The Spring Into Workforce: Greater Cleveland Career Fair, where large and small employers are looking to fill openings, will be held April 17 as part of Reentry Month.
While the job fair will focus on people who were formerly incarcerated, also known as returning citizens or “justice-impacted” individuals, the event is open to all job seekers.
“Every employer participating is actively hiring and committed to inclusive hiring practices,” wrote Darrick McDaniel, recruitment and development manager for the City of Cleveland Civil Service Commission, one of the organizers, in an email to Signal Cleveland.
He said “this career fair is designed to support our entire community,” offering everything from internships and entry-level jobs to positions calling for experienced workers.
The job fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tower City, 230 W. Huron Road. The event will be set up in the center of the mall. Attendees shouldn’t have trouble finding the location because there will be many signs pointing them to the job fair’s location, McDaniel said. Free parking will be provided.
Job seekers who want to attend should register here.
About 40 employers will be at the job fair. In addition to permanent full- and part-time positions and internships, some will be recruiting for apprenticeships and seasonal jobs. For example, Cleveland will be recruiting for positions ranging from lifeguard to neighborhood investment manager, McDaniel said.
Employers recruiting include:
- The City of Cleveland
- Cuyahoga County
- FedEx Corp.
- Enbridge Gas Ohio, which is formerly Dominion Energy Ohio.
A full list of employers is below.
Resume reviews and mock interviews
The career fair will offer attendees workforce development opportunities such as having their resumes reviewed and participating in mock interviews.
Simeon Best, director of the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry, one the event’s sponsors, said employment is essential to successful reentry.
“Hosting this reentry career fair sends a clear message: everyone deserves a second chance and the opportunity to build a stable, meaningful life,” he wrote in an email to Signal Cleveland. “By connecting returning citizens with employers who are open to fair chance hiring, we’re not just filling jobs – we’re strengthening families, neighborhoods, and our local economy.”
April is Reentry Month in Cuyahoga County. This is the first year it is being observed. Before, Cuyahoga only observed Reentry Week. Best said it is about more than additional days.
“It’s a testament to our deepened commitment to supporting reentry services in our county,” he wrote. “We’re creating more space for meaningful dialogue, increased partnerships, and real opportunities for people returning home to rebuild their lives.
“One week simply isn’t enough to capture the complexity of reentry or the resilience of those navigating it,” Best wrote.
The career fair is one of several April events aimed at educating the public about issues affecting justice-impacted individuals and removing stigmas they face so they can better navigate reentry.
McDaniel said Tower City was intentionally chosen because it is accessible and a central traffic hub with natural foot traffic.
In addition to the city and the county’s Office of Reentry, the career fair’s other sponsors are the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA and Bedrock.
“We look forward to connecting talent with opportunity and fostering long-term community growth,” McDaniel said.
Attendees can compete for door prizes donated by Famicos Foundation. Prizes include iPads and gift cards.
Employers recruiting at the Spring Into Workforce: Greater Cleveland Career Fair
A Promise to Care EAST
Amotec Inc
Assured Evidence, LLC
Car Parts Warehouse
Care Alliance Health Center
Center for Employment Opportunities
City of Cleveland
City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Clinic
Community Career Outreach
CSL Plasma Willoughby Hills
Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga County Office of Child Support Services
Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry
Department of Parks and Recreation
DigitalC
Dress for Success Cleveland
Eaton Corp.
Enbridge Gas Ohio (formerly Dominion Energy Ohio)
Fatherhood Initiative
FedEx
Horizon Education Centers
Hose Master
Huntington Convention Center/ASM Global
Lake Erie Golf Cars
MAGNET (a nonprofit focused on growing manufacturing in Northeast Ohio)
Marous Brother Construction
North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
O.C.L.I. Trucking & Leadership Academy
Ohio Department of Transportation
Revenue Group
Sheetz
The Gardens of Fairfax Healthcare Center
U.S. Small Business Administration
Warrensville Developmental Center
Wrap-Tite, Inc.
YMCA of Greater Cleveland
