Some employers are having a hard time finding workers. A virtual job fair next month has a pool of workers hoping to find jobs.
And officials are hoping that preconceived notions don’t prevent the two from meeting.
The virtual job fair is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ reentry program for inmates 6 to 12 months from release.
Lacosta Mussoline, who oversees the program for the DOC, explained she’s hopeful that employers from this part of the state will be willing to take part in the virtual job fair.
She explained that job fairs are held as a side part of the reentry program.
“These were historically held at every facility statewide,” she said. “Each facility would organize its own events. It would work like a college fair would.”
The reentry programs are voluntary.
“The downside of the job fairs was most of the community partners interested (in participating) were generally local to the facility. And a lot of our individuals were not returning to this area,” she said. Inmates were more likely to seek employment close to their homes and families.
In 2020, COVID put an end to in-person job fairs, so the DOC held a pilot virtual program in September. It was successful.
“We’re looking forward to June,” Mussoline said, when the job fairs are scheduled.
“Basically the event has three parts. First is an opportunity to provide printable resources” which would be sent electronically to the DOC to build a directory for inmate reentry libraries.
“The second piece would be a promotional video, like a (public service announcement) or advertisement readily available. (The employer) would share those with us, and we would pull them together in a loop played on our inmate channel,” Mussoline explained. “We would hope to be able to give them background on our resources before we host our virtual job fair.”
The video would have to be an mp4 and downloadable.
The third piece would be direct participation in the job fair, which will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. June 21.
“This is geographically focused. I currently have three organizations scheduled, and I have room to add a bunch more,” she said. “The goal is to invite inmates from all facilities” to take part via Microsoft Team.
“We’re asking our community partners to do a three-to-five minute speech — who we are, opportunities that are available,” she explained. “Then we’ll open it up to inmate questions.”
Mussoline said it will not be a question and answer session like one might expect.
“Because of security policies, the inmates will not have access to cameras or microphones.”
The inmates will be able to see and hear the employer, but questions will be typed into the system by the DOC staff, then routed to Mussoline, who will ask the employer.
She explained they hope to record the sessions for playback through the inmate channels, and be available in the reentry libraries.
Any employer interested in taking part should contact Mussoline at lamussolin@pa.gov and she can set up a call to provide further information. Several businesses have been long-time partners with the DOC, she said.
With the virtual job fair, officials are hopeful that employers from all around the state will consider taking part.
For the inmates, she said, “It’s a soul-lifting experience for them to see the employers willing to show up.”
