Senator Parker’s Job Fair Helps Hundreds Connect with Employers

Brooklyn, NY- With New York State’s unemployment rate at 8.5% as of March 2012, connecting employers and out-of-work Brooklyn residents was the impetus for State Senator Kevin Parker’s 5th Annual Job Fair on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. The joint event with Penda Aiken, Inc., a certified Women/Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE) staffing and administrative support agency in Brooklyn featured more than 30 federal, state, private and non-profit companies. Slightly more than 300 people thronged to the all-day event at the Flatbush YMCA, to meet with prospective employers and attend job readiness training workshops.

The goal of this vital event was to match future employees with companies looking to fill immediate openings in corporate, non-profit, federal, state and city agencies, as well as entrepreneurial opportunities. “People need to have transferable skills set during this economic contraction, so today’s job fair was essential and hopefully connected Brooklyn residents with jobs,” said Senator Kevin Parker.  

Of the many companies represented were: New York City Human Resources Administration; the Nontraditional Employment for Women; Time Warner Cable; FDNY; New York State Department of Transportation; Crystal Manor Catering Hall; New York Aquarium; Avon; Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow and the Flatbush YMCA. 

“Today’s job fair shows the YMCA‘s commitment to support our Senator, Kevin Parker, in this time of economic uncertainty. The Y continues to be one of the City’s largest youth employment agencies and we were able to meet potential summer employees,” said Kendall Charter, Executive Director, Flatbush YMCA.

Free job readiness workshops throughout the day focused on interview techniques, making lasting first impressions and seizing all opportunities to network were provided respectively by Denecia Marshall, Career Coach, Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center; Geneva Farrow, Executive Director, A Young Mother’s D.R.E.A.M., and Brian Cunningham, Job Developer, N Power.

About Senator Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse community that consists of 311,000 constituents in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park. The four-term Brooklyn lawmaker recently supported legislation that raises New York’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.50 in 2013. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, former Majority Whip and First Vice Chair or the Association of Black, Puerto Rican Asian Legislators.

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