Learn & Earn 2020 - A Year Unlike Any Other

Despite a year’s worth of pre-planning, in March of 2020 as COVID-19 began to reshape the lives of individuals and families across the globe, the Learn & Earn team quickly pivoted and reimagined the reality of the program. By guiding providers and worksites into utilizing virtual or in-person/virtual hybrid models, the team was able to implement safe and impactful opportunities that kept the program on-track and in the lives of hundreds of 14-21 year-olds.

This summer, jobs were offered to every Learn & Earn student who was eligible for the program.

Nearly 1,700 youth accepted employment offers and participated in an array of incredible projects. Thanks to this program, hundreds of local young people were able to earn $1,100 each this summer. The corporate-side of the Learn & Earn program equally saw success as it offered opportunities for nearly 50 youth to engage with organizations like PJ Dick, UPMC, Presbyterian Senior Care, and local government entities. This class was by all accounts a banner group of young people, who impressed their supervisors with their constant professionalism, interest in making a difference, and drive to complete tasks.

An example of this can be found in Minnie Jones, one exceptional PJ Dick intern, who masterfully hosted the virtual Learn & Earn Closing Celebration Event with County Executive Fitzgerald and Mayor Peduto. In addition to the County Executive and Mayor, the community at large rallied around the young people: county and city staff members and Partner4Work assisted with outreach, the philanthropic community stepped up to provide some additional funds to give 400 youth a computer of their own and build additional capacity, and the 25 providers brought creativity and ingenuity to their program planning.