QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES TWO VIRTUAL QUEENS JOBS RECRUITMENT FAIRS IN APRIL

Friday, April 9 and Thursday, April 15

(April 5, 2021 at 4:12pm)

QUEENS, NY – As part of a continuing effort to addressing the current economic downturn, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. today announced his office has scheduled two Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fairs during the month of April.

First, Borough President Richards and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz will co-host a special Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair on Friday, April 9, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

Then, the following week, Borough President Richards will host his regular monthly Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair on Thursday, April 15, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Queens Borough President’s Office has addressed the resulting economic crisis by holding online job fairs that connect Queens residents with the job opportunities that remain out there, even during this rough economy,” said Borough President RICHARDS. “Although more than a year has passed since the pandemic started, we are not letting up on our efforts to get Queens residents back to work. That’s why I am so pleased to partner with Assemblywoman Cruz in co-hosting a special April 9 job fair that will be held in addition to my office’s regularly scheduled job fair on April 15. We will not rest until every Queens resident who wants a job has a job.”

“The economy came to a grinding halt at the onset of COVID-19, resulting in millions of lost jobs nationwide,” said Assemblywoman CRUZ. “While some of our neighbors have begun to go back to work, many are still struggling to put food on the table. These job fairs are critical in connecting job hunters with the resources they need to get back on their feet. I am proud to partner with Borough President Richards on providing this essential initiative to our community.”

The two fairs held this month will feature brief presentations from employers and recruiters seeking to fill numerous positions in a variety of fields, including aviation, transportation, developmental support, retail, finance and more. Question and answer sessions will follow the presentations.

The organizations scheduled to participate in the April 9 fair include: 82nd Street Academics, Animal Care Centers of NYC, Building Skills NY, CAMBA, Inc., Commonpoint Queens, the Council for Airport Opportunity, Express Employment Professionals, New York Life, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, and Workforce1.

The April 15 fair is scheduled to feature Animal Care Centers of NYC, Building Skills NY, CAMBA, Inc., The Child Center of New York, Commonpoint Queens, the Council for Airport Opportunity, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Empire Vets, Express Employment Professionals, Forest Hills Financial Group, the New York City Children’s Center,  NYC Transit/MTA, New York Life, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Queens Centers for Progress, Resorts World Casino New York City, Turning Point for Women and Families, WATCHGUARD 24/7, Westhab, Inc., and Workforce1.

The April 9 Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair will air online from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at www.queensbp.org. Those interested in participating in the fair’s live interactive Q&A must RSVP by Thursday, April 8, at www.queensbp.org/rsvp. Instructions on how to participate in the Q&A will be emailed on the day of the event to those who register.

The April 15 Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair will air online from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at www.queensbp.org. Those interested in participating in the fair’s live interactive Q&A must RSVP by Wednesday, April 14 at www.queensbp.org/rsvp. Instructions on how to participate in the Q&A will be emailed on the day of the event to those who register.

WPIX-TV (PIX11) will return as a media partner for the two fairs after having promoted previous recruitment fairs in the fall and winter of 2020-21. The station will support the upcoming fair with promotional assistance over its airwaves and on its website at www.pix11.com.

Normally held on the third Thursday of each month by the Queens Borough President’s Office, the Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair series connects Queens job seekers with a wide array of employment opportunities across a variety of industries.

Queens’ unemployment rate was 12.9 percent in January 2021. That’s down from a high of 21.6 percent in June 2020 — but still 9.9 percentage points higher than February 2020’s pre-pandemic low of 3.0 percent.

The January 2021 unemployment rate in Queens was also 2.2 points higher that the borough’s 10.7 percent unemployment rate for the previous month (December 2020). This suggests the borough is still experiencing a very tough job market.

There were 2.5 million first-time unemployment claims filed in New York City between March 14, 2020 (near the start of the pandemic) and March 20, 2021, according to the New York State Department of Labor.

Launched by then-Acting Borough President Sharon Lee in April 2020, the Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair series has thus far included 14 hiring events and more than three dozen participating employers.

“We are a nonprofit agency started out of Jackson Heights, Queens running from four locations,” said 82nd Street Academics Chief Learning & Partnerships Officer MALLORY TOMPKINS. “We support students in their journey to college no matter their home language. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve continued our services in person and remotely through academic tutoring and enrichment. We welcome the community to join us in this work and are excited to meet new candidates!”

“Individuals from all over New York City come to Animal Care Centers of NYC every day of the week for reasons as diverse as reclaiming lost pets, adopting new furry family members, and getting resources to help them keep their pets in homes,” said Animal Care Centers of NYC HR Assistant EMILY RICHARDSON. “At ACC, we strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). If you have a passion for animals and people alike, we invite you to join our team of outstanding individuals working to end animal homelessness in NYC.”

