On June 6, La Casa de Don Pedro hosted the very first Newark 2020 Information Session. Newark 2020 is a citywide initiative that aims to cut the unemployment gap between Newark and the state of New Jersey in half by connecting 2,020 unemployed Newark residents to well-paying jobs by the year 2020. In this program, Newark residents will become competitive candidates for employment across all industries. Newark 2020 has a large network of community partners and organizations that are looking to hire activated Newark residents.
At the Newark 2020 Information Session, residents heard from prominent leaders in the Newark community, inspiring them to take action and grasp the opportunities at hand to lead them to a brighter future. Here, residents heard from Raymond Ocasio, Executive Director of La Casa de Don Pedro, Kecia Daniels, Deputy Administrator/Chief Innovative Officer at the City of Newark, Tiara Moultrie, Program Associate at the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice.
Gregory Hodne, Deputy Director of the Personal Development Division and Anibal Alvelo, Career Coach at La Casa de Don Pedro, conducted the Newark 2020 Orientation, giving residents all the facts and information about the Newark 2020 program. Benefits to the program include connections to activated employers and assistance in the job search, from creating a resume, to interview training.
Following the Orientation, residents then heard a panel discussion from representatives of Newark 2020 community partners, Brian Quin, Senior Manager, Legislative & Government at Audible, Dante Wade, Employee Partnership Manager at Per Scholas, and Arleska Castillo, Director for Human Resources at Rutgers University. Moderator Della Walker, Jr., Program Director of Newark 2020, lead a discussion on Career Advancement and Work Readiness, covering topics with our panelists like the importance of a cover letter, nailing your job interview, and taking advantage of all opportunities presented.
Attendees of the Newark 2020 Information Session then went to take advantage of a vital aspect of the Newark 2020 Program, the Job Portal. The Newark 2020 Job Portal is a vital tool for Newark residents seeking employment within the program because it is their bridge to the employer. On the Newark 2020 Job Portal, residents will have direct access to job listings from all of the community partners in the City of Newark looking to hire. Residents who are registered for the program can directly upload their resume and be considered for an exciting opportunity within the city. Attendees of the Newark 2020 Information Session registered for the Newark 2020 Job Portal, granting them access to hundreds of available jobs here in Newark.
Residents later got a chance to meet with Newark 2020 community partners to learn about the organizations and the opportunities they have available for them. More than 25 people were in attendance at the Newark 2020 Information Session
By offering opportunities for employment, we are encouraging Newark residents to become independent, empowered, and self-sufficient.
