City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, September 4, 2020) — The City and a
collaboration of community partners will host an online Opportunity Fair from
noon to 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 18 to help historically disadvantaged city
residents earn a higher level of education, trade or vocational skills to get
better paying jobs and improve their quality of life.
The City is seeking residents to participate in a
one-year initiative designed to help those who have completed high school and
have either declined to attend, or dropped out of college or trade school or
are unable to maintain employment.
The Opportunity Fair will include presentations by
employment, educational, vocational and health-service providers and other
community organizations that help residents overcome barriers toward entering
careers that require higher levels of traditional, non-academic or technical
education or skill development.
This program is intended to open doors to careers with
higher wages and employment success. It is open to residents impacted by
systemic racism and institutional inequity that has created institutional
barriers to obtaining a quality education and equitable employment.
Eligible participants will receive assistance with
enrollment in vocational training, earning a college degree, a trade license or
certificate or help with enrolling in a workforce development program to earn a
skilled-trade certificate. Participants will be provided support to obtain
wrap-around services to help them overcome financial and other barriers that
have systemically prevented them from achieving their educational goals, or
wrap around services for child-care, housing, food, employment, language and
transportation.
The initiative is designed by the National League of
Cities and is being administered by the City’s Office of Special Projects and
Educational Initiatives in partnership with RochesterWorks, Inc.; SUNY
Brockport’s Rochester Educational Opportunity Center; Action for a Better
Community; Monroe Community College; IBERO-American Action League, Inc.; The
Center for Youth Services; FoodLink, Inc; the Urban League; and BOCES II.
Participants must register at
cityofrochester.gov/OpportunityFair or by calling 428-7839. The registration
deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 16. A ZOOM registration will be forwarded upon
completion of the information form.
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News Media: For more information, contact 311 or (585) 428-5990 outside city limits.