The Allegheny Conference on Community Development is a private sector leadership organization with over 300 Regional Investors. Regional Investors – all heads of our region’s employers – provide civic leadership to execute a focused agenda for regional improvement.  For More information please visit: www.alleghenyconference.org or e-mail Will Bernstein at: wbernstein@alleghenyconference.org.

BotsIQ began as simply about entertainment with the airing of BattleBots on cable TV. Homemade, remote-controlled robots squaring off in competition made for great television and a fan-base that grew with each season. BotsIQ was born out of avid young fans interested in getting in on the action. The BotIQ program utilizes a Robotics Curriculum based on the National Curriculum Standards and Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) mechanical engineering methodology; Teacher Training; and a National Competition where students showcase their custom built robots, competing for top honors. Seven years after its conception, the “smart sport” is sweeping the nation. Students love BotsIQ because it makes education fun— drawing on their knowledge of math, science, engineering and even public speaking. Educators love BotsIQ because of the enthusiasm it sparks in their students and the resources it provides to their classroom. But, it’s the manufacturing industry that is standing firmly behind this new sport because young people who are interested in how things are made are the future of the high tech manufacturing workforce.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of WPA has nine sites throughout Allegheny County that inspire 8,000 youth ages 5-18 to reach their full potential through after-school programs. The programs include sports and fitness, the arts, health and life skills, character and leadership, education and careers, and summer programs. The organization is strongly supported by Pittsburgh sports teams and local community members.  For more information please visit, www.bgcwpa.org or e-mail Dr. Terri Henderson at t_henderson@bgcwpa.org.

The Bridge of Pittsburgh is a center designed for youth who are or have been in the Children, Youth & Families (CYF) system. The goal of the Bridge is to assist young people to gain the skills and resources they need to live as independent adults. Additionally, members can take advantage of our basic education classes, GED preparation, job search assistance, SAT preparation and daily workshops. This center offers membership privileges. The concept of membership promotes camaraderie and a sense of ownership among the center’s users. For more information please visit: www.thebridgeofpittsburgh.com or call 412-325-0951.

Career Dynamics is a program of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit that empowers young people and provides for them the expertise to live, work and play in their communities as productive and contributing citizens.  The Career Dynamics Program assists students and educators in developing career opportunities and in making the school to work connection.  Special programs that address career education in schools include special workshops for the Educator-in-the-Workplace, apprenticeships preparation, job shadowing etiquette, career mentoring, career fairs for middle school and high school, and the Culminating Activities Project.  To facilitate the success of these programs, resources are developed for developmental career competencies as well as supportive services that include ongoing assessment and evaluation, career planning, and business and community connections.  For more information please visit, www.aiu3.net/Level3.aspx?id=240 or e-mail Dan Paul at daniel.paul@aiu3.net.

Established in June of 1995, The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania is one of 31 affiliates of the National Mentoring Partnership. Our mission is to expand the community’s capacity to support quality-mentoring relationships for youth. For More information please visit www.mentoringpittsburgh.org or e-mail Colleen Fedor at: cfedor@mentoringpittsburgh.org.

The Pittsburgh Regional Compact is an employer-driven initiative collaboratively sponsored by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, business
leaders, educators, and workforce development organizations across the 10-county Pittsburgh region. The Compact connects employers and educators to provide real-world career education that builds the workforce and builds careers. For more information please visit: www.pittsburghregionalcompact.org/ or e-mail Will Bernstein at: wbernstein@alleghenyconference.org.

Duquesne University and Point Park University host chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA, the premier public relations student organization in the world.  Continuing the mission of PRSSA's parent organization, The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), PRSSA strives to provide students with access to professional development opportunities and develop well qualified professionals to pave the way for the profession.  PRSSA conducts 12 Regional Activities across the country each year to educate it's members and the student PR community through speakers, workshops and networking opportunities.  The organization's Pittsburgh Event, "From Steel to Shine: PR Careers for Your Future" works to specifically provide information about specific paths of the PR including agency, corporate, non-profit, healthcare and sports.   Speakers will consist of local PR pros including Ann Hohn, VP of Communications for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southwestern PA & Southern WV, and Burt Lauten, PR Manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  For more information please visit: www.duquesne-prssaregionalactivity.webs.com or e-mail Lauren Winkelman at: duqprssa@gmail.com.

Smart Futures’ mission is to make career education a part of every Pennsylvania classroom. For more information please visit: www.smartfutures.org or contact Jennifer Lundy at: jlundy@smartfutures.org.

Urban Youth Action, Inc. is a youth education and development program. UYA emphasizes the importance of education, employment readiness, and community service. Through a series of educational sessions, internship placements (work experience), and enrichment activities appropriate to the student's progression through the program, UYA provides job search and job readiness preparation, provides tutoring free to students during the school year and provides SAT test preparation classes for a nominal fee.  For more information please visit www.urbanyouthaction.org or e-mail Urban Youth Action at info@urbanyouthaction.org.

YouthLINK is a collaboration of South Pittsburgh service providers and the CareerLink system. We are working to help young people (ages 14-24) access education, employment and career opportunities. More specifically we are helping youth look for jobs, fill out applications, write a resume and look at their education and career options for the future. YouthLINK is funded by the Pittsburgh Partnership. For more information visit www.youthlinkpittsburgh.com or call 412-390-2441.

YouthWorks, Inc. is a key advocate in the Greater Pittsburgh region for the employment and training needs of low-income, at-risk youth. Since it’s founding in 1994, YouthWorks has served over 20,000 youth and serves 1,200 youth each year, providing them with critical career building experiences such as employment, job readiness training, job shadowing, career development workshops, and job tours.  YouthWorks also funds community based organizations to hire youth and provides training and professional development for youth serving agencies. For more information please visit www.youthworks.org.