TMJF celebrates its 10th anniversary year by launching an innovative e-learning platform, providing youth with free access to a unique career readiness program
This afternoon, two-time Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Jenkins delivered a virtual keynote address to 13,500 graduating seniors of the School District of Philadelphia Class of 2020. The message was one on perseverance and adaptability. "Taking the easy way out is a choice. But I hope you hear me loud and clear, you will decide your future. You are valued. I know some of you are scared. This is an unprecedented time in our society with the pandemic and all the rituals you were looking forward to being taken away like getting together today for this ceremony. But I want you to know that the world is ever-changing, both good and bad. And you get to decide the life you want to have and the difference you can make in our community," Jenkins said. For full virtual graduation visit: https://www.philasd.org/2020grad/
The virtual event featured appearances from Philadelphia stars such as Eagles hall of famer Brian Dawkins, Black Thought from The Roots, musician Jill Scott, and rapper Freeway . The ceremony also include an original performance by a graduating senior, remarks by students and Mayor Jim Kenney, a video collage and more.
Following Jenkins’ keynote, Gwendolyn V. Jenkins President and CEO of The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation, announced the launch of Power Pathway Academy, surprising the graduates with the news that all of them would receive access to TMJF’s innovative digital empowerment program.
Power Pathway Academy is a groundbreaking digital career readiness program designed to engage youth ages 13-24 on their mobile devices with culturally relevant micro-learning experiences. Through swipeable, visual storytelling content, Power Pathway Academy aims to connect youth with career pathway opportunities, and the digital “power” skills, and soft “mind” skills required in a highly digital 21st century workforce. “Power Pathway Academy highlights the career journeys of powerful, under-represented role models to create awareness for the wide variety of career pathways available to both college-bound and non-college bound students, including filmmaking, design, digital marketing, coding, advertising, music, fashion design and much more.”
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, schools were struggling to adequately equip students with the technical knowledge and employability skills required for working in a competitive and highly digital workforce. COVID-19 has increased this need for digital career readiness programming, with students losing months of in-person instruction and guidance from school counselors. This disruption, coupled with unprecedented unemployment rates, has made Power Pathway Academy an important resource for our youth, whether they are college-bound or going directly into the workforce.
TMJF is launching Power Pathway Academy in partnership with Comcast, Microsoft, Facebook Elevate, Insomnia Cookies, DiverseForce, Damari Savile and ListenUp Media. Partner companies will feature stories of their own diverse role models, as a way to create awareness for their company’s many career pathway opportunities.
For more information, to get involved, or to register your student, visit www.powerpathway.academy
