Youth Summer Job Fair April 7 at CherryVale Mall

From press release

State Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-Rockford) is supporting the upcoming Youth Summer Job Fair, coordinated by the Rockford Youth Initiative (RYI), nFACTOR, the Illinois Department of Employment Security and The Workforce Connection. The Youth Summer Job Fair will be held from noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 7, at the CherryVale Mall.

Jefferson, along with organizers of the event, is encouraging participation from area businesses who are interested in hiring teenagers for summer employment.

“A summer job is a great way for our youth to become engaged in our community, gain valuable skills, experience, and stay out of trouble,” Jefferson said. “Hiring youth is also financially advantageous for local businesses.”

Jefferson noted a recent trend that many businesses are using job fairs, rather than traditional print advertising, as a way to hire new employees. Jefferson said that advertisements can be costly, and risky, because there is no guarantee that everyone who reads them will be seeking a job.

“The Rockford Youth Initiative and nFACTOR are both organizations comprised of local high school students, so they will be conducting outreach in the schools and getting the word out to interested youth,” Jefferson said. “This is also an event that will benefit our community at large, so I will be helping to get the word out through my office.”

Jefferson explained that there will be a booth at the job fair to assist youth with resume assistance, and information on college assistance, job training programs and internships.

The Rockford Youth Initiative is offering booths for employers for $25. Businesses interested in participating in the Youth Summer Job Fair should contact Dominic at RYI at (815) 395-5975 or e-mail hcastleman1@aol.com.

For more information, please call Jefferson’s office at (815) 987-7433.

From the March 31-April 6, 2010 issue