The Paschalville Partnership
The Paschalville Partnership works with the Free Library as a hub for job seekers by bringing together a broad array of community and city partners in support of Southwest Philadelphia residents. Since 2014, we have been hard at work implementing a common agenda in support of job seekers.
Assistance for Job Seekers
The Partnership supports Southwest Philadelphia residents in their job searches. Free, one-on-one assistance is available to job seekers at two Job Readiness Labs (JRLs) located at Paschalville Library and Southwest CDC. JRL services include free computer and internet access as well as one-on-one assistance for creating résumés, setting up email and other online accounts, conducting internet searches, and applying for jobs online.
Community Events
The Partnership also hosts community events, including job fairs in the spring and fall, Employment Boot Camps, and community open houses. For upcoming events, visit Paschalville Library's page or Paschalville's Facebook page.
Adult Education
The Partnership is breaking down employment barriers for Southwest Philadelphia residents. Adults—both native and non-native English speakers—who need English-language instruction; require help with reading, math, and language skills; or want to obtain their High School Equivalency can now enroll in the myPLACESM system at Paschalville Library or Southwest CDC. For more information, contact Paschalville Library at 215-685-2662 or Southwest CDC at 215-729-0800, or visit the myPLACESM website.
Skills Training and Support Services
The Partnership works with PACareerLink® to connect job seekers with opportunities for upgrading skills and other support services for career advancement. A community workforce navigator visits Paschalville Library and Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library in Southwest Philadelphia each month to educate residents on these opportunities. Contact either Paschalville Library at 215-685-2662 or Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library at 215-685-1973 for more information on these community workshops.
About the Partnership
The Paschalville Partnership is a collaboration of community-based organizations and city agencies and organizations spearheaded by the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Partnership operates in the service area of Paschalville Library, which is located in Southwest Philadelphia at 70th and Woodland Avenue, and has developed a common agenda following the principles of collective impact. The program is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. You can learn more about our IMLS-funded work in the following post we wrote for their blog, "Community Catalyst: The Paschalville Partnership: A Local Library Leads Organizations in Assisting Job Seekers".
To learn more about the Partnership, view the following publications and program materials:
- State of the Community Report: 2017, 2018, 2019
- Our original common agenda from 2014
- Our program logic model
Partners
The Free Library is pleased to recognize, with grateful appreciation, the following organizations that are members of the Partnership:
Community-Based Organizations
City Agencies and Organizations
Collective Impact
Are you a library or library-led system that wants to learn more about collective impact? The Paschalville Partnership is pleased to share this "toolbox" of library-led collective impact and neighborhood-based collaboration, drawing from our experience.
Job Readiness Lab Team
Job Readiness Lab
Blog Posts
The Paschalville Partnership’s Community Catalyst Initiative Transforms Library Services for Southwest Philadelphia Residents and Job Seekers
Everyone has gifts, everyone has something to contribute, and everyone cares about something that motivates them to act. These are the foundational principles underlying asset-based community development (ABCD), a positive-minded approach for… continue reading
By Annette M. September 11, 2019 1
PA CareerLink at the Free Library
PA CareerLink® has been partnering with our neighborhood libraries over the past several months in bringing their services closer to our patrons. One of our primary goals is connecting jobseekers to reliable resources, and this has made a… continue reading
By Michelle Z. August 6, 2019 3
The Paschalville Partnership: Catalyzing a Community-Led Future
Did you know that nearly a third of library users visit the Free Library of Philadelphia to look for a new job or learn new skills? This revealing finding was reported in the Free Library’s December 2017 Impact Evaluation Report . We… continue reading
By Annette M. October 3, 2018
Library Card Signup Month | You Can Get WHAT at the Free Library?
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month , and while we all know that a library card grants you instant access to a treasure trove of books, DVDs, and audiobooks from our catalog , we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of… continue reading
By Kate C. September 10, 2018 3