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Top U.S. Employers Join Forces for Hire! Philly Job and Resource Fair on Oct. 4On October 4, a coalition of leading U.S. and Philadelphia-based employers collectively called "Hire! Philly" will come together with local organizations, nonprofits and service providers to host a day-long job and resource fair geared towards opportunity seekers ages 16-35. The coalition includes employers like Aramark, PECO, PNC (News - Alert) Bank, Starbucks, Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health and others. They will join more than 20 organizations at the job and resource fair, connecting attendees with career resources, job preparation services, entrepreneurship support, workshops, and immediate on-the-spot job offers. The event comes at a time when Philadelphia's 26 percent poverty rate is the highest among the top 10 major U.S. cities, with an estimated 400,000 residents living below the federal poverty line and nearly half of those people in deep poverty.[i] Philadelphia County's unemployment rate at nearly 6 percent is also significantly higher than the national averagei. In response, the Hire! Philly coalition aims to align the employer community with the city's nonprofits and service providers to connect more Philadelphians to meaningful economic opportunities. "For many individuals, even getting to the point of applying for a job can be a challenge," said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. "The Hire! Philly coalition recognizes some of the barriers that our residents face during the hiring process, and the upcoming job fair will help Philadelphians access the resources they need to overcome those difficulties. This coalition serves as an excellent example of what can be accomplished when the public, private and nonprofit sectors collaborate in a meaningful way." "I am excited to see so many Philadelphia-based and national employers coming together help our residents prepare for the modern workforce and advance their careers," said Harold T. Epps, Commerce Director for the City of Philadelphia. "The Hire! Philly October job and resource fair, which will provide Philadelphians with the opportunity to access both available job openings and career services, has the potential to make a real impact on the lives of its attendees." Participating employers are expected to conduct on-site interviews for full-time and part-time positions available across the Philadelphia area, with select organizations making job offers on site. The event will also feature job training and preparation resources including mentorship opportunities, mock interviews, resume building stations, apprenticeships, internships and more. p> Registration is currently open at HirePhilly-Oct4.eventbrite.com.Support for Hire! Philly "The Urban Affairs Coalition is excited to leverage our fiscal sponsorship platform to support events like Hire! Philly," said Sharmain Matlock Turner, President and CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition. "For nearly 50 years we have been building a supportive model that allows us not only to help grassroot leaders develop and deploy their mission, but also to coordinate, facilitate, and help manage large-scale events like Hire! Philly that can create impact across the region." "We are proud to join the Hire! Philly coalition to help create meaningful and lasting economic opportunities in our hometown city," said Jeanell Hughes (News - Alert), Vice President of Talent Management and Chief Diversity Officer for Aramark. "Beyond adding vibrant talent to our workforce, this coalition aligns with our mission to enrich and nourish lives by helping underserved youth and adults succeed through education and employment, and ultimately building a more sustainable community." "We've heard loud and clear from the Philadelphia community that the best way to help make a change locally is by providing meaningful jobs that serve as a pathway to long-term economic opportunity. We believe Starbucks can play a role by convening the employer community around a shared goal to invest in Philly's workforce by breaking down barriers to opportunity for all," said Camille Hymes, regional vice president of Mid-Atlantic operations at Starbucks. "This work builds on our experience with the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, which aims to connect 1 million young people to employment through job fairs and deeper community engagement." "The Hire! Philly Job and Resource Fair provides the perfect opportunity to assist unemployed and underemployed individuals in Philadelphia at a time when it's never been more necessary," said Joseph G. Meterchick, PNC regional president for Philadelphia, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. "Supporting the economic vitality of the communities that we serve, and our local neighborhoods is critical to the city's success." How to Engage For organizations interested in joining the Hire! Philly effort, please email [email protected] for more information. For Philadelphians interested in participating in the Hire! Philly Jobs and Resource Fair, please visit HirePhilly-Oct4.eventbrite.com for information about how to register and learn more about participating employers. About Hire! Philly Hire! Philly is an employer-led coalition to help connect opportunity seekers ages 16-35 to career resources, job preparation and entrepreneurship support, and immediate job opportunities. Together this coalition aims to align the assets, interests, and advocacy of local employers to provide a united perspective on the local workforce and connect Philadelphians to meaningful economic opportunities.
[i] PEW's
2018 State of the City Survey
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