The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) hosted the CCME Workforce Summit last week at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP).  The event was a full day dedicated to helping more Philadelphians start strong careers in City government. City leaders, HR Managers, and partners came to learn from one another and ideate about ways to continue creating and growing opportunities for residents. 

The day began with a warm welcome from Chief Administrative Officer Camille Duchaussee and opening remarks from Dr. Alycia Marshall of the Community College of Philadelphia. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker shared a powerful keynote message about why this work matters. She reminded us that when we invest in our workforce, we invest in Philadelphia’s future. 

Throughout the morning, CCME Executive Director Carol de Fries and Deputy Director Gianna Grossmann walked attendees through CCME’s strategic plan and the programs helping residents and employees build new skills. These include Bridges to City Employment, high school Power Skills programs, the City 101 training, and upskilling opportunities for current staff. 

A panel of City leaders talked about their own hiring needs and how CCME is a capacity-building resource for departments across government. During lunch, we heard from City employees that have participated in CCME or other on-the-job training, they shared how training, support, and mentorship helped them grow in their careers. 

In the afternoon, guests from across the country—including CareerWise USA, Opportunity@Work, and the City of Charlotte—shared national perspectives on municipal workforce programs. Departments then joined small groups to brainstorm how they can grow their own pipelines and support CCME participants. 

The CCME Workforce Summit showed what is possible when City leaders are aligned in their vision and have dedicated time to listen, learn, and innovate. The message was clear: by opening doors to careers in public service, we can build a stronger, more inclusive Philadelphia for all.