On Saturday, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson hosted his second annual job fair, called “Public Jobs for the People.” The event connected dozens of employers to hundreds of residents from across Los Angeles at First AME Church of Los Angeles in the West Adams neighborhood. Public Jobs for the People prioritized jobs created through public infrastructure investments, including private companies who are active in public contracts.
“Los Angeles is stronger when all of our families have access to good jobs,” said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “Over the next decade, we estimate that there will be well over a million new jobs from infrastructure investments alone. Public investments in transportation, infrastructure, schools, and at the airport are creating good-paying public sector jobs across the region. Public Jobs for the People is just one way to ensure that residents of South LA, who have the highest levels of unemployment in the City, have access to these jobs.”
Several private companies that won public contracts also participated, including Republic Services, one of the waste haulers for the city’s “RECYLA” program. “We are excited to partner with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson on the Public Jobs for the People initiative,” said Susanne Passantino, program manager for Republic Services. “As a large employer in Los Angeles, Public Jobs for the People is an important part of our efforts to recruit talented, diverse individuals in the communities we serve.”
“Having a good job has been beneficial to me and my family,” said Jerome Singletary, a retired South LA resident. “For 20 years, I worked as waste bin delivery driver in Los Angeles, up until I retired last year. Because I worked for a high road company, I was able to receive good health benefits and yearly raises, which allowed me to purchase my home and provide for my family. I am confident that creating more of these types of jobs can increase opportunities for Angelenos in communities of color who are overrepresented when it comes to poverty and lack of upward mobility.”
In addition to the public jobs, several supportive service providers were available for residents who may need extra support. Services included: expungement services, resume workshops, interviewing skills, and financial planning.
