cycle. These pipelines and partnerships can be internal, and don’t require you to hand over money to non profits and other “workforce” partners who will pay salaries and consultants with little money going to the students they serve. You are also infusing low income neighborhoods with money as well, as the internship wages you provide, will be spend within the neighborhoods they reside. If you happen to be a billionaire, or just a company owner seeking to better your cities workforce talent, and are interested in creating internships, a pipeline to meet your needs, or a real world project you can mentor kids through, let me know!

I wasn’t at Mastbaum CTE High School in Philadelphia to get a picture.. but.. today, THREE of our seniors graduating from Mastbaum CTE High School Electrical program were officially hired after graduation at Electricians for the city at PHL Airport! Not only will they graduate with a career using the skills learned in CTE, they are also getting free college at CCP Center for Advanced Manufacturing. Not to brag on the electrical program.. but between PHL Airport and Elliot Lewis, 100 percent of electrical graduates have careers out the door, with benefits, pension, and above living wage! This is what CTE is about, being college and career ready, and for life after high school. Come to mastbaum for the training, and leave with the money.. Thank you to Chevelle E. Harrison, MBA,CCA for your advocacy and passion to utilize our cities talent and create these direct pathways to success! I’m charged up by your passion and mission to ensure the talented youth are exposed and given opportunities! Thank you for going above and beyond, not just for these kids, but my Former students at the water department! You are changing lives and breaking the poverty cycle! We all greatly appreciate you!

Another day, another senior hired for skill and work ethic from Mastbaum CTE High School Welding! Another senior hired, before they are out the door from school. This is the starting salary while he is in training, and as soon as he passes their welding certifications, salary jumps up again. We also had two students interview at PGW today, and next week 3 of our electrical trades students are interviewing at the PHL airport! Another reason Mastbaum CTE High School is being called the Money school.. CTE builds the future! David Lon