CareerSource Pinellas will host two Community Resource Fairs within the next month to provide job seekers with one-stop access to employers willing to hire individuals who were previously incarcerated. These second chance careers can help those restart their lives in the workforce.
“We host many job fairs and hiring events throughout the year, but these events are a special, targeted effort to help those who have been incarcerated rebuild their lives and rejoin the workforce,” said Kristopher Lucas, chief operating officer at CareerSource Pinellas. “Pinellas County’s unemployment rate is currently lower than both the Tampa Bay region’s and Florida’s—this can be a win-win situation for employers who are struggling to fill positions and for job seekers who need a second chance.”
The first job fair will be held at CareerSource Pinellas–South County, at 3420 8th Ave. S in St. Pete. The second job fair will be held at St. Petersburg College Midtown at 1300 22nd St. S in St. Pete.
The Need for Second Chance Careers
“Nearly 700,000 individuals are released from prison each year. But too often they are denied the opportunity to put their skills to work due to deeply rooted biases and harmful misperceptions. Organizations that are unwilling to hire the formerly incarcerated are missing out on a variety of benefits, including building an inclusive, diverse, and successful workplace, access to a widely available pool of talented workers, demonstrating good corporate citizenship, and building stronger communities,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Employers that are signed up to attend the fairs include:
- FedEx
- Molex
- Pinellas County Government
- TSE Industries
- Neighborly Care Network
- Freedom Square
Other organizations providing support services will also be present, including:
- Salvation Army
- Pinellas Technical College
- Empath Health
- St. Pete Free Clinic
- Humana Mobile Food Pantry
- Florida Department of Health
- Amskills
- OneBlood Blood Mobile
- Voter Registration
- Campbell Park Resource Center
- Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services
- Veterans Affairs
- Dedicated Senior Medical
Businesses and organizations wishing to register for a table on Thursday, May 26 should complete this registration form. Business and organizations wishing to register for a table on Tuesday, June 14 should complete this registration form.
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