The Mayor's Internship Program and the Office of Human Resources in Philadelphia introduced the municipal workforce this past summer through an initiative called "Spotlight on City Workers." The program featured a series of profiles highlighting the work of nearly a dozen public servants involved in the city's operations, according to the City of Philadelphia.
Under the guidance of undergraduate Anfisa Blyumina and recent Lincoln University graduate Kai Moore, the project provided an in-depth look at various city departments. Moore, who worked with the Office of Human Resources, noted the value of the project, stating, “Although my time with OHR was short, I’m leaving here with tons of information about several departments within the city. This project helped me gain insight into some of the less known departments that contribute to the larger picture, the wellbeing of our city and its residents,” Moore told the City of Philadelphia.
One segment of the series spotlighted the Kensington Wellness Support Center, managed by the Office of Public Safety. Joelle Anderson, Operations Manager for the Police Assisted Diversion (PAD) Unit, discussed their mission to offer real-time resources to individuals in need, including those dealing with substance abuse or recently released from incarceration.
At City Hall, the series highlighted Tu Huynh, Curator of Exhibitions and Programs, who oversees the current exhibition, Portraits of Pride and Resilience. Huynh, a city employee since 2003, represents public service through the arts: “Every work of art in it says, ‘I’m here, in the most important civic building in the entire city, and I want to be heard,’” Huynh conveyed to the City of Philadelphia.
The Philly Stat 360 team featured Andoni Barrica, Business Analyst, and Jenna Lobasso, Data Visualization Specialist, who work to improve data transparency for residents. Lobasso, key in creating the website that hosts Philly Stat 360 data, shared thoughts on their mission: “I wanted to use my technical skills to make a difference in the city, and that’s exactly what Philly Stat aims to do,” Lobasso shared with the City of Philadelphia.
In West Philadelphia's Haddington neighborhood, the Neighborhood and Community Action Center 4 demonstrates the impact of local government. Rennie Parker, the center’s manager, and Yolanda Lancaster, a community organizer, discussed the core of their work. Lancaster put it simply: “Whatever I have to do on the back end is nothing compared to the smiles and thanks you get after they receive the services they came in for,” as she mentioned in the City of Philadelphia feature.
Interested individuals are encouraged to visit work.phila.gov to explore these opportunities and join the city's municipal workforce.
