PHILADELPHIA – Today, the Streets Department launched its 2023 Future Track Program with the largest cohort of trainees in the history of the program, 200 participants. City Council’s allocation of an additional $5 million as part of the FY24 budget allowed for the substantial hiring. The initiative seeks to engage at-risk young adults who are not enrolled in higher education and are unemployed in a six to twelve-month paid program to perform meaningful public service work.

 “Philadelphia, like many big cities, faces the challenges of unemployment and city cleanliness, which both have significant impact on the city,” said Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. “Philly Future Track is a smart approach to address these challenges by investing in the development and job readiness of Philadelphia’s young adult population. Participants will gain valuable skills to prepare them for future employment while they engage in public service beautifying Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.”

During the first part of the program, all participants will work in teams to clean and remove debris from neighborhood alleys to provide access for Street Lighting crews to repair and replace alley lights as part of the City’s Street Light Improvement Program. This is a critical need for many residents who require assistance with alley cleaning and gaining access to the rear of their homes.

Participants will also receive job readiness training including basic literacy, financial literacy, leadership, and basic communication skills. The program is designed to be a career readiness pipeline, providing participants  education, job-skills training, and real-world work experience to transition into full time employment, attend a higher education institution and enter into a vocational training program/school. Using service as a strategy to build civic and environmental stewardship, Philly Future Track will provide individuals with a paid position involving community service and other life and career building skills.

Participants will work in teams on neighborhood beautification projects with direction from the Streets Department.  Trainees who successfully complete the first part of the program will have an opportunity to apply for and be assigned to a specific occupational track performing either roadway maintenance, traffic investigations, construction inspection support or sanitation code compliance, based on interest and ability.  In this capacity, they learn and perform a specific occupational function which, upon successful completion of the occupational track, may lead to full time, City civil service employment.

“Philly Future Track is designed to create stronger citizens who live, work and serve in their communities,” added Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. “By instilling self-sustainability and civic pride in Philadelphia’s young adults, they will be better prepared to take the next steps towards developing long-term careers, and in turn, improve the city.”

For more information on the Department of Streets, please visit www.phila.gov/streets.