Workshops promote local jobs, provide resources

Published 2:50 pm Friday, March 22, 2013

Keith High School students Roddrikus Bryant, Jearel Black, Sherika Parker and Lyteisha Phillips learn about small business opportunities in Dallas County though Project R.E.A.D.Y.

Keith High School students Roddrikus Bryant, Jearel Black, Sherika Parker and Lyteisha Phillips learn about small business opportunities in Dallas County though Project R.E.A.D.Y.

Selma residents young and old flooded Wallace Community College Friday morning, all in pursuit of one thing — career opportunities and resources.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) hosted Project R.E.A.D.Y (Realizing Everyone’s Ability to Develop Yourself), a program meant to expose residents to the opportunities available to them locally.

Before the program began, Sewell said above all she hopes attendees gain self empowerment through attending the workshops.

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“My whole point is that I really want to facilitate employment opportunities for my district,” Sewell said. “I know it’s possible with the resources we have.”

Topics addressed were writing resumes, what to wear to a job interview and how to prepare for employment. Sewell said through using local opportunities, anyone can gain a job and better their lives.

Representatives from several local industries were present at the workshops, offering attendees information on what it takes to get employed in Dallas County and what resources are available to them.

David Ramp, public information officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration, held a workshop with several students from Keith High School and Southside High School.

“Basically I’m talking about how to be an entrepreneur,” Ramp explained to the students. “This is a good time to look at what your dream is, and if that’s in small business and entrepreneurship — then there are resources available here to help you achieve that.”

Samuel Woods, Selma resident, said he decided to attend the workshops to see what resources are available to him locally.

“There’s jobs out there, but it never hurts to learn more about them,” he said. “I’m just looking for ways to better myself and make myself more attractive to employers.”

Sewell said she plans on hosting several other Project R.E.A.D.Y seminars in her district to help constituents learn about how to be career efficient.

“We held a job fair in Birmingham last summer that drew a lot of people and what we found was that people were just not prepared with their resumes,” she said. “We’re trying to give people information on how to make their resumes better, how to conduct a job search online, how to dress for success and also to make them aware of the opportunities that are in their communities. I want to promote self empowerment too, because at the end of the day there’s only so much your government can do for you.”