Leadership from the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) City College for Municipal Employment (CCME) recently celebrated the first cohort of graduates from the City’s new upskilling program for Electronic Technicians. This initiative was a partnership presented under Mayor Parker’s City College of Municipal Employment with JEVS Human Services’ Orleans Technical College. The training was designed to empower current entry-level City employees with advanced skills necessary for the evolving electronic industry.
On December 18, 2024, after six months of in person and online training, on-the-job training, lectures, quizzes, and tests, five City employees were granted Certificates of Completion. These employees represented the Airport, Water, and Streets and upon completion of the program are now eligible to apply for promotions within their departments.
The curriculum covered a variety of skills, including the design, installation, troubleshooting, replacement, upgrade, and maintenance of electrical equipment in various settings such as residential, commercial, and public establishments.
Participants also benefited from hands on experience, mentorship, tutoring, career advice, and job placement assistance. They were also provided with necessary tools and equipment, including laptops, to support their learning journey.
The excitement from program graduates was electric on Wednesday. The room was vibrating with gratitude from participants, thankful for the opportunity and eager to start the next chapter in their career. This initiative represents a significant step towards building a future-ready workforce in Philadelphia.
The upskilling programming is a key component of the first ever City College for Municipal Employment (CCME). CCME launched in October 2024 as a partnership with the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) to provide bridges to City employment. It also supports career progression within the City of Philadelphia to advance City employees into higher level jobs along their career path. CCME works with various departments to identify talented City workers who are primed for the next step in their career and identifies appropriate training partners to provide the education and training, as well as on the job experience.
This was the first upskilling graduation with an additional cohort set to complete this Spring. Together we will continue to remove barriers and create opportunities for Philadelphians eager to learn, grow, and advance themselves with a career in public service.
