More than 100 job seekers from underserved communities in Baltimore attended a free
job fair in July to search for various career opportunities in Maryland.
Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC) hosted the event, the latest installment in a series of job fairs they have organized in the Washington, D.C., metro area. To GWRCCC, job fairs are a critical way to provide connections that lead to employment opportunities. The job fairs bring a sense of confidence and positivity for people impacted by unemployment.
When GWRCCC first started hosting the job fairs in 2022, they focused on employers that could provide jobs in the clean energy and transportation sectors. This year, the coalition concentrated on quality, long-term, and sustainable employment opportunities that can support people struggling with unemployment.
“Bringing community members who are experiencing hardship to employers with quality jobs and making that process inviting is important,” said Association Manager Kimberly Harden, who supports event planning at GWRCCC and organizes the job fairs.
For the Baltimore fair, Greater Paradise Christian Center converted its sanctuary into a space for job seekers, the majority between 18 and 40 years old, to visit 17 employers who offered onsite interviews, job listings, and information about available positions. Job seekers also visited professional coaches and recruiters. Many employers in attendance were nonprofits and government agencies, including the state of Maryland, Job Corps, Maryland Environmental Service, the National Guard, and a solar company, in addition to entities that provided job training.
GWRCCC is one of more than 75 U.S. Department of Energy-designated Clean Cities and Communities coalitions across the country. These coalitions work to deploy affordable and efficient transportation fuels, energy efficient mobility systems, and other cost-saving technologies and practices.
GWRCCC’s mission involves creating networks of local stakeholders and providing technical assistance to implement alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies. The networks and connections that come with this work make the coalition uniquely suited for its role as a community connector. GWRCCC brings resources directly to those who need them most and ensures that environmental benefits are also economic benefits.
“GWRCCC is committed to increasing job and training opportunities for residents throughout the region. We understand the urgency to connect employers with job seekers,” stated Antoine M. Thompson, CEO & Executive Director of GWRCCC.
By connecting job seekers and employers, GWRCCC is creating multifaceted relationships that benefit all involved. These relationships bring extra quality and commitment to their job fairs through dependable, valuable employment opportunities, and community-based organizations spread the word, putting opportunities and connections within reach.
GWRCCC often works with partner organizations and other free or low-cost event spaces to host job fairs, and the coalition provides informational flyers for the events. In some cases, professional coaches continue working with potential employees after the job fairs to connect them with opportunities that match their skillsets and experience. One employer held an informational entrepreneurial conference during a fair to share ideas for making money while looking for employment. Miss Maryland also attended the July fair, promoting the event live from a video on the GWRCCC Facebook page.
The coalition’s definition of success isn’t simply hosting a fair—while some employers report how many inquiries they received from the job fair, the coalition often hears about the success of their job fairs from networking events and other interactions with stakeholders and board members. A local employer thanked GWRCCC for the opportunity and reported that they received great prospects.
