Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
Expo offers Technology Center and Virtual Job Fair

Public and private stakeholders from across southeast Michigan are working together to put on what may be the largest employment and resource expo in the region. Read More

The Detroit News
130-plus employers seek workers at job fair

Participants will meet company officials, learn of training, get access to Internet at Detroit event. Read More

The Arab American News
Virtual Job Fair to provide the tools to succeed

Public and private stakeholders from across southeast Michigan are working together to put on what may be the largest employment and resource expo in the region. The Southeast Michigan Partnership will hold the second Working Together: Southeast Michigan Employment, Training & Family Resource Expo, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Michigan State Fairgrounds & Exposition Center. The event and parking are free. Read More

Detroit Free Press
Thousands of jobs are up for grabs at regional expo

The state's unemployment rate -- among the highest in the nation -- rose to 7.1% last month. But organizers of the expo are encouraged that participants will have all the necessary tools available to help them land a job. Read More

Detroit Free Press
Detroit job fair attracts thousands

Nearly 7,000 people descended upon the Michigan State Fairgrounds in hopes of finding employment at the Working Together: Southeast Michigan Employment, Training & Family Resource Expo job fair in Detroit Wednesday afternoon. Read More

The Detroit News
On the job trail
8,000 swarm career fair in Detroit

Jeneica Curney lost her job as a child care provider in late summer when the children went back to school. Vincent Good quit his job as a customer service manager for a frozen food company this week in search of a more professional career. Carnell Morris is a youth pastor, but he wants to get a second job possibly driving trucks for extra income. Sharita Carter will get laid off at the end of the month, and she wants to have another job lined up before the ax falls. All at a huge Detroit job fair on Wednesday for different reasons, but all wanting the same thing: Work. Read More

Detroit Free Press
EMPLOYMENT EXPO | 8,000 PEDDLE RESUMES: Pursuing a job, any job

On paper, Joel Milliner shouldn't be in need of a job. The 37-year-old Detroiter is a physician, a former surgical resident with St. John Hospital & Medical Center, and a former high school teacher. But in these rough economic times, Milliner is applying for $10-an-hour telemarketing jobs just to make ends meet. Read More

Detroit Free Press
Job expo proves big draw at fairgrounds
7,796 attend 2nd United Way event

Job-hunting has been a difficult process for Terri Mikula. The 47-year-old graphic artist has been underemployed or out of work off and on for nearly four years. Read More

Labels: Financial Stability, programs and initiatives, Working Together

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contacts
Patricia A. Ellis, 313-226-9484 or pager, 313-840-1948
Megan Bracket, 313-226-9409 or pager, 313-840-4321

Connecting Jobseekers with Jobs and Resources to help them Succeed

DETROIT – According to a community survey United Way for Southeastern Michigan conducted earlier this year, one of the messages stressed by the more than 7,000 southeast Michigan respondents was the need for opportunities and resources in order to be self-sufficient.

To help provide southeast Michigan residents with pathways to success, public and private stakeholders from across the region have collaborated to put on what may be the area’s largest employment and resource expo. The Southeast Michigan Partnership will hold the second Working Together: Southeast Michigan Employment, Training & Family Resource Expo, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Michigan State Fairgrounds & Exposition Center. The event and parking are free.

The Expo is more than a job fair. It will match jobseekers with potential employers, provide access to training and continuing education opportunities, and provide resources to overcome barriers so that people can secure and retain employment. More than 130 employers will feature hundreds of jobs in the following industries: building and construction, contract staffing, education, finance, accounting and professional services, government, healthcare, hospitality and food service, human services, information technology, manufacturing and engineering, retail sales/service, and transportation. There will also be a Technology Center featuring 75 computers with Internet access, printers, copiers and volunteers who can help jobseekers create resumes, make copies, e-mail their resume to employers or apply for a job online. The Technology Center will remain open until 5 p.m. to accommodate those participants who wish to utilize the computer services.

