State Sen. Shirley Kitchen this week invited the public to attend an upcoming Career and Health Fair, offering attendees opportunities to speak with employers and participate in free health screenings and workshops.
The Career and Health Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday at Salvation Army/PAL, 2601 N. 11th St.
“Whether you are interested in career options, health education or both, this fair offers a wealth of information and opportunities,” Kitchen said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources that will be available to you that day.”
Representatives from area employers will be on hand to speak with attendees about careers.
“I invite everyone who is having trouble finding a job or interested in a new career to bring your resumé to this beneficial event, which is also ex-offender friendly,” Kitchen said.
Attendees can also take part in free screenings for blood pressure and diabetes, workshops on asthma management, obesity education, stress tests and more.
A special prostate cancer workshop for men will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. that day. Gift bags and refreshments will be available for workshop attendees. Pre-registration for this workshop is required, and can be done by calling (215) 955-3817.
Prior to the Career and Health Fair, residents can also participate in a resume workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Salvation Army/PAL.
Kitchen and the Shared Prosperity Initiative present the Career and Health Fair.
The Shared Prosperity Initiative (SPI) is a project of the Village of Arts and Humanities, a neighborhood revitalization program that has transformed a 260-square block area of North Philadelphia, and is a major provider of arts-inspired programs including education, land transformation, construction, and economic development.
Through various programs, SPI aims to weld grassroots revitalization efforts of many community groups in the north central Philadelphia area into a unified force.
LIHEAP extends application dates
State Sen. LeAnna Washington announced this week that larger crisis grants and an extended application deadline for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will assist more low-income families in need of home heating assistance.
“I am pleased to announce this increase and deadline extension for LIHEAP,” Washington said. “This program – critical to so many low-income Pennsylvania families – will help these individuals cope with the financial burden of rising home heating costs.”
Washington said that crisis grants will be increased to $400 and the program extended to March 30. LIHEAP recipients who have already received $300 in crisis benefits can now apply for an additional $100 if they experience another home heating emergency.
LIHEAP helps low-income households pay for a variety of home heating fuel services and furnace repairs during the winter months.
Cash grants are designed to help families pay their home heating bills and are based on household income, family size, fuel type and heating region.
Crisis grants are approved for families with heating emergencies, such as mechanical breakdowns or unexpected fuel shortages. Philadelphia residents should contact the Department of Licenses and Inspections at (215) 686-2590 to apply for crisis grants.
Rendell touts $1.2M for youth programs
Gov. Ed Rendell this week said Pennsylvania citizens would benefit from nearly $1.2 million in grants for programs that reduce youth crime and promote greater accountability in the juvenile justice system.
“These grants play an important role in protecting our communities while also helping young offenders turn their lives around,” he said. “They allow counties and communities to develop and sustain programs that hold young offenders accountable for their crimes while also giving them opportunities to change their behavior and repair the harm they have caused.”
Thirty-one counties and one borough will share the federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grants that were approved today by the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The grant amounts are based on a formula that examines local law enforcement expenditures and arrest data.
The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program was created to encourage state and local governments to hold delinquent youths responsible for their crimes through accountability-based sanctions.
For example, funds can be used to hire prosecutors, juvenile court judges, juvenile probation officers and public defenders; to provide training to law enforcement and court officers regarding ways to prevent and reduce youth crime; to build or expand juvenile detention centers; to establish youth gun or drug courts or provide substance abuse treatment; to enhance school safety; and to share vital information regarding youths who repeated commit serious crimes.
All programs must include collaborative relationships among police, juvenile court judges, probation officers, educators, juvenile agency officials, youth service providers, social service agencies and community leaders. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Justice.
–Tribune Staff Report |