Arlington Holds Job & Info Fair
By: Jennie L. Ilustre
"We’re
always hiring school bus drivers," said James Day, Arlington Public
Schools coordinator for Special Needs Transportation at the Arlington County
Employment and Enrichment Fair. The fair took place on November 4 at Career
Center on South Walter Reed.
"We welcome applicants, young
or old, and we will provide them with training and assistance. For example,
this is a good job for retirees, and we’ll hire them as long as they pass the
physical," he added. The county has 728 school buses which operate in 25.5
square miles and are kept in one location. It provides transportation services
to pre-school pupils up to 12th graders, including those with special needs or
assistance. Coordinator Day can be reached at (703) 228-6640.
Diversity Outreach Coordinator Quinea Postel of the county’s
Human Resources Department said there are plenty of opportunities."The
Arlington Virginia
government offers great benefits and salaries, and there are dozens of job
openings." At the fair, information and services on job opportunities and
ways "to enrich your lifestyle are available in one spot."
Participants provided materials,
on-site tips and answered questions from individuals who dropped by. One of
them was Arlington Public Schools Community Outreach Specialist Ricardo E.
Campos, who gave Rhonda John information and a business card. Throughout the
five-hour event, 20-minute sessions took place in nearby rooms on these topics:
How to Start a Business, How to Prepare for a Job Interview, Maintaining Good
Credit and Affordable Housing.
Seven Arlington
County agencies, private firms and
community organizations took part in the fair. These are the Arlington Human
Resources, Arlington Economic Development, Arlington
Public Schools , the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAAACP) of Arlington , the
Hispanic Committee of Virginia and GMAC Credit Consultants.
Starting a business
In one room, men and women kept coming to hear
articulate and energetic Tara R. Miles, director of BizLaunch
at the Arlington Economic Development. "When starting a business, it’s location, location, location," she stressed.
"For example, you can choose a site near the Metro so you do not have to
spend much on marketing." She also cautioned listeners on the pitfalls of
premature overexpansion. She explained that concentrating on making one restaurant
successful is better than running three restaurants simultaneously. Those
interested in getting a copy of "Guide to Starting a Business" and
more information materials may call (703) 228-0808. Or they can visit the
website, www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com/bizlaunch
In the audience was Chona Bravante, who said the
Enterprise Development Group of the Ethiopian Community Development Council
helps people who are starting up or expanding business
by providing office spaces on South Highland Street
in Arlington . In another room,
four women and a young couple listened intently and took down notes while the
county’s Doug Myrick gave tips on affordable housing. Myrick, home ownership
program coordinator at Arlington County ’s
department of community planning, housing and development, can be reached at
(703) 228-3786.
At the lobby, Anointed Words
founder Bert Greene entertained questions from a couple on career coaching and
resume writing. Nearby, Claudia Guijo-Glascock,
employment coordinator of the Hispanic Committee of Virginia (HCV), handed out
brochures on HCV. The organization has been providing assistance and services
in Northern Virginia on citizenship, family petitions
and others at reduced cost since 1967. For more information, visit
www.hispaniccommitteeofvirginia.org
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