MCI gives $350K to U. job ctr.

The job-skills center is housed at University City High School. When Florence Johnson came to University City High School as an assistant principal 1 1/2 years ago, one of her first tasks was to clear out room 101, a huge classroom on the building's first floor. Yesterday, about 30 officials gathered in the same, now-clean room for the presentation of a $350,000 check from a division of telecommunications giant MCI WorldCom Inc. to the site's current occupant -- Penn's Skills Development Center. The center was created 10 months ago to train West Philadelphia residents in areas including customer service, retail skills and computer applications, and it currently houses about 24 personal computers. It will use the money -- described by Johnson, now the principal, as "big bucks" -- for training and operation expenses, instructors and more equipment. "We really feel grateful for the gift MCI has presented to us," said Ronald Story, the center's director, before introducing Penn Executive Vice President John Fry and two MCI officials who also spoke before the presentation of the check. Officials from MCI Systemhouse, the computer-services unit of MCI WorldCom, said they hope that the certified public safety call-takers and dispatchers that the center trains will work at the Penn Police dispatch center that MCI is now running. Twenty-four community members are now attending the center's first four-month-long training session, which is being held weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several professors from the Community College of Philadelphia and Penn are teaching the local residents. The center's two staff members also help with the course material. For example, Story gives talks to the residents on effectiveness and motivation. MCI will also have a full-time instructor at the center and will supply course material for those residents interested in becoming call-takers and dispatchers. Fry said the center is a good example of the University's involvement in the community, citing Penn's programs to improve the safety and cleanliness of University City. Although Fry said the stores in the University's Sansom Common complex will also provide job opportunities for these residents, he noted that the skills they are learning are not for any one specific entry-level job. Lawrence Consalvos, MCI's managing director for business development and international public safety, said that the "skills program will create nationally certified and recognized individuals." College senior Jennifer Malkin, who has been working to help start the center since her freshman year, said the training is welcome in the area. "There is definitely a need for this type of program," Malkin said. The idea for the skills center originated in the Center for Community Partnerships, according to Malkin, who said Penn Associate Vice President and Center Director Ira Harkavy played a key role.