Former Foster Youth Empowered at Ready for Life's In-House Career Fair
At the end of June, Ready for Life organized a career fair to empower young adults by providing opportunities to explore various industries. The event hosted 12 vendors including Power Design, Leaders Furniture, SPC Rise, TD Bank, Zaxby's, AMSkills, US Army, Sail Future, CareerSource, BayCare, Suncoast Voices for Children, Camelot Community Care, and ManUp. Attendees had the chance to network with representatives from each vendor, gaining insights into potential job openings and training programs across sectors such as construction, finance, healthcare, and the military.
The enthusiasm among the young adults was palpable throughout the event, with several excited participants even rushing to share news of job offers they had received. Notably, many young adults who initially attended just for necessities, like bus passes and pantry items, were inspired by the buzzing atmosphere and encouragement from staff to participate actively. This motivation even led some to pursue job opportunities they may not have otherwise considered, marking a significant impact of the Career Fair on youth.
Following the Career Fair, several vendors expressed positive feedback. Power Design, for instance, expressed interest in hosting campus tours and information sessions for students, emphasizing the importance of local businesses' involvement with organizations like Ready for Life.
Leaders Furniture echoed a commitment to supporting youth by helping them grow, overcome challenges, and feel welcomed in their employment endeavors. Following Leaders' participation in our Career Fair, they decided to hire two of our young men immediately! The team at Leaders Furniture has truly embraced a mentor-like role, ensuring that these young men have the guidance and encouragement they need to succeed in their careers.
"The career fair event has encouraged and motivated me to do better for my future."
Though Denise originally came to Ready for Life just for a bus pass, Falana Shannon, one of Ready for Life's many youth specialists, encouraged her to participate in the Career Fair. Falana helped Denise find a business casual outfit to explore the many opportunities that awaited at the event.
Denise stated that she took part because "I was interested in learning more about possible careers that could help me accomplish some of my objectives. Obtaining a well-paying job is one of my top priorities, since it will enable me to save as much money as possible for my own placement. My goal is to become a professional chef along the way."
During Denise's walk-through, she was able to connect and socialize with all twelve vendors, gaining insight on different jobs and also winning two raffles throughout the event! After the event, Denise shared, "I am very grateful for my raffle gifts; the career fair event has encouraged and motivated me to do better for my future."
Correction: A previous version of this article inadvertently left out our crucial community partner Suncoast Voices for Children. We apologize for the oversight, and are incredibly grateful for their continued support of former foster care youth in our community and Ready for Life!
Want to get your company involved with Ready for Life and help us empower former foster care youth to reach their career goals? Contact Kathy Mize, CEO, at kmize@readyforlifepinellas.org to get started! Together, we are changing lives.
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