(PHILADELPHIA) Thursday, April 27, 2017 – Mayor Jim Kenney and the City of Philadelphia hosted dozens of youths at a kick-off event at City Hall today as part of the annual Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day. Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day, a nationally observed day of mentoring, is coordinated in local government by the City of Philadelphia, the largest employer in the city. At the morning kick-off, students joined Mayor Kenney and teamed up with City workers representing various municipal departments, offices and programs.
“Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day is part of my administration’s mission to provide positive mentoring models for our young people, so they can lead productive lives, and perhaps someday embark in the important field of civil service, as a viable career option,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “By participating, young men and women will think about how to interact as an adult in the workplace, at home and in the community. Through today’s activities and career exploration, students can effectively learn first-hand about the daily operations of public service.”
Mayor Kenney marked the occasion prior by declaring Thursday, April 27 as “Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day” in Philadelphia. In meet-and greet sessions, he told the participating youth that education and experience will lead them to a successful career path. The Mayor posed for photos with the youngers and their mentors who represented various city functions.
The Mayor-hosted kickoff was a warm City Hall welcome before the youngsters visited the government work places with their adult mentors to experience the inner workings of a typical work day first-hand.
City Representative Sheila Hess, Rasheia R. Johnson, City Treasurer; Joanna Otero-Cruz, Deputy Managing Director of Community Services; Tiffany Thurman, Chief of Staff, Parks & Recreation, participated in an educational networking session with the children who asked questions about the mentors’ careers
Said City Representative Hess, whose department organized the event: “Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work is a career stepping stone for the city’s future bankers, lawyers, government officials and other professionals. I am impressed by the young participants for their motivation and interest in career development. Maybe today they will kindle an interest in government work. I also salute our City employees and adult mentors who continue to participate by investing their time and tremendous talent to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the kids, ages 8 to 18.”
Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work (TODASTW) kick-off promoted mentoring and workplace experience in City government. Youth had an opportunity to participate in the work environment by shadowing employees for the day. In addition to picture-taking with the Mayor, new components included: City Official Meet-and-Greet Sessions (Network with Mayor’s cabinet members and City of Philadelphia officials); a Visual Arts Station for arts and crafts activities; a Selfie Station with City-related props and visuals; a Raffle Station (a quiz session focusing on City government) and a Grab and Go activity offering free literature about City events.
Official City photos will be available for free download on flickr.com.
The national theme for Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day 2016 is Count On Me,” referring to the vast support system for mentoring opportunities. The event is designed to be an introduction and catalyst for career development. Officials from the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Foundation hope that the students’ workplace experiences will be so inspirational. Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work assists kids discover the power and possibilities connected to a balanced work and family life.
National organizers from the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Foundation said they are impressed with the City of Philadelphia’s annual participation and commitment.
In 2015, President Obama announced an initiative to expand participation in Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day to young people who normally aren’t able to participate in this event. This included foster youth who are at high risk of dropping out of school, children of unemployed parents or those with parents who are not permitted to take their children to work. President Obama praised the City of Philadelphia’s leading efforts. The City of Philadelphia has participated in recent years in the White House’s initiative by welcoming foster youths from three City-affiliated foster programs.
Annually, more than 3.5 million America workplaces open their doors to over 39 million employees and their children on this special day. The popularity of the initiative including a direct request from President Obama inspired a partnership between the national TODASTW foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America New is a year-round mentoring curriculum and an expansion to foster children and other youths who have no parents or other adult role models. Business creatively, science, money management are a few of the life skills taught in this enhanced program.
Established in 1993, Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day provides enriching, educational experiences for children, ages 8 to 18, through a career day filled with mentoring. Under the national direction of the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Foundation, based in North Carolina, the successful event originally focused on female students and was later expanded to include boys. Locally, through a partnership with United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and others, the City of Philadelphia established the event locally more than a decade ago. Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day is one of the many youth-development and mentoring projects in which the City participates.
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