College Possible Philadelphia has launched a new workforce development partnership with Saxbys, a Certified Benefit Corporation, hospitality and coffee company headquartered in Philadelphia. Saxbys and College Possible Philadelphia staff held a signing event on Thursday, June 3, at Saxbys’ Drexel University location to kick off the partnership.
During the 2021-22 school year, both organizations will combine college success coaching, workforce training as well as job placement to College Possible enrolled students, in support of 10% of Saxbys’ open positions at cafes run via The Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform at or near college campuses served by College Possible.
College Possible, a college access and success nonprofit that supports more than 900 students from low-income backgrounds in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties as they complete their college degrees, will work with Saxbys to recruit students this summer, with training and employment beginning fall 2021. The cohort of first- and second-year college students recruited to work at Saxbys’ exclusively student-run Experiential Learning cafes will also learn skills to help them transition to their post-college careers through virtual professional development provided by College Possible Philadelphia and Saxbys’ staff.
“Like Saxbys, College Possible Philadelphia is committed to impacting the community through education and opportunity. Both organizations share a commitment to support first-generation college students who are working toward their four-year college degrees,” says College Possible Philadelphia Executive Director Dia Williams Adams. “Our model has found that dedicated, near-peer coaches and mentors are key factors for college success. This partnership provides students with guidance in both academics and business that will advance their future plans and goals.”
As I’ve experienced both in my own journey as a first-generation college student as well as supporting many others through our work at Saxbys, getting a person to college is not enough — it is the development of life skills and degree attainment that ultimately change young people’s lives. Therefore, we are honored to partner with College Possible to provide life-changing opportunities to underserved students,” says Saxbys’ CEO Nick Bayer.
College Possible program staff will also provide training to Saxbys’ staff interested in learning more about working with young people from first-generation and low-income backgrounds. College Possible Philadelphia continues to produce exceptional results with 82% of students from the Class of 2020 enrolling in college and 80% of students from the Class of 2019 persisting to their sophomore year of college.
“By formalizing this partnership, College Possible Philadelphia and Saxbys are strengthening their commitment to support young people as they work toward their college degrees,” says Williams Adams.
