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 Collaborative effort connects
inner city youth with employers
Located on Columbus' northeast side, Easton Town Center is
home to more than 160 retailers, as well as restaurants,
entertainment venues, and offices. While the center attracts
more than 18 million visitors each year, its collaborative
efforts with the community are just as impressive.
One such collaboration occurs between the Easton Community
Foundation and Jewish Family Services for the Job Fair at
Easton, held at the Columbus Hilton at Easton.
For the past three years, Ben Tyson, senior manager of Community
Relations at Easton, and Lynn Aspey, JFS director of Business
Relations, have collaborated on the event, which has become one
of the largest in central Ohio, bringing together more than
1,000 job seekers with area employers. More than 60 businesses,
including but not limited to the food, retail, housing and
hospital industries are available to meet and discuss open
positions.
Within the Job Fair program, a Teen Job Fair is held for
students from several inner city high schools - including the
Northeast Career Center, and Northland, Brookhaven, Mifflin and AfriCentric high schools
- who are given a scheduled time to
meet with prospective employers that are willing and interested
in hiring teens.
Prior to the Teen Job Fair, the students prepare for their
interviews by attending a JFS-sponsored panel discussion with
area professionals, who talk with them about the Columbus job
market, what recruiters look for, and how to dress and promote
themselves.
Then, at the Teen Job Fair, the students are given 45 minutes to
be interviewed by employers. "Many are successful in landing
their first job," said Tyson.
Through its collaboration with JFS, the Teen Job Fair is just
one way the Easton Community Foundation helps young people
become community leaders, he said.
"We're really proud of the Job Fair at Easton and what our
community has done - not only in helping those seeking jobs to
find them, but also to give the young leaders of tomorrow a
chance to start their careers off right," said Tyson.
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