The North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative (NPWI) has named Shirley Moy as its first executive director.
Moy, who assumed her new role July 1, has headed Temple University’s Center for Social Policy and Community Development since 2009.
NPWI, funded in phases by a grant from the Lenfest Foundation, received its first payment of $512,000 in July. It will provide resources beneficial to the people living in the areas surrounding Temple’s Main Campus and Health Sciences Center.
The first phase will identify existing opportunities and programs and ensure they are accessible and collaborative. NPWI will also support the city’s workforce development strategies.
The first six months will be used to determine where the gaps and challenges are, Moy said.
“In this community, we have people who have this spectrum of skill sets, from those who have very advanced degrees to those who are still working toward their high school equivalency,” Moy said. “My vision is providing opportunities for folks along the spectrum of their abilities, plus the spectrum of their desired abilities. So it’s not about keeping them where they are, but if they’re aspiring to advance or acquire additional skills, to help them get those skill sets and get those opportunities they’re seeking through whatever resources the university can offer.”