Vice President brings extensive experience and vast network to support PYN
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) today announced Christian Holland has been named Vice President of Programs, effective September 5. He joins PYN’s President and CEO Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson and PYN’S VP of Finance Jessica Kennedy as part of the organization’s Leadership Team.
Holland has been named Vice President of Programs. As VP of Programs, Holland is responsible for the service delivery strategy, program implementation and compliance for all PYN Programs. This includes ensuring all youth are connected to high quality services by developing program models, facilitating procurement models and support. He will lead PYN’s signature program, the WorkReady initiative, and ensure all participants have a meaningful and valuable experience each summer.
Holland most recently served as Senior Director of Out of School Time and Youth Programming at Episcopal Community Services. In this role, he provided strategic oversight and expansion for multiple sites and contracts, which provide quality educational extended learning opportunities for youth and families. Holland has also served as Director and Behavioral Specialist for Afterschool/OST programs with Temple University and other renowned nationwide youth programs such as Education Sports Fun Camps held at Girard College, Moorestown, Lawrenceville, NJ, and Greenwich, CT.
In addition to Holland’s more than 20 years of professional experience, he serves on various health and educational boards throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Holland has expertise in providing high quality service delivery, executing successful turnaround operations and leading cohesive teams.
“I am excited and energized to start this new role at PYN. I have been serving youth and families for my entire career. This role is the perfect opportunity to further serve youth in Philadelphia. With all that young people face today, the more services and opportunities we can offer them, the better positioned they will be for the future,” Holland said. “PYN prepares young minds to think, innovate, elevate themselves and develop into successful adults. State data shows when we invest in our youth, everyone wins! For every dollar spent, we yield a $6.69 return on investment in education and crime savings. I am looking forward to joining an organization that specializes in this valuable work.”
Holland earned a Master of Business Administration from Benedictine University as well as a Master of Divinity with a focus on administration, counseling and education from Claremont School of Theology. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University. Holland also received Certification from the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at Bryn Mawr College.
“I am thrilled to have Christian join our team and lead our programs. Having known Christian professionally for years, I have seen firsthand his dedication to excellence, caring nature, his thoughtfulness, the organized and orderly way he runs programs and how he equips his staff to be successful. Christian has a stellar reputation and vast network across PA that will bolster PYN’s work,” Roberts-Johnson said. “Beyond his impressive experience, Christian brings the unique perspective of having been one of PYN’s providers. I am certain this will serve to improve our provider’s experience with PYN.”
Since its founding in 1999, PYN has provided more than 240,000 opportunities for young people in Philadelphia. Its 2023 WorkReady initiative, in cooperation and partnership with the City of Philadelphia Office of Children and Families and Philadelphia Works, hosted approximately 7,500 young people at more than 80 distinct providers and more than 600 individual worksites.
“Our programs are our cornerstone at PYN. They are central to all that we do. I am confident in Christian’s ability to lead our programs, strengthen them and help them reach more young people in Philadelphia,” said Debra Friedman, PYN Board Chair. “The past year has been a year of incredible transformation at PYN and now with our leadership team fully in place, we are looking forward to many successful years ahead.”
About the Philadelphia Youth Network
The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a solutions-builder forging together significant players to alleviate a root cause of poverty by preparing 12-24-year-olds to become productive working adults. Our work is grounded in the understanding that young people need access to both education and employment, proven factors in being prepared for a career. With a track record of increasing impact, PYN funds and brokers action with the right partners to collectively address barriers. PYN constructs systems to create change, while innovating to meet evolving needs. Together with our partners, PYN dramatically changes the trajectory of individuals’ lives by giving voice to underserved
youth, and ultimately creating a pipeline for an educated, engaged workforce. For more information, visit www.pyninc.org.
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