Media Advisory – April 19, 2021
Gainesville, Fla. – Community members facing obstacles to employment can gain job skills and critical gear, including cellphones and interview clothing, at the sixth Re-Entry Partnership Conference on May 9-10. Job seekers can meet potential employers and community agencies at the Community Job and Resource Fair on Monday, May 23.
The two-day Re-Entry Partnership Conference spearheaded by the Alachua County Library District and Partnership for Strong Families is for individuals with criminal backgrounds and others with employment challenges. The conference is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, May 9, and Tuesday, May 10 at the Library Partnership Branch, 912 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville. Day one will feature a motivational speaker and workshops on job searching, remote work, and job retention. Lunch provided.
On day two, participants can build their own workforce re-entry kits from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. choosing from supplies including professional clothing, bus passes, cellphone or tablets from SafeLink Wireless, library cards, and community identifications. Some items require additional eligibility, documents, and identification to obtain, please check www.aclib.us/reentry for details. Refreshments provided.
Participants can register for the conference in advance at www.aclib.us/reentry. Walk-ins are also welcome. Attendees can earn community service hours for attending the conference.
“We hope individuals will take advantage of our Re-Entry Partnership Conference to sharpen their skills and help them learn new ways to overcome obstacles and then utilize those skills with potential employers at our Community Job and Resource Fair,” said Cherie Kelly, Partnership for Strong Families Resource Center Manager.
The Community Job and Resource Fair is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, May 23 at the Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Ave., in downtown Gainesville. This job and resource fair is open to all. Job seekers can meet potential employers and connect with community agencies to access local resources. No registration is needed to attend the job fair.
Businesses and community partners interested in tabling at the job fair can sign up online by May 18 at bit.ly/gnvjobfair. Participation for employers and resource agencies is free and includes parking, six-foot tables, chairs, and WiFi.
“These events give attendees the confidence, resources, and personal connections to find, apply for, and keep jobs,” said Alachua County Library District Adult Services Librarian Linda Cue, who created the Re-Entry Partnership Conference. “The Library District, Partnership for Strong Families, and our partners support attendees long after the event is over.”
Community partners for the conference and job fair include Community Spring, the Alachua County Court Services, Santa Fe College, University of Florida Office of Professional and Workforce Development, Alachua County Court Services, CareerSource of North Central Florida, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Housing Authority, Florida Department of Corrections, Greater Gainesville Chamber, and Carrabba's Italian Grill.
Participants or businesses with questions about these events can contact the Alachua County Library District at 352-334-3939 or 352-334-3920, and Library Partnership Resource Center at 352-334-0160. For media interviews, please contact Rachel Cook at 352-334-3909 or rcook@aclib.us or Stevie-Lea Doyle at 352-359-8169 or stevie.doyle@pfsf.org.
If a person with a disability needs an accommodation in order to participate in this event he or she is entitled, at no cost to him or her, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Alachua County Library District at 352-334-3910 at least three (3) days prior to the event. TTY users please call 711 (Florida Relay Service).