This year’s Expo will also include a virtual job fair through the Michigan Talent Bank, which can be accessed at www.uwsem.org/expo from Oct. 9 - Oct. 13. The Expo’s Technology Center and virtual job fair are made possible through the combined resources of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and the Michigan Department of Information Technology, which are among several partners hosting this year’s event.

Joe Cadovich, Field Service Manager for National Time & Signal, participated in last year’s Expo.

“The diverse pool of people looking for jobs was incredible,” said Cadovich. “We must have received a couple hundred resumes. We were so impressed with the Expo that we’re coming back this year.”

National Time & Signal is an 80-year-old company that has plants in Oak Park and Wixom. The company specializes in school clocks and life safety equipment, such as fire alarm systems.

Cadovich added, “I believe we have a responsibility to provide Michigan jobs in order to keep and retain Michigan workers.”

Brenda Criteser is a Trainer Supervisor for the metropolitan Detroit division of Payless Shoe Source, which includes 27 stores. She too will be among the more than 130 employers recruiting talent at this year’s Expo. She also received a few hundred resumes at last year’s Expo and is always looking for qualities in part-time and full-time employees for the company’s store manager training program.

“Last year, I did several interviews right on-site,” said Criteser. “We ended up hiring one of our best employees who just completed manager training and is now managing our Taylor location.”

Michelle Grabda, age 28, of Garden City, said she had been unemployed for several months and decided to attend the Expo.

“I really didn’t know what to expect, “ said Grabda. “It can be really intimidating, but as soon as I met Brenda Criteser I felt really at ease. She was so friendly. I originally wanted to apply for an assistant manager position. It was Brenda who encouraged me to go for the manager position.”

Grabda just completed the manager training and is now managing the Payless Shoe Source Store in Taylor. She is a single mom who recently started attending Schoolcraft College and is working toward a degree in Business Management.

“My advice to others looking for employment; you can do just about anything you set your mind to do. Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to point out your qualifications.”

Criteser said she has more than 25 part-time and full-time jobs available this year.

“We believe we have a great opportunity and competitive training program. We’re looking people who want to grow with the company.”

The Expo will also provide information on health and human services and transportation from the following organizations: Detroit Department of Transportation; Downriver Community Conference; Legal Aid & Defenders Association; Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth - Michigan Rehabilitation Services; Michigan Department of Human Services; Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative; Office of Mobility; Oakland County Child Care Council; State of Michigan office of Child Support; the United Way 2-1-1 information and referral service; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment; and Ways to Work of Michigan, Inc.

“The only way we’re going to survive as a region is if we work together as a region,” said Margaret Warner, director, Michigan Department of Human Services

The partners involved in this year’s Expo include the Detroit Workforce Development Department, the Governor’s Office for Southeastern Michigan, the Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, the Michigan Department of Information Technology, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (Michigan Talent Bank), Michigan Works! in Oakland and Macomb counties, the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

“It’s important to provide opportunities to retain local talent, enhance job skills, and provide the resources and tools needed to help individuals and families succeed,” said Michael J. Brennan, president & CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “The Expo demonstrates the collective power of diverse sectors from across our region working together to improve lives. Together we can help southeastern Michigan become the vibrant region that it is capable of being.

In addition to the partners, the 2006 Expo is made possible by the generous support of following sponsors: the Detroit Free Press, Comcast, Fifth Third Bank; Lanier; Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties; Michigan Works!; Rock Financial, a Quicken Loans Company; and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

What: Working Together: Southeast Michigan Employment, Training & Family Resource Expo

When: Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Michigan State Fairgrounds & Exposition Center. The event and parking are free.

What to bring: Copies of your resume

For more information: Call the United Way 2-1-1 call center by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-552-1183. You can also go to www.uwsem.org/expo.

