Job Resource & Development Center

Preparing Students for Work and Life

At Martin Luther King High School (MLKHS) in Northwest Philadelphia, caring adults are introducing students to the world of work—motivating them to finish school and preparing them for the responsibilities of adult life. These are the primary goals of Foundations’ Job Resource and Development Center (JRDC).

Since its inception in 2004, the JRDC has trained more than 1,300 students, placed more than 700 in part-time jobs at family restaurants, daycare centers, retail establishments, nonprofit agencies, and government offices, and helped dozens of MLKHS graduates acquire full-time positions with career potential.

The JRDC helps students explore career options, write resumes, practice for interviews, and develop an essential balance of work and life skills.

Participating students demonstrate improved daily school attendance, lower dropout rates, and fewer disciplinary problems. They are also more likely to finish school and pursue higher education.

The Job Resource and Development Center is funded by The William Penn Foundation and The Patricia Kind Family Foundation, and is supported by numerous regional business partners. Foundations continues to improve and expand this novel program while encouraging more students to participate.