On Monday, May 6, 2024 the English Empowerment Center held our second annual Career and Opportunities Fair. The event took place at the James Lee Community Center with exhibitors setting up in the gym. EEC classrooms were used to host a variety of free workshops including a Resume Workshop, Online Job Search Workshop, and a Digital Literacy: Email Creation Workshop. We were thrilled to serve over 200 at this year’s fair.
The first Career and Opportunities Fair was implemented just last year by EEC’s Student Services Coordinator, Juan Perez, and provided students with the chance to engage directly with companies offering employment opportunities and organizations providing educational support. Juan has a strong desire to help EEC learners find ways to thrive in the community with their new English language skills. He decided to organize an event that is not just open to EEC learners, but anyone in the community, where they can find quality job opportunities and learn about trusted community services. It was a great success and we are thrilled to see the fair continuing to grow.
This year, we hosted many new exhibitors seeking employees and sharing information about their services. We were excited to see many returning exhibitors who attended our first Career and Opportunities Fair last year. We had 25 exhibitors attend the event. Some of these exhibitors include employers such as HealthWorks of Northern Virginia, Prince William County Fire and Rescue System, Fairfax County Public Schools, etc. and community service providers including VA Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Virginia Career Works, The Women’s Center, etc.
It is great to go into the fair confident that we have gathered a quality group of exhibitors and confident that our learners will receive the support they need. We were joined by 43 EEC volunteers and EEC staff who worked together to welcome everyone who came through the doors, ensuring that they had the guidance and information they needed to navigate the fair. Additionally, 50 learners submitted their resume for review before the Career and Opportunities Fair so that they could confidently present their best selves. For those who were interested in further assistance or a more hands-on approach, our workshops were a great option. The Resume Workshop, Online Job Search Workshop, and Digital Literacy: Email Creation Workshop each provide important skills and information for individuals on their job search.
From our Registrant’s Experience Survey, attendees expressed their gratitude for the services provided and shared that they received helpful information about a variety of community services and job opportunities. Silvana shared, “Thank you, I appreciate your help to many people [that] need a [lot] of information.” We look forward to our next Career and Opportunities Fair in 2025! Keep a lookout for more information to come.