Men of all ages turned out for the opportunity to get jobs or to further their careers during a job fair at the Pine Bluff Housing Authority Friday, a spokeswoman said.
The housing authority sponsored the job fair as part of a two-day program geared toward encouraging men.
Entitled “Man-Up to make a Difference,” the event will continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a fun day at Martin Luther King Jr. Park featuring speakers, games, fishing, prizes and refreshments.
“The men that showed up actually beat the presenters that showed up,” Resident Services Director Karen Lee said, explaining how eager the men were.
More than 100 men attended.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Lee, along with Valorie McMiller, Family Self-Sufficiency program coordinator at the housing authority, and other supporters put together the job fair.
“We want (men) to support and establish themselves as responsible men within the community,” Lee said.
When a person feels good about themselves they will do better in their life, she said. That was one of the main reasons she wanted to host the job fair.
Lee said that when the men arrived, they were well prepared with resumes in hand.
“Everything was just a complete success,” Lee said, adding that the majority of the men were recent high school graduates and college students.
A few men also applied to attend Southeast Arkansas College, she said.
Lee and McMiller said they are trying to build a positive image of men and fathers and are hopeful the event Saturday will have a better outcome.
Lee wants the men to know instead of being involved in crime, they could be responsible hard working men with values.
“Nothing is better than knowing you have earned your money. It always feels good knowing you worked for something,” she said.
Agencies that accepted applications at the job fair included Brookshire’s, Advance Auto, Arkansas Department of Correction and Southeast Arkansas College.