Connecting Transgender Job Seekers to LA's Employers

Held on June 20, 2016, the LA's Diversity Job and Career Fair focused on connecting transgender job seekers with employment opportunities in Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

Held at the Los Angeles Community College, representatives from 42 companies were recruiting including Account Temps, AEG, Belmont Village, California Highway Patrol, Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles Fire Department, Exact Staff, Kelly Services, LA County Probation, Microsoft, NBC Universal, New York Life Insurance, Randstadt, Solar City, Target and Uber.

Immediately prior to the job fair, employers were treated to a full breakfast. While they ate and sipped coffee, Drian Juarez, Director of the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Transgender Economic Empowerment Program, hosted an informative presentation on transgender identity as it relates to employment.

Keynote Speaker Michaela Mendelson
The keynote speaker was Michaela Mendelson, a transgender activist and the CEO of Pollow West, a multi-location El Pollo franchisee company. Ms. Mendelson spoke of her company's commitment to hiring transgender individuals because of the talent and customer service these employees bring to her restaurants.

Nearly 130 job seekers attended even as temperatures soared to 104 degrees, the hottest day of the year so far.

While this is not the region's first job fair for transgender job seekers, it was the first event in Los Angeles that involved the City's network of WorkSource and YouthSource Centers, as well as the active support of the City's Department on Disability, Mayor Garcetti's Office, City of Los Angeles Transgender Advisory Committee, Office of California Senator Kevin de Leon, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and various community partners and agencies serving the transgender community.

As one employer remarked after the job fair, "thank you for opening our minds" to the talent of the transgender workforce.

Read more about this event on the DailyNews.com website.