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Washington Park job fair draws 1,600

By Richard Muhammad on Sunday, October 8, 2006

About 1,600 people ages 16 to 65 turned out for a resource and job fair recently hosted by Mainstream Living to connect area residents with jobs – or the skills to find a job.

Tamika Tagub, 21, said the event, held Sept. 20 at the Chicago Park District's Harris Park, provided a chance for people to gain employment and ways to better themselves.

"They offered jobs, help learning how to do resumes, help filling out applications. They gave you applications to fill out," said Tagub, who applied to several companies, including Walgreen's, the post office and an insurance agency.

Exhibitors, who included employers and service providers, manned tables in two huge rooms at the park's community center. Displays, brochures, and applications filled tables as conversations filled the air. Participants learned about potential careers and career starters. 20th Ward Ald. Arenda Troutman partnered with the fair's organizers to make it happen.

Having the employers and service providers in one place was a "great" idea, said Tagub. "It's hard for some people to get [jobs], and they brought an opportunity to come and get jobs here," she said.

"More people, if they knew about it, would have come out," added Shaquendo Britton, 32, who applied for several positions.

Resource for community, employers

Bob Corbett, who represented energy companies Exelon and ComEd, did brisk business. He talked with potential applicants about their work experience, interests and desired career paths, and he gave tips on the best way to post resumes online.

Exelon/ComEd job requirements range from a G.E.D. to four-year college degrees, Corbett noted. A meter reader, for example is an entry-level position that pays $14 to $15 an hour. But an overhead electrician earns $100,000-plus, with salary and overtime, he said.

"We just wanted to make sure that [attendees] are aware of the fact that these kinds of good paying jobs with good security and good benefits are available," Corbett said. "Unless you really get to know what kinds of jobs a company has, you might have a certain view of them and just not have any idea that there is something there for you."

Corbett said he expected a lot of people to post resumes online after the event, which he added was a great opportunity for companies because it cost only staff time.

Other employers, like the U.S. Census Bureau, offered a chance to get a job and have a greater impact on the neighborhood. Though the next national census won't happen until 2010, other important data collection is happening.

"The surveys that we are doing determine how much federal money comes into certain areas around the country," said recruiter Charles Slater.

Given the continued problem of undercounting African Americans, Slater hoped to find employees who can do a more thorough job of counting. Though the position is entry level, it can lead to a long-term career, he said.

Center adds family to employment equation

The job fair is more than a one-day affair, said Dorothy Taylor, of Mainstream Living, which helps with employment, job preparation, skill training, and education. Employers who participate in the job fair are sought out for jobs during the year as are previous job fair participants, she added.

Work is done with the entire family, not just the individual job seeker, she said. That might mean help with housing, or child care while a parent is working, Taylor explained. "We kind of embrace the whole family and the support system that needs to go around it," she said.

The effort is a collaboration between St. Edmund's Redevelopment Corp. and Mainstream Living, where Taylor serves as executive director. This is Mainstream Living's first foray into partnering with St. Edmund's under the New Communities Program.

The job center is a little over a year old but has only been recruiting for the last three months. More than 100 people have been enrolled in services in the last 90 days, according to Taylor. Bringing services and jobs together helps get those who aren't quite ready for work prepared, as many in the 20th Ward and Washington Park need to be, she said.

The myth that people don't want to work went out the window in Washington Park eight years ago, said Taylor, who cited numbers at usually 2,000 to 3,000 people per job fair, which shows people are eager for employment.

Her organization, located at 5912 S. State St., is looking to move into a larger space to provide more services, like offering e-mail addresses and internet access, resume writing, and a place to call or fax potential employers.

"The center in Washington Park is designed to make a difference in a neighborhood that's been left behind," said Tasha Baker, NCP director for Washington Park.