Allegheny County Students Learn & Earn with Help from AT&T

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 2, 2017) — Workplace learning is critical for success in any career.  For youth, having a job is not only an important step toward adulthood, it is a key component of a successful future. That’s why Partner4Work (formerly Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board) again this year administered the Learn & Earn summer youth employment initiative on behalf of County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto.

Learn & Earn is a six-week summer job program for teens and young adults ages 14-21 in the Pittsburgh region. Participants have the opportunity to earn money, gain valuable work experience, and develop soft skills to help them become college and career ready. Learn & Earn is made possible through a partnership between Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, and Partner4Work with support from local foundations and AT&T.

Work experiences include planting urban gardens, organizing summer camp activities, producing documentaries, conducting research, performing office work, and much more. More than 350 businesses and nonprofits hosted youth workers this summer in fields such as education, health care, and technology.

Since its start in 2015, Learn & Earn has connected nearly 4,000 young people with jobs at more than 400 work sites across Allegheny County and returned more than $3 million in wages to the local economy, according to Stefani Pashman, chief executive officer of Partner4Work.

 This summer’s program was featured during a roundtable discussion today at CCAC’s Homewood-Brushton Campus, where state and local leaders, educators, and business leaders, including Jim Penna from AT&T, met with students to discuss what they’ve learned and share perspectives on what’s necessary to succeed in today’s work place.

 "We're nearing the end of another successful year of Learn and Earn in Allegheny County and are grateful for the partnerships with organizations like AT&T and Partner4Work that have allowed us to provide opportunities to teens and young adults in this region," said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. "Not only has that support put paychecks in the hands of these young men and women, but it has also provided basic skills that they can build upon to plan for their own futures."

“We are tremendously grateful for the continued support of AT&T,” Pashman added. “With their support, we’re able to help build the talent pipeline of tomorrow and set young people on the path to a bright future.”

During the event, Penna highlighted a $40,000 contribution from AT&T to Partner4Work to support this year’s program. 

“At AT&T, we talk about the power of ‘and’. This summer, young people in the Pittsburgh are learning more about what it takes to succeed on the job AND earning money along the way. This program is a great way to give young people valuable, hands on experiences. We’re excited to team up with County Executive Fitzgerald, Mayor Peduto and the team at Partner4Work again this year,” Penna said.

Including this year, AT&T has contributed $130,000 to support the Learn & Earn program since 2015. This contribution is part of AT&T Aspire, AT&T’s signature philanthropic initiative to drive student success in school and beyond.

It’s also another example of AT&T’s support of programs to help young people in the Pittsburgh area.

With support from AT&T, All Star Code was able to expand in Pittsburgh this year.  This summer students from the following schools in Allegheny County are taking 6 weeks of rigorous computer science study, learning skills that will position them for acceptance to college and ultimately for careers in the tech industry: Allderdice; Barack Obama Academy of International Studies; Brashear; Central Catholic; Imani Christian Academy; Kiski Prep; Penn Hills; Science and Technology High School; Serra Catholic; Steel Valley; Westinghouse; and Woodland Hills.

About Partner4Work

Partner4Work is the workforce development organization that connects funding, expertise, and opportunities to develop a thriving workforce in the Pittsburgh region.   We partner with businesses to source and train the talent needed to grow the region’s economy. We partner with job seekers to break down barriers and open doors to opportunity for careers in growing industries. And we partner with agencies to make an impact in communities, to reach people where they are and set them on the path for a promising future. We partner for information; we partner for impact; we partner for innovation; we partner for inspiration.  We Partner4Work! 

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T 

AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. The company’s signature philanthropic initiative, AT&T Aspire, drives innovation in education to promote student success in school and beyond. With a financial commitment of $400 million since 2008, AT&T is leveraging technology, relationships, and social innovation to help all students make their biggest dreams a reality.

Media Contacts: 

Jen Pajewski, Partner4Work, jpajewski@partner4work.org, 412-552-7090

Brandy Bell-Truskey, AT&T Media Relations, Bb932y@att.com, 610-322-3461