Memphis Job Fair and Summit

MCIL works to coordinate information for people with disabilities looking for work.

 

(May 18, 2016 ) The Memphis Center for Independent Living participated in the Job Fair and Educational Summit for Veterans and People with Disabilities sponsored by the Memphis Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities (MACCD) on Wednesday, May 18 at the Kroc Center in Memphis. Hundreds of people with disabilities participated in the summit that consisted of four informational sessions and a keynote presentation by Stephanie Jones and Veverly Edwards. Christina Clift of MCIL is the chair of the Disability Awareness Committee of MACCD. Ms. Clift made closing remarks and received an accommodation from Antonio Adams of the City of Memphis.

There were over seventy-five employers with booths looking for workers. The Kroc Center gym was filled with people from 9:00 to noon searching for the right job. The Disability summit began at 10:00 and divided up into four breakout sessions throughout the day. Charles Henderson facilitated a breakout session on "Maximizing Your Job Search Through Social Media," and Tyler Rudd of the Toastmasters covered "How to Speak Well During an Interview." Sarah Kassas facilitated a "Resource Round-up" and Hope Johnson, a Work Incentives Coordinator, spoke about "How to Make Your Disability Benefits Work for You."

The Disability Summit included a catered lunch by Corky's BBQ and featured Veverly Edwards and her daughter Robin speaking about how disability has impacted their lives. Attendance at the entire event was not counted, but there were hundreds of people at the Kroc Center with parking spilling out of the overflow parking. The Summit ran until 2:00 in the afternoon.