While the unemployment rate in Pennsylvania has fallen 5.2 percent, for youths the rate is double. A recent job fair event took action to fix that.
More than 800 participants between the ages of 14-21 attended the Summer Job Fair at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s East Liberty Branch, located at 130 S. Whitfield St.
“This Summer Job Fair proved that there is huge demand for events like this in the community,” Rick Flanagan, manager of Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, said.
“I enjoyed this job fair, and feel that an event such as this couldn’t have come at a better time,” said 16-year-old student Meesha Jones. “Me and my friends knew we wanted to attend this event, because we have all been brainstorming on where we want to work this summer. This job fair helped me a lot.”
The Summer Job Fair was held April 10.
Youth filled the venue. There were 40 employers and educational institutions, as well as workshops available to the attendees.
Community College of Allegheny County held financial workshops and the Pittsburgh Police Department held training workshops.
Three Rivers Work Force Investments Board, the City of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County sponsored Job fair.
The event was organized by the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation, the City of Pittsburgh, Neighborhood Learning Alliance, Pittsburgh Public Schools, State Representative Ed Gainey, NeighborWorks, Pittsburgh Police Department, Community College of Allegheny County, Homewood Brushton YMCA, and a growing list of significant others, while the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-East Liberty hosted the event.
“This event was bigger than just a job fair, we not only want to provide a service and opportunity for youth to find summer employment but also seek long term career opportunities. We are here to help in all aspects of their lives,” said Wesley Davis.
The Summer Job Fair was the kickoff to the city’s 2015 summer youth workforce development program, Learn and Earn. Lear and Earn offers internships to 14 to 21 year olds in the city and in Allegheny County.
The job fair was available to all youth/students of Pittsburgh. There were 7,000 newsletters mailings went out to residents of Pittsburgh to advertise the event, while Pittsburgh Public Schools also heavily recruited students to attend.
Mayor Bill Peduto announced that he has made a commitment to everyone that applies for employment through the program, will become hired.
With the success of this job fair, they plan that this will be the first of an annual job fair event.
“This event proved that our youth want to do the wrong thing, and want to be positioned onto the right path to be successful,” Rick Flanagan said. “The youth seemed to have really enjoyed the event, and took full advantage of the event as they networked and navigated to each table. Youth from all sections of the city were able to come together with a common goal.”
Event staff and volunteers worked diligently throughout the event to assure that the youth properly register and take advantage of the opportunities available at the event.
“I would also like to personally thank the Carnegie Library for allowing us to utilize the library as our venue for the event. Hats off to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- East Liberty Branch,” Flanagan said.
Those interested in still being a part of this opportunity of seeking employment can visit www.enecpittsburgh.org to download an application. Applications are being accepted until April 30 at 6 p.m.
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