History
YouthWorks, Inc., as it is known today, began in 1994. The Working Together Consortium conducted a community-wide planning effort to assess the direction of economic development in the region. The study highlighted, among other issues, the need to ensure that youth are prepared for and connected to the jobs of the future. The Consortium then asked Dianna Green and Frederick Thieman to serve as co-chairs of YouthWorks to better link youth to entry-level employment opportunities. The Youth Employment Alliance chairperson, James Allen, was asked to serve as an additional co-chair to bring community-based grassroots participation to YouthWorks.
In 1999, YouthWorks became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and remains a key advocate for at-risk youth in the area of youth workforce development. Since its inception, YouthWorks has helped over 20,000 youth obtain career exploration, training, and employment.
In recent years, YouthWorks has forged strategic partnerships in its efforts to ensure that the career potential of at-risk youth is not overlooked including:
Facilitating a coordinated youth employment system by implementing youth employment activities with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board;
Partnering with CareerLink in the area of job development to enhance a systems approach to connecting youth and employers; and
Collaborating with a host of community-based organizations to enhance career development, employment, and training services for youth.
