SARASOTA, FL – On Friday, April 19, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, the Sarasota Family YMCA’s Achievers program will present the “Worlds of Work Expo and Job Fair.” This event, which is open to all students in Sarasota and Manatee counties, takes place at the Robert Taylor Community Complex (1845 34th St., Sarasota). Lunch will be served; the event will also feature raffles.
While this is the fourth annual YMCA Achievers job fair, it is the first year for the Worlds of Work Expo, which is funded by a generous grant from the YMCA of the USA. The goal of this event is to attract youth to careers and expose them to local job opportunities. In addition to students, job seekers from the community are also welcome.
During the event, students will be able to experience careers through hands-on activities, ask employers questions about jobs and careers, learn about the education and training needed for certain jobs, connect with resources and education/training to help prepare for gainful employment-now and in the future, learn where to find the best part-time job opportunities for teens, get inside tips on what employers look for when hiring teens, and get information on summer and year-round jobs and volunteer opportunities.
There will be 12 career “worlds” for the students to explore, including agriculture, hospitality/tourism, construction, manufacturing/automotive, healthcare, public service, transportation, finance, communication, real estate, information technology, and retail. Invited participants include employers such as the Sarasota YMCA, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Manatee Technical College, Publix, the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, The Westin Hotel, JCPenney, Wawa, Chick-Fil-A, City of Sarasota, Sarasota Police Department, and Sarasota County entities including Parks and Recreation, School District, Sheriff’s Office, and EMT/Firefighters, among many others.
“Our hope is that the 2019 Worlds of Work Expo will send the message to students that there are many career choices out there and now is the time to begin their journey,” said program director Jone Williams. “We are grateful to the YMCA of the USA for helping us to expand the scope of this event and also to the employers who are attending for sharing information and their unique perspectives with our young attendees.”
The Sarasota YMCA Achievers program empowers students to set and achieve goals in both their educational and personal lives, encouraging continuous growth in the areas of personal development, college preparation, community service and leadership, cultural enrichment, and career options. The YMCA Achievers helps teens develop a positive sense of self, build character, explore diverse college and career options, and interact with professionals who serve as role models. The program, which has served the community for 28 years, is open to all middle and high school students in Sarasota County.
For more information about this event or the YMCA Achievers program, contact Jone Williams at 941-365-0056 or jwilliams@sarasotaymca.org.
About the Sarasota YMCA
The Sarasota YMCA is committed to strengthening the community: through youth development by nurturing the potential of every child and teen, through healthy living by improving the community’s health and well-being, and through social responsibility by giving back and providing support to our neighbors. For more information, go to sarasotaymca.org or call 941-951-2916.