Through the Southeast Michigan Employment, Training and Family Resource Expo, United Way and other members of the Southeast Michigan Partnership are working together to link job seekers to potential employers, while simultaneously providing access to training and tackling the many barriers to getting or keeping a job. The Southeast Michigan Partnership includes the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Workforce Development Department; the Governor’s Office for Southeastern Michigan; the Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties; the Michigan Department of Information Technology; the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (Michigan Talent Bank), Michigan Works! in Oakland and Macomb counties; the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance; and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

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Labels: Financial Stability, Press_Releases, programs and initiatives, Working Together

MEDIA ADVISORY

Media Contacts:

Patricia A. Ellis, 313-226-9484; pager, 313-840-1948; cell 313-410-3417
Megan Bracket, 313-226-9409; pager, 313-840-4321; cell 517-449-3750

Interviews and Live Television Coverage are possible during Oct. 10 (setup) and Oct. 11 (Expo)

DETROIT – For a second year, a massive regional effort is underway to match job seekers in metro Detroit with available jobs and resources to help them succeed. Public and private stakeholders from across southeast Michigan are working together to host the Southeast Michigan Employment and Family Resource Expo, Oct. 11, at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.

More than 135 employers will be on site and an additional 100 will be participating in the Expo’s virtual job fair. The virtual job fair will be available Oct. 9 -13 by accessing http://www.uwsem.org/expo. The Oct. 11 Expo will include a Technology Center with 75 computers and Internet access, printers and copiers. Volunteers will be on hand to assist participants with creating a resume, searching for jobs and applying for jobs through the Internet. The Expo will also offer training and career development opportunities as well as resources to overcome barriers to employment. United Way’s 2-1-1 call center will also be on-site, providing referrals to individuals who have other needs.

Partnering to host the Expo are the Detroit Workforce Development Department, the Governor’s Office for Southeastern Michigan, the Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, the Michigan Department of Information Technology, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (Michigan Talent Bank), Michigan Works! in Oakland and Macomb counties, the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

WHAT
Working Together: The Southeast Michigan Employment, Training & Family Resource Expo

WHEN
Set-up: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. (Employers will be setting up for Expo)

Expo: Wednesday, Oct. 11, 7:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Expo is open to the public 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. with Technology Center open until 5 p.m. Media can report from site as early as 7 a.m.)

WHERE
Michigan State Fairgrounds & Exposition Center - Woodward Ave. (just south of Eight Mile Rd.) in Detroit

Please call Patricia Ellis at 313-226-9484 or Megan Bracket at 313-226-9409 to obtain a parking pass. On Oct. 11, enter the fairgrounds off of State Fair St. Media can sign-in for a media pass at the welcome tent beginning at 7:00 a.m.

WHO
More than 135 employers, 22 training and career development providers, and 12 governmental, health and human service agencies will be available to share tools and resources to help people secure and retain unemployment, and build better lives for themselves and their families.

In addition to the partners, the Expo is made possible by the Detroit Free Press; Comcast; Fifth Third Bank; Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties; Lanier; Michigan Works!; Rock Financial, a Quicken Loans Company; and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Through the Southeast Michigan Employment, Training and Family Resource Expo, United Way and other members of the Southeast Michigan Partnership are working together to link job seekers to potential employers, while simultaneously providing access to training and tackling the many barriers to getting or keeping a job. The Southeast Michigan Partnership includes the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Workforce Development Department; the Governor’s Office for Southeastern Michigan; the Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties; the Michigan Department of Information Technology; the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (Michigan Talent Bank), Michigan Works! in Oakland and Macomb counties; the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance; and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

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Labels: Financial Stability, programs and initiatives, Working Together

By Daniel Voros, Crain's Detroit

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan is working with 140 businesses and nonprofit groups on an employment and family resources fair Oct. 11 at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.

The second-annual event, Working Together: Southeast Michigan Employment, Training and Family Resource Expo, runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is designed to help participants in job placement and training, and connect them with human-resource organizations that can ease barriers to maintaining jobs, such as finding child care and transportation.

A virtual fair will also be accessible through 75 on-site computers. Volunteers will be available to help attendees search for jobs and create résumés, which can be submitted online.

Employment opportunities include engineering positions at DTE Energy Co. U.S. Trucking Inc. has driving positions and will have a booth to enroll people in its driving program if they don’t have a trucking license.

The fair is free for both job seekers and employers. Those looking for jobs may register online at www.uwsem.org/expo, or call 211 to reach United Way’s information line. The physical fair has met its capacity for employers, but the online expo has space available and runs from Oct. 9–13. Companies that want to register can do so at the same Web site.

Labels: Financial Stability, programs and initiatives, Working Together

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contacts
Patricia A. Ellis, 313-226-9484 or pager, 313-840-1948
Megan Bracket, 313-226-9409 or pager, 313-840-4321

DETROIT – Public and private stakeholders from across southeast Michigan are working together to put on what may be the largest employment and resource expo in the region. The Southeast Michigan Partnership will hold the second Working Together: Southeast Michigan Employment, Training & Family Resource Expo, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Michigan State Fairgrounds & Exposition Center. The event and parking are free.

One of the many services available to jobseekers at the Oct. 11 Expo will be the Technology Center – a bank of 75 computers with Internet access and several printers that will allow attendees to work on their resume, search for jobs online and apply for jobs through the Web. Although the Oct. 11 Expo will officially close at 3 p.m., the Technology Center will remain open until 5 p.m. to accommodate attendees who wish to utilize the computer services. Volunteers will be on hand to assist people. This year’s event will also include a Virtual Job Expo through the Michigan Talent Bank. This service will be active Oct. 9 – 13, 24-hours a day, and provide anyone the opportunity to go to www.uwsem.org/expo and preview the numerous jobs available through more than 100 employers. The Expo’s Technology Center and virtual job fair are made possible through the combined resources of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and the Michigan Department of Information Technology, which are among the several partners hosting this year’s event.

"It is important that jobseekers take advantage of this opportunity to connect with employers who are recruiting workers, not only at the physical Expo at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, but also at the virtual Expo through the Michigan Talent Bank,” said Ardis Cazeno, director, Labor Exchange Services, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. “We want to educate jobseekers in the methods and tools used to connect with employers online, a fast-growing trend that shows no signs of slowing down."

In addition to the virtual jobs, the Expo will include job opportunities from more than 130 on-site employers. It will also offer training and career development opportunities, as well as provide information and resources to help individuals and families break down some of the barriers that prevent gaining and retaining employment, such as child care, transportation, and other issues. These opportunities and resources will help provide pathways to success.

The partners involved in this year’s Expo include the Detroit Workforce Development Department, the Governor’s Office for Southeastern Michigan, the Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, the Michigan Department of Information Technology, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (Michigan Talent Bank), Michigan Works! in Oakland and Macomb counties, the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

In addition to the partners, the 2006 Expo is made possible by the following sponsors: the Detroit Free Press, Comcast, Fifth Third Bank; Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties; Michigan Works!; Rock Financial, a Quicken Loans Company; and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

“In these changing times, it’s important to provide opportunities to retain local talent, enhance job skills, and provide the resources and tools needed for individuals and families to succeed,” said Michael J. Brennan, president & CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “The expo demonstrates the collective power of diverse sectors from across our region working together to improve lives and help southeastern Michigan become the vibrant, knowledge-based community that it is capable of being.”

How to participate in the Oct. 11 Expo? Jobseekers and employers can call the United Way 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-552-1183. You can also go to www.uwsem.org/expo to pre-register. The Expo will be held at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

Through the Southeast Michigan Employment, Training and Family Resource Expo, United Way and other members of the Southeast Michigan Partnership are working together to link jobseekers to potential employers, while simultaneously providing access to training and tackling the many barriers to getting or keeping a job. The Southeast Michigan Partnership includes the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Workforce Development Department; the Michigan Department of Human Services in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties; the Michigan Department of Information Technology; the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (Michigan Talent Bank), Michigan Works! in Oakland and Macomb counties; the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance; and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Labels: Financial Stability, programs and initiatives, Working Together