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Congresswoman Kelly tackles unemployment

October 20, 2017

U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-2) continues her mission to strengthen the U.S. economy by strengthening working families and encouraging job growth. In a recent visit to the Chicago Crusader, the congresswoman reiterated her call for jobs and district-wide economic investment opportunities that will not only put people to work but help them build lifelong careers.

Kelly, who is a co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Foundation's CBC Weekend, visited the Crusader for an editorial board meeting and was presented with an award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) for outstanding empowerment and social change leadership. The NNPA represents more than 200 Black-owned publications across the country.

On Friday, October 27 from 9 a.m. to noon, she will host her 5th Annual Hiring Event for residents of the 2nd Congressional District in the gymnasium of South Suburban College, 15800 State St., South Holland. More than 70 employers with active job openings will be in attendance.

The representative has long been moving Illinois in the right direction. According to the Illinois Department of Employment security, the state saw a significant drop in the unemployment rate in August. Unemployment in the Chicago metro division dropped to 5.4 percent and in places such as Kankakee County, which Kelly represents, it dropped to 4.2 percent.

Prior to the Hiring Event, Rep. Kelly will sponsor a free Job Readiness Bootcamp on Wednesday, October 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in the Community Room of the Calumet City Public Library, 660 S. Manistee Avenue, Calumet City. Instructors from the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership will teach job-seekers interview skills, how to prepare a resume, and strategies to successfully navigate hiring events.

Companies and agencies participating in this year's Hiring Event include UPS, ComEd, Metra Rail, Comcast, Chicago Transit Authority, the U.S. Post Office, MiJack, Franciscan Health, Lakeside Metals, and the Cook County Sheriff's Department.

Job-seekers can visit www.reprobinkelly.eventbrite.com to register for the Hiring Event and/or the Job Readiness Workshop. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information, call Alan Banks or Jazmin Alvarez at (708) 679-0078 or access www.robinkelly.house.gov.

Read the orginial on the Chicago Crusader's website.