Day: April 2, 2015

Announces first annual KEYSPOT Online Teen Summer Job Fair to run during Spring BreakrnrnPhiladelphia, April 1, 2015 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Fun Safe Philly Summer hosted the second annual Teen Summer Job & Opportunities Fair at Temple University. The fair offered paid and volunteer summer opportunities to youth aged 16 to 24. More than 300 students from schools across the city were invited to attend the fair, where they students attended a job and interview skills workshop and met with more than 30 employers and organizations offering job positions, volunteer opportunities, and related resources.rnrnIn addition to the event at Temple, Mayor Nutter kicked off the first annual KEYSPOT Online Teen Summer Job & Opportunities Fair, which runs from April 1st thru April 4th, for youth who were unable to attend the in-person Fair at Temple. Job and internship seekers can connect to the online job fair through KEYSPOTs (free computing centers throughout the city) or from a personal computer to access summer job applications and preparedness tools. The online fair can be accessed at www.funsafephillysummer.com/jobs.rnrn“Summer jobs are a valuable building block to a successful career, placing young people on the path to success,” said Mayor Nutter. “Both the in-person and online Teen Summer Job & Opportunities Fair provide young people with access to summer jobs that will teach them responsibility, financial skills, and soft job skills that you can’t learn in the classroom. Ensuring Philadelphia’s young people have access to these formative opportunities has been a goal of my Administration, and I encourage young people throughout the city to take advantage of the tools available to them.”rnrnCompanies and organizations from sectors as diverse as arts and culture, food service and grocery, retail, recreation, and hospitality participated in the job fair at Temple. As a sponsor of the event, Wawa provided free lunches to all participants. Dave Filano, Manager of Talent Acquisition at Wawa said, “We are thrilled to partner for a second year with the City of Philadelphia to sponsor the Teen Summer Job & Opportunities Fair. Providing young people with early opportunities to thrive and grow in the workplace sets them on a road to success, which is good for our economy and our company.” In addition to Wawa’s donation, ticket vouchers for an upcoming baseball game were provided to all students by the Philadelphia Phillies.rnrnKenneth E. Lawrence, Jr., Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations at Temple University, said, “Temple University is delighted to welcome the Teen Summer Job & Opportunities Fair to campus providing Philadelphia’s youth with the chance to apply for meaningful summer employment through a variety of employers and institutions. As an educational leader in Philadelphia, we understand the importance of summer workplace experiences for our students and encourage all youth to work or volunteer during the summer months.”rnrnMaia Jachimowicz, Director of Policy for the City of Philadelphia, added, “The Teen Summer Job & Opportunities Fair is a great reminder that summer is just around the corner. Fun Safe Philly Summer connects youth and families to free and low-cost programs and activities, summer employment and information regarding free summer meals. Connect with us @PhillySummer to learn more about fun and healthy opportunities across the city.”rnrnFor more information on summer youth programming options and for a full list of program start dates and times, call 3-1-1 or log on to www.funsafephillysummer.com. Follow Fun Safe Philly Summer on Twitter @PhillySummer or on Tumblr at www.funsafephillysummer.tumblr.com.rnrn###rnrnAbout Fun Safe Philly SummerrnrnFun Safe Philly Summer is an initiative of the Office of Mayor Michael A. Nutter that provides Philadelphia’s youth with resources and opportunities for staying active and engaged all summer long. To get information on free and low-cost programs and activities, youth employment, and the free summer meals program, visit www.funsafephillysumer.com or follow Fun Safe Philly Summer on Twitter @PhillySummer

Mayor Michael A. Nutter Launches Celebration with Official Proclamation at City HallrnrnPhiladelphia, April 1, 2015 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Chief Cultural Officer Helen Haynes and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) lead the City of Philadelphia in the 5th annual celebration of Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month at an event in City Hall.rnrnMayor Nutter continued the tradition of proclaiming April as Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month by honoring a Philadelphia jazz legend. Jazz icon McCoy Tyner, a West Philadelphia native, will be honored this year. Past honorees are legendary jazz musicians Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Charlie Rice, and the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia.rnrn“Philadelphia is home to a rich jazz legacy,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Since 2011, we have set aside April to observe National Jazz Appreciation Month in Philadelphia and recognize this city’s place in jazz history. This year, I am pleased to honor McCoy Tyner – one of the jazz greats who have called this city home – to kick off a month-long celebration showcasing the sheer volume and outstanding caliber of jazz artists in Philadelphia.”rnrnJazz Appreciation Month will feature the launch of an outdoor promotional campaign based on the theme “Jazz Lives in Philadelphia,” highlighting notable Philadelphia jazz artists. With its rich jazz history, the City of Brotherly Love will celebrate with live performances, art exhibitions, discussion panels, and films showcasing the power of jazz in different shapes and forms. Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month reflects on the jazz heritage of the city, along with the vibrant jazz scene that persists to this day.rnrn“Philadelphia is one of the most important jazz legacy cities in the world,” said Helen Haynes. “We have produced some of the most iconic figures in jazz history and still do. From the seminal influence of John Coltrane to the avant-garde work of Sun Ra to the soul jazz of Jimmy Smith and Grover Washington, we cover the spectrum of styles in the jazz lexicon. Jazz is America’s unique art form, which has influenced music globally. We celebrate this great legacy during Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month.”rnrnThe OACCE has partnered with more than 20 arts and culture organizations to promote more than 40 jazz events throughout the city during the month of April. Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month partners include the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, Opera Philadelphia, Center City Jazz Festival, and Ars Nova Workshop.rnrnHighlights of the events include the Philadelphia Clef Club’s 20th anniversary celebration, with performances by the Kenny Garrett Quintet and Jazz & Performing Arts Film Series, the 4th Annual Center City Jazz Festival, featuring 16 bands performing at four Center City venues over six hours on April 25th, and a rare duo performance of jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea at the Academy of Music on April 11th.rnrnIn addition to supporting the Philadelphia jazz community; Jazz Appreciation Month also raises public awareness of the significant contributions jazz has made to Philadelphia’s arts and culture sector, and to the entire city.rnrnFor the full schedule and latest news about Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month, visit: www.CreativePHL.org/jazz, Facebook.com/CreativePHL and on Twitter @CreativePHL and follow #PhillyJazzMonth.rnrnPhiladelphia Jazz Appreciation Month PlaylistsrnrnPhiladelphia Jazz Appreciation Month playlists, featuring the favorite jazz works of noted Philadelphians, including Mayor Michael Nutter, from the world of arts, politics, and food will be released during the month on CreativePHL.org and Creative Philadelphia’s social media profiles: Facebook.com/CreativePHLand on Twitter @CreativePHL.rnrn2015 Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month Honoree – McCoy TynerrnrnMcCoy Tyner was born in the city of Philadelphia in 1938, growing up during the fertile jazz and R&B scene of the early 1950s. At 17, he began a career-changing relationship with Philadelphian John Coltrane, then sideman saxophonist with Miles Davis. Tyner joined Coltrane for the classic album My Favorite Things (1960), and remained at the core of The John Coltrane Quartet, one of the most influential groups in jazz history. He performed on Coltrane’s classic recordings such as Live at the Village Vanguard, Impressions and Coltrane’s signature suite, A Love Supreme.rnrnAfter leaving the Coltrane Quartet, Tyner would go on to release nearly 80 albums under his name. His 1972 Grammy-nominated album Sahara, broke new ground incorporating the sounds and rhythms of Africa. His blues-based piano style – sophisticated chords and explosively percussive left hand – is one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music. He has continually expanded his vision of the musical landscape and incorporated new elements, whether from distant continents or diverse musical influences. This incredibly talented musician and disarmingly modest man has earned four Grammys, has been honored as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts and continues to be a strong influence on generations of improvisers.rnrnCreative Philadelphia — Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative EconomyrnrnThe mission of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is to support and promote arts, culture and the creative industries; and to develop partnerships and coordinate efforts that weave arts, culture and creativity into the economic and social fabric of the City. For more information on the OACCE, visit: www.creativephl.org, www.facebook.com/creativephl and on Twitter @creativephl.