WHAT: Job seekers facing barriers to employment will have the opportunity to meet with employers on Thursday, April 20 at the National Second Chance Job Show hosted by Better Together in Fort Myers.
Employment barriers can come in many forms, including homelessness, prior incarceration, lack of childcare or reliable transportation, or resume gaps due to the pandemic. Better Together is breaking down these barriers to employment by hosting a series of background-appropriate job fairs in partnership with churches across the country—including Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C.—as part of the nonprofit’s National Second Chances Day.
Job fairs will feature employers willing to meet job seekers in the Southwest Florida area and offer jobs on the spot, offering hope to those struggling to hack the impersonal and intolerant algorithms of online job applications. Participating employers include Amazon, Better Together, Creative Cottages, David Lawrence, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, HireQuest, PeopleReady, Shaw Development, St. Matthew’s House, Storm Smart, and US LBM Holdings.
Additional resources include free one-on-one job coaching sessions to review resumes and interview skills, as well as free haircuts and clothing to help candidates feel and look their best. Resources will be provided by organizations including Adult Education and Employment, Alcoholics Anonymous, David Lawrence Centers, FutureMakers Coalition, Hope Clubhouse, Lee County Elections Office, LeeTran, Love INC Southwest Florida, Oxford House and Veterans Affairs . Almost all job seekers leave with hope in their hearts as candidates ring the opportunity bell upon receiving a job offer or interview in celebration of their victory.
When: Thursday, April 20, from 11 am to 2 pm
Where: Grace Church, 2415 Grand Ave. , in Fort Myers
WHO: Church partners, job seekers and employers are available for interviews.
about better together
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through difficult times keep their children out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggles so they can reunite as a family using the tools and support system to thrive. Better Together is a privately funded, professionally supported organization made up of volunteers who believe that helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a protective alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. Better Jobs was created to address the 76% of families who come to Better Together because of economic hardship associated with unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers training, mentorship, and support to job seekers and encouragement through local church partners. For more information visit BetterTogetherUS.org.