“Express Employment Professionals, Queens Office, has been serving Queens for seven years,” said Express Employment Professionals Office Manager ANGELA CARBONE. “We support the Community by placing general laborers, skilled workers – CDL Drivers, Forklift Drivers, etc.; as well as Office Professionals. During the pandemic we are able to keep our Associates working, supporting various not for profit organizations as well as other essential businesses. As we are coming out of the pandemic, we see an increased need for workers to support our clients.”

“Building Skills New York is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to connecting members of underserved and underrepresented communities across the five boroughs with access to good-paying construction jobs,” said Building Skills NY senior recruiter CALVIN EDWARDS. “The pandemic has taken a significant toll on New York’s economy and its workforce. We are keenly aware that in order to realize a full and successful recovery, individuals need resources and skills to reenter the labor market and also to advance in their careers. We are proud to be working in partnership with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. to offer his constituents – as well as New Yorkers all across the City – opportunities to join the construction industry, which has long supported both individuals and families alike.”  

“We greatly appreciate the opportunity to partner with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. in presenting opportunities for work at our multi-service organization,” said CAMBA, Inc. President and CEO JOANNE M. OPLUSTIL. “CAMBA is a great place to work, serving 65,000 people in all five boroughs of New York City. We invest in our employees and provide opportunities for growth, and we know when you work here, you’re more than your job description.”

“At The Child Center of New York, we believe every child can thrive, given the right skills, education, counseling, and development programs — and we know that a dedicated staff is the key to making that happen,” said The Child Center of New York Recruitment Coordinator SHOSHANA CHEDDIE. “The Child Center prioritizes talent in the neighborhoods where we work — people genuinely interested in the strength of their community and the well-being of the families next door. It matters to us that candidates recognize the opportunities to support and build their communities.”

“During these difficult times with the pandemic, it is more important than ever to make sure that employers can connect with candidates remotely,” said GI Go Fund CEO and Co-Founder JAMES FANOUS. “Empire Vets has been working diligently over the past year to this end, connecting veterans in New York City with thousands of opportunities posted by companies for COVID-19 relief and recovery. We are proud to be a part of this event and are thankful to the Queens Borough President for putting it together.”

“As an Associate of FHFG and a Financial Representative with Guardian, you’re an entrepreneur. You can define your career, be your own boss, keep flexible hours and earn a highly competitive income. You’ll join a community of professionals and a company with a solid reputation. Best of all, you’ll be building a business for yourself, but not by yourself,” said Forest Hills Financial Group Director of Operations DIANE NEUSTADT. “When you become a financial representative with FHFG, you can have more than just the career you want.  You can have the life you want while doing meaningful work.”

“Helping our community one resume at a time, one call at a time, one interview at a time,” said New York Life Partner WILLIAM CLEARE. “Now it’s your time! Let’s get Full-time!”

“Queens Centers for Progress has been an essential business throughout this pandemic and we have continued to provide quality services to our individuals with special needs,” said Queens Centers for Progress Human Resources Assistant Director MICHELLE JENKINS. “We are delighted to continue this partnership with the Queens Borough President’s Office to provide meaningful positions that offer great benefits and growth opportunities.”

“The Queens Chamber is excited to partner with Borough President Richards for his virtual recruitment fair and we look forward to this stellar opportunity to meet talented individuals and grow our team,” said Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO TOM GRECH. “As Queens recovers from the pandemic, we are fortunate to have a Borough President who is deeply committed to connecting Queens residents with jobs and helping our economy bounce back.”

“Resorts World is thrilled to offer even more employment opportunities to the community,” said Resorts World Casino New York City Vice President of Community Development MICHELLE STODDART. “From the ground up, we owe our success to the people of Queens and we cannot wait to open our world-class hotel with talent from the area.”

“We are delighted to partner with Borough President Richards to promote jobs with WATCH GUARD 24/7,” said WATCH GUARD 24/7 CEO JOHN RAFFERTY. “Qualified individuals have an opportunity to have a rewarding career with excellent benefits and growth opportunities. We are an essential business providing service throughout this difficult time and beyond.”

“Westhab is transforming communities by developing quality affordable housing and delivering the services that people and neighborhoods need to thrive,” said Westhab Human Resources Coordinator RACHEL PIMBLE.

***PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR***

WHAT:         Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair hosted by Queens Borough  President Donovan Richards and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz

WHEN:         Friday, April 9, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

WHERE:       Live stream: www.queensbp.org

Those interested in participating in the interactive Q&A must RSVP by Thursday, April 8, 2021 at www.queensbp.org/rsvp.

WHAT:         Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair hosted by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards

WHEN:         Thursday, April 15, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

WHERE:       Live stream: www.queensbp.org

Those interested in participating in the interactive Q&A must RSVP by Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at www.queensbp.org/rsvp.

Follow the Office of the Queens Borough President via @QnsBPRichards on Twitter and @QueensBPRichards on Facebook and Instagram

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