“As the designated Community Action Agency for the City of Pittsburgh, it is our responsibility to provide resources to assist individuals and families to navigate and overcome barriers and characteristics of poverty,” said CSI Workforce and Development Coordinator Marcus Burkley. “Hooking up with the North Side Old Timers allows us to bring employment back to the community. A lot of time people can’t get to some of these job fairs.”
Fellow coordinator Tracie Jackson said the same.
“We’re creating a convenient, and comfortable opportunity for employers and job seekers to connect,” she said.
Burkley said, in all, more than 40 employers and training agencies attended the event including banks, schools, home health and heath insurance providers, labor unions, as well as training facilities like Bidwell Training Center and Rosedale Tech.
Ashlee Phillips, a recruiter for Christian Home Healthcare on the North Side, said she was happy to come because the agency is always looking for passionate individuals who want to help people.
Chaquille Grissom, a job seeker from the Hill District, said she was impressed with the fair having a variety of schools and career programs available.
Denise Parris, also from the Hill, said that’s what she is looking for.
“I’m here for a career, transportation, social work, home healthcare. I’ll do it,” she said.
Kristen Stephens who owns EIG, a company that provides 24-hour supervised care for special needs individuals, said she welcomed the opportunity to meet new people.
“We’re always looking for direct-care staff,” she said. “And we don’t know who’s out there—like this young lady (indicating Parris).”
(J.L. Martello contributed to this story.)
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