Chris at UCD's blog

Each year, we at University City District invest in the vitality of our neighborhood. We foster clean, safe, and active streets; we cultivate civic infrastructure and activate dormant public spaces through placemaking efforts; we plan and execute signature local events; and we create an opportunity infrastructure that connects talented Philadelphians to life-altering careers at major employers.

Today, we are excited to share news of two new hires to our University City District staff. Please join us in welcoming Vincent Better, our new Vice President of Strategic Advancement, and Erica Jorden, our new Director of Human Resources. Both positions are new roles at UCD that will further our mission to change places and change lives.

This week, the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) is thrilled to announce the launch of WPSI University, our new program to offer continued workplace education and academic advancement for our graduates, equipping them with the tools and credentials they need to advance in the 21st-century workplace. This new enterprise is supported by a generous $150,000 grant from the Hummingbird Foundation, a New Jersey-based charitable organization.

Clark Park, the 9-acre oasis located between 43rd and 45th Streets and Baltimore and Woodland Avenue in West Philadelphia, is due for a refreshment, and the Friends of Clark Park want your input! The Friends of Clark Park have hired Philadelphia-based landscape architecture firm Studio Bryan Hanes to help develop a 2024 Master Plan for Clark Park’s “B Park,” the portion of Clark Park south of Chester Avenue that contains the bowl, playground, basketball courts, and more.

Fall is a beautiful time to live and work in University City. We are lucky to have a stunning canopy of trees, and watching the leaves turn helps announce the true arrival of autumn to the area. Of course, with changing leaves comes major clean-up duties this time of year. Below, read about upcoming leaf collection options provided by the City.

We are sharing our gratitude in announcing that Citizens Bank has awarded us another $60,000 grant to support our nationally-recognized job training program, the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI). This generous contribution pushes the total support offered by the Citizens Charitable Foundation to the Skills Initiative to over $550,000 since our program's inception.

On Saturday, October 8th, Ryan Spak (pictured right, next to Councilwoman Gauthier) was presented with a Neighborhood Champion Award from the Ethiopian Community Association of Greater Philadelphia during their grand "re-opening" event.

On Wednesday, September 28th, 2022, hundreds of West Philadelphia Skills Initiative alumni, partners, and friends gathered at World Cafe Live to celebrate ten years of our nationally-recognized job training program. The event featured remarks from key partners, awards for notable Skills Initiative alumni, and catching up with friends and former staff. 

We’re pleased to announce that Caitlin Garozzo has been promoted to Executive Director of the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative. Cait is a proven leader who brings a deep commitment to identifying and creating opportunities that promote equity, support growth, and provide meaningful solutions for employers and WPSI participants.

University City District is hiring for two new leadership positions to advance our work of investing in place and investing in people in one of the most economically dynamic communities in the country. We are seeking a Vice-President of Strategic Advancement and a Human Resources Director to join our dynamic team. Read more about each position below, and please share with your networks to help us find top candidates. We are proud to partner with DiverseForce on this search.