U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Selma) is tired of hearing misconceptions about the reasons for high unemployment throughout Alabama’s 7th Congressional District and the Black Belt as a whole.

“People are out of work not because they don’t want to work,” Sewell said. “But rather, because they lack opportunities.”

Wednesday’s second annual Congressional Job Fair, held at Wallace Community College Selma, was a chance for the unemployed and underemployed members of the public to meet with companies offering those all-important job opportunities.

More than 50 companies had booths and representatives on hand for Wednesday’s event in the WCCS gymnasium — a number that Sewell was glad to see.

“I’m so happy that so many local employers from around the Black Belt came out to participate in the job fair today, and that people have the chance to learn about 50-plus companies,” Sewell said.

After only 20 minutes weaving between the displays and talking to numerous potential employers, Selma resident Amos Bonner already had two applications in his hand as he headed for the door.

Bonner said events like Wednesday’s job fair are so important to areas like Selma, because they give people a chance to hear about employment opportunities they had likely never considered.

“Some people might have a skill set, but not know where to look for a job,” Bonner said.

“This fair tells them exactly where to go,” he added. “Now they can’t say, ‘I didn’t know where to go to find work’.”

WCCS freshman Keyanna Hatcher said she found some interesting leads, but had to keep her classroom responsibilities in mind before jumping into a new job.

“Im a college student here at Wallace, so I was really looking for jobs that I could work around my schedule,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher added that several employers, including Walmart and Wells Fargo, are potential employers she met with who might be able to work around her studies.

After seeing a great turnout Wednesday, just a year after some 5,000 job-seekers were on hand for the inaugural Congressional Job Fair in Birmingham, Sewell said she is hopeful that those on hand might soon get that break they are looking for.

“If only one person gets a job, it’s worth it,” Sewell said. “But I know we’re going to have so many great success stories like we did last year.”