Blog: City Blog

Career Fair at Lonsdale Homes Connects Young Job Seekers with Employers

Great turnout today for the Lonsdale Homes career fair!

Sponsored by Knoxville’s Community Development Corp., Save Our Sons, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Job Corps, Workforce Connections, and the City of Knoxville, today's event connected employers and job seekers.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero welcomed and encouraged job seekers at the start of the career fair, held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today at Lonsdale Homes, 2020 Minnesota Ave.

State Career Coach professionals offered tips for conducting job searches, writing resumes, honing interview skills and registering online with Jobs4TN, where there are almost 200,000 jobs available across the state. Job Corps officials assisted participants in accessing opportunities to advance their education, learn a trade or apply for health-care or nutrition assistance.

Meanwhile, representatives from local staffing company Express Employment Professionals interviewed job candidates for a variety of jobs, such as machine operators, assembly line and building maintenance workers, and landscapers.

The career fair, intended specifically to help low-income young people between the ages of 16 and 24, was created in part in response to a “Stop the Violence” community forum held earlier this year at Fulton High School following the death of 15-year-old Zaevion Dobson, who was shot shielding two friends from gang-related gunfire in Lonsdale in December 2015.

“Many individuals attending the community forum said that young people need help with training and finding jobs,” said Art Cate, KCDC executive director and CEO. “We hope it will raise awareness of the help that is available and encourage more young people to take advantage of some excellent opportunities.”

Avice Reid, the City's Senior Director of Community Relations, who directs the Mayor’s citywide Save Our Sons initiative, noted that one of the SOS initiative's goals is to increase employment opportunities.

"This career fair is a great way to bring together those companies and individuals who have jobs to offer with people who need jobs,” she said.

Lonsdale Homes is a KCDC-owned affordable housing property in Northwest Knoxville. In 2008, Lonsdale Homes underwent a $26 million revitalization and modernization of its 260 units, which helped create a renewed sense of community.

The state's Career Coach, parked at Lonsdale Homes for an Aug. 12 career fair.

Posted by evreeland On 12 August, 2016 at 2:49 PM