NAACP Diversity Career and Health Fair

Participants as well as job seekers work the room during the fair.

By Johnnie N. Grant

In spite of the rain, spirits were high and turnout good for the Seventh Annual NAACP Diversity Career and Health Fair held at Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church on April 21, 2006. Along with numerous venders, the participants were enthusiastic about the change of venue for this event.

Elder John Hayes. along with John Le of WLOS-TV broadcast live during the event.

Sophie Dixon, Vice President of the Asheville NAACP stated, “With the high rates of unemployment in the inner city we decided to make the Career and Health Fair readily available by staging this event within the area in which people live. We also have an on-going relationship with all the businesses and corporations that participated to make sure that access to job information is available after the event is over.”

Red Cross representative Betsie Letterle signs up a participant as a possible bone marrow donor.

Mary Parker, Staffing Services Representative for the Biltmore Company added, “I have participated in this annual event for three years and have found the Diversity Career and Health Fair to be a good source to recruit well qualified employees for various job opportunities and career paths. Having the event here helps to foster relationships and interact with people within their own community.