Students show their hard work at Philly’s WorkReady Expo

More than 500 of Philadelphia’s career-minded youth showcased the fruit of their summer jobs and internships Monday at the WorkReady Summer Expo.

Projects ranged from community outreach models to preservation and environmental projects. A group of students who worked over the summer with a restaurant even served up healthy food to expo judges.

This year’s theme — “Working to Improve Our Communities” — was meant to inspire students to work toward making the city of Philadelphia a better place. 

WorkReady, the city’s workforce preparation system for high-school aged students, places students in summer programs meant to prepare them for the working world. In collaboration with more than 900 job sites, WorkReady places students in one of three types of programs: internships, work experience, or service learning.

At the expo’s conclusion, students won awards for their projects in different categories, presented by alumni of the program, who are college students or professionals working in their